code-charity / code-charity/youtube

CPU/energy optimization: tamer for low-end devices

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Feature request Generated
Dominant language
JavaScript
Stars
4.6k
Forks
996
Avg merge
2d 15h
Merged PRs (30d)
7

Description

Feature Request: CPU/Energy Usage Optimization

Description

Add features to reduce CPU and energy usage on YouTube — especially useful for laptops, low-end devices, and battery preservation. Safe defaults with an optional full optimization mode.

Why
  • YouTube CPU Tamer (GreasyFork) — reduces CPU/energy with safe defaults
  • YouTube JS Engine Tamer (GreasyFork) — modifies YouTube JS engine
  • ImprovedTube already has codec selection (h264 vs vp9) but no broader CPU optimization
Preferred behavior
  • Limit video FPS (e.g., cap at 30fps on battery)
  • Disable ambient mode (cinematics) — ImprovedTube has this
  • Reduce DOM polling frequency
  • Disable animated thumbnails
  • Disable autoplay of next video
  • Battery-aware: auto-apply optimizations when on battery
  • Safe mode toggle (conservative defaults)

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

No files, tests, or entry points are named. Begin by locating the existing codec-selection and ambient-mode features, then map where playback, thumbnails, autoplay, and extension settings are handled. Done would require an agreed scope, safe defaults, battery behavior, and verification that CPU or energy usage improves without breaking playback.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
javascript
Domain
performance
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
30/100

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