Edit: #1439752
I've mentioned parts of this before 🤦

Before finding Bitcoin and Nostr and SN I was a normie using vanilla YouTube with all the annoying ads, which have got progressively worse over the years

I think it was Gigi who mentioned NewPipe in a note that prompted me to go down the frontend rabbit hole

iirc I found it around the same time I found ZapStore and the sideloading phenomenon

It worked well for a while until it didn’t, confused that it didn’t just work like legacy apps, I learnt that Google are in a constant game of cat and mouse with these developers

Google devs change the code slightly, copycat frontend breaks, foss devs update their code, success! back in business 🙌 and on the game goes

Enter Google 'We've had enough edition'Enter Google 'We've had enough edition'

Google introduce android verification programme that forces app developers to verify and essentially doxx themselves

The responseThe response

Tubular issues a statement saying they won't be cooperating with Google and Tubular will not work on verified android devices, even if sideloaded

My thinkingMy thinking

Idea: Create a PWA YouTube frontend in a Stacker News style

• Use Tubular source code
• Add Nostr/Lightning implementation
• Works across all platforms

The major issuesThe major issues

• Constant maintenance
• More trouble than it's worth

My capitulation on the idea 💡My capitulation on the idea 💡

Rather than trying to save the world 🌎 from YouTube ad hell

• Buy a Google Pixel
• Run GrapheneOS
• Install Tubular
• Stack sats

As a sidenote and tell me if this a stupid suggestion @justin_shocknet have you ever thought of scraping YouTube and integrating it into lightning.video?

Scrap that, yes it's a stupid idea 🤦

If you’ve read this far...If you’ve read this far...

I totally understand the actual goal is not to use YouTube at all! But until we have a reliable alternative 🤔 (hoping Justin's L.V increases in adoption 🙏)