# -*- mode: org; org-html-head-include-default-style: nil; org-html-postamble: nil; -*-
#+OPTIONS: toc:nil
* Tau
An alternative front-end to various streaming sites. The aim of Tau is to free you from the world of ad-ridden streaming sites full of vendor lock-ins and restrictions, by providing you with a minimal interface to enjoy your favorite content from these sites. It currently supports the following platforms:

- YouTube
- SoundCloud
- media.ccc.de
- PeerTube
- Bandcamp

To retrieve the data, it leverages the excellent [[https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipeExtractor][NewPipe Extractor]] library that powers the popular [[https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe][NewPipe]] Android app. Tau exposes the extracted data over a REST API that is consumed by a local re-frame SPA. I built Tau because I stopped using Android and wanted to replicate the Newpipe experience  both on desktop and mobile GNU/Linux.

** Installation
The easiest way to set up Tau's dependencies is via the [[https://guix.gnu.org/][GNU Guix]] package manager. Simply invoke what follows:

#+begin_src sh
cd /path/to/tau
guix shell
#+end_src

To run the application, first compile the downloader ahead-of-time.

#+begin_src sh
clojure -M -e "(compile 'tau.downloader-impl)"
#+end_src

Fetch the front-end dependencies and build the front-end assets.

#+begin_src sh
npm i
npm run build
#+end_src

Then, compile the front-end.

#+begin_src sh
clojure -M:frontend compile tau
#+end_src

You can now start a local server that listens on port 3000 by running the following:

#+begin_src sh
clojure -M:run
#+end_src

Access the front-end in your browser at =http://localhost:3000=.

** Screenshots
Tau aims to create a uniform interface between all the aforementioned services. Hence, as in Newpipe, many interface elements are shared.

[[file:assets/kiosk.jpg]]
[[file:assets/channel.jpg]]
[[file:assets/stream.jpg]]
[[file:assets/mobile_comments.jpg]]
[[file:assets/mobile_nav.jpg]]

** Contributing
You can use the project's [[https://lists.sr.ht/~conses/tau][mailing list]] to send feedback, patches or open discussions. Bugs should be reported on the project's [[https://todo.sr.ht/~conses/tau][bug-tracker]].