#1116411 yt-dlp: youtube requires new dependency "deno", not in debian

Package:
src:yt-dlp
Source:
src:yt-dlp
Submitter:
michel
Date:
2025-10-26 16:01:01 UTC
Severity:
normal
#1116411#5
Date:
2025-09-26 22:19:33 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Maintainer,

deno is now required for downloading from youtube, it's a sandoxed js interpreter not in debian.
youtube is alredy broken. They are plans to suport node >=21, not implemented, also using node
here is considered less secure.

upstream:
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/14404
#1116411#10
Date:
2025-09-27 10:10:47 UTC
From:
To:
Dear Maintainer,


Things are still in flux, the first message might be outdated when you read it. They are preparing a module that will interface with js backends. So it may or may not require heavy intervention from your part (for node, it might require version 21). 2025.09.26 from upstream works as usual as of writting.
#1116411#15
Date:
2025-10-23 16:36:12 UTC
From:
To:
On Sat, 27 Sep 2025 12:10:47 +0200 michel <okgomdjgbmoij@gmail.com>
wrote: [...]

As far as I can tell, yt-dlp is now unable to fetch YouTube videos
(starting yesterday).

And the [ITP] bug for deno seems to suggest that packaging it won't be
easy.    :-(

[ITP]: <https://bugs.debian.org/961337>

I hope a solution can be found...
#1116411#20
Date:
2025-10-25 17:37:00 UTC
From:
To:
#1116411#25
Date:
2025-10-26 15:50:01 UTC
From:
To:
[...]

yt-dlp/2025.10.22-1 implements (to quote its changelog) "a *TEMPORARY
partial* fix for YouTube support".

However, it should be noted (again quoting the changelog) that

"""
Some formats may still be unavailable, especially if cookies are passed
to yt-dlp. The ***NEXT*** release, expected very soon, **will require
an external JS runtime (e.g. Deno)** in order for YouTube downloads to
work properly.
"""

As far as I can see, yt-dlp is now again able to fetch YouTube videos.

But I am concerned about the future.
I hope [deno] can be packaged soon for inclusion in the Debian official
archive.

[deno]: <https://bugs.debian.org/961337>