Install

Install lyt and save your first file.

lyt is a command-line tool for permitted audio and video downloads. Install it with one npm command. lyt provisions a checksum-verified yt-dlp for you, checks ffmpeg, and tells you what is still missing.

Requirements

Node.js 20 or newer. Check with node --version.
npm, which ships with Node.js.
A terminal. lyt runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Permission first

Download only media you own, have permission or a licence for, or that is public domain or covered by an applicable exception. Do not use lyt to get around DRM, paywalls, or access controls.

1. Install the CLI

This installs the lyt, yt3, and yt4 commands.

npm install --global @tanattv/lyt

2. Check readiness with lyt doctor

lyt doctor

lyt doctor separates core readiness (Node.js and yt-dlp) from optional capabilities such as MP3 conversion, video merging, clips, and clipboard integration. It reports only; it does not install anything.

lyt doctor --fix

--fix installs missing tools. yt-dlp is downloaded, checksum-verified, and stored in lyt's managed folder. On Windows, if no usable ffmpeg is found, lyt provisions a verified build. On macOS and Linux, lyt does not install ffmpeg; doctor prints the package-manager command to run.

Approve managed downloads

lyt doctor --fix downloads and installs tools. Run it only when you approve those downloads. To require tools already on your PATH instead, use --no-download or set LYT_NO_DOWNLOAD=1.

3. Save your first file

Quote every URL. Each example saves one item unless you add --playlist.

Audio · nativelyt "URL"

MP3 · 192Klyt --mp3 -q 192K "URL"

Video · 1080plyt --video -q 1080p "URL"

Clip · 1:10 to 2:45lyt --mp3 --clip 1:10-2:45 "URL"

Spotify playlist · MP3slyt "https://open.spotify.com/playlist/..."

Dry run · no install, no downloadlyt --video -q 1080p --dry-run "URL"

For Spotify links, lyt reads the public track list and finds each song on YouTube. lyt never downloads Spotify audio itself.

Where does the file go?

By default, lyt saves to a downloads folder under the current directory and prints the exact final path. Add -o to choose another folder, or --json to receive the final paths in one JSON document.

lyt --mp3 -q 192K -o "D:/Music" "URL"

Set up your agent

Once lyt works in your terminal, install its skill for Codex, Claude Code, or both. Agents then run lyt with --json and read one result document from stdout.

lyt agent install all

Set up lyt for your agent

Updating

lyt does not install its own updates. When lyt doctor reports a newer release, run the npm command it prints, then refresh the agent skills.

npm install --global @tanattv/lyt@latest
lyt agent install all

Update yt-dlp separately with lyt doctor --update.

Common first-run fixes

Confirm node --version reports 20 or newer.
If PowerShell blocks npm, use npm.cmd install --global @tanattv/lyt.
Run lyt doctor again after an install, then lyt doctor --fix if a tool is missing.
Use --dry-run to preview a job without installing or downloading.
If a matching variant is skipped, check lyt history, then add --redownload only if another copy is intentional.
When asking for help, share the exact error, not cookies, private URLs, tokens, or personal paths.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I install yt-dlp on Windows the easy way?

Install Node.js 20 or newer, run npm install --global @tanattv/lyt, then run lyt doctor --fix. lyt downloads a checksum-verified yt-dlp into its own managed folder and calls it directly, so you do not download, unzip, or add yt-dlp to PATH yourself.

Do I need to install ffmpeg separately?

Not for native audio, which needs only Node.js and yt-dlp. MP3 conversion, video merging, clips, chapters, thumbnails, and normalization need ffmpeg. On Windows, lyt uses an ffmpeg it can find or provisions a verified build. On macOS, run brew install ffmpeg. On Debian or Ubuntu, run sudo apt install ffmpeg.

How do I update lyt?

lyt does not update itself. Run npm install --global @tanattv/lyt@latest, then run lyt agent install all to refresh installed agent skills. lyt doctor reports when a newer release is on npm. To update only yt-dlp, run lyt doctor --update.

Does lyt need an account or a hosted service?

No. lyt has no account system and no hosted service. Files, config, and history stay on your machine. Downloads still contact the media site you request, and setup contacts release sources for managed tools.

Where does lyt save my downloads?

By default, lyt saves to a downloads folder under the directory you run it from and prints the exact final path. Choose another folder with -o, for example lyt --mp3 -o "D:/Music" "URL".

Why does PowerShell say npm cannot be loaded?

Some Windows PowerShell execution policies block npm.ps1. Run npm.cmd install --global @tanattv/lyt instead, open a new terminal, and run lyt doctor.

Open npm package Get help