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> If you don't want to download a python script to your machine (why?) Man, classic HN short-sightedness. Not everyone is comfortable with these tools. Not eve

> If you don't want to download a python script to your machine (why?) Man, classic HN short-sightedness. Not everyone is comfortable with these tools. Not everyone has a Python interpreter installed by default. Not everyone is in a device/platform that can even run Python. These bots are just damn more convenient. Assuming you are accessing old.reddit.com in mobile (the One True Way), to download a video you need to: 1. Find the URL. With mobile browser's penchant to autohide UI chrome, there's an additional cognitive load in doing it. 2. Open a new browser tab. 3. Fumble on your mobile keyboard to type the address of your preferred save video service. (Alternatively, you Google search the name, scroll past the first "result" because it's an ad, then click.) 4. Paste the URL from Reddit. 5. Wait and download video. In contrast with bots: 1. Fumble on your mobile keyboard to type "!SaveVideo" (or whatever command it is). 2. Wait for the notif and download video. > you don't spam people who is discussing in the same thread Is that honestly spammy? I rarely see more than one subthread for the bot call, it gets upvoted so people can see it easily, sometimes people do search for it first. The worst I can say is that it quickly devolves into a stream of "good bot" comments but at that point, it's just another conversation to collapse. WRT presenting information, there are more problems with Reddit's design decisions than these bots.

AshamedCaptain 5y ago
I have literally _a toolbar button_ in my Android web browser that downloads the video of any page that I'm viewing right now. How can there be anything more convenient than that? But your comparison is extremely flawed anyway. E.g. "Fumble on your mobile keyboard to type the address of your preferred save video service." Even if you claim not to know how to use bookmarks, you still have history. Basically, the "unconvenient" method you are describing is literally fewer taps away than the "convenient" method of messaging SaveVideo, which has no autocomplete at all, and _requires me to login to Reddit_. And with SaveVideo you still spam and even reveal to everyone you are downloading the video in the process. I'm even more convinced the only reason SaveVideo is popular is because their viral spamming strategy actually works, and bazillions of people learn about it because every user of it actively spams everyone else while using it. If on every thread of Reddit I was posting a message about my magnificent browser extension/bookmarklet/website for downloading videos, how popular do you think it would get, convenient or not?
- marapuru 5y ago
  So what's your toolbar button? A custom script/extension? Or a downloaded extension?
  - AshamedCaptain 5y ago
    Yes, it is an extension. But you could also have a bookmarklet, for example.
    - marapuru 5y ago
      Sorry, let me rephrase. What is the extension you are using?
- wizzwizz4 5y ago
  > And with SaveVideo you still spam and even reveal to everyone you are downloading the video in the process. Unless the SaveVideo link is already there, in which case it's one click. Just because your workflow works for you, that doesn't mean others are morally compromised for doing things differently.
  - AshamedCaptain 5y ago
    So, add "search for the existing link first" to the list of steps of the supposed "convenient" method. These arguments that "oh its more convenient for me anyway" do not got very far, specially when i claim its the virical advertising that makes people think it is convenient.
- skytreader 5y ago
  > I have literally _a toolbar button_ in my Android web browser that downloads the video of any page that I'm viewing right now Well, that's you. It might surprise you to know, not everyone is you. > Basically, the "unconvenient" method you are describing is literally fewer taps away than the "convenient" method of messaging SaveVideo, which has no autocomplete at all, and _requires me to login to Reddit_ Of course I made the assumption that you are already logged in to Reddit, because that's the type of person the usage of this bot is for anyway. If you browse without an account, this is not the bot (or service) you are looking for. But I'm gonna humor you and count taps, tell me where I'm wrong. I'll go for the shortest actions possible. Unconvenient method: 1. Find the URL (+1 swipe to reveal address bar), copy and paste URL (+1 long tap and +1 short tap). 2. Tap on bookmarks (+1). Search for your DL service ((+1) swipe, depending how much bookmarks you use), tap on actual bookmark entry (+1). 3. Paste URL from Reddit (+1 tap minimum. If it did not autofocus to textbox, that's another (+1)). Tap action button to DL video (+1). 4. Download video finally (+1). Total: 8 definite taps + 2 possible swipes + 1 possible additional tap if DL website does not autofocus on textbox) + the cognitive load of opening a new browser tab. Convenient method: 1. Type command. Let's make things equal and assume autocomplete (this is a string you type frequently), score it +2 taps. Hit comment button (+1). 2. Open notifications (+1), open comment (+1), click link to download (+1). Total: 6 definite taps. I'll humor you further, if you had to login (and let's assume OAuth, Google login to make it equal to having a bookmark on hand) you tap on the login link (+1) and tap on the Google option (+1). Total: 8 definite taps without the inconvenience of going out of Reddit. Where's the "extreme flaw" in my reasoning, please? > the only reason SaveVideo is popular is because their viral spamming strategy actually works I really find it disingenuous of you to keep harping about a "viral spamming strategy" without mentioning that video download sites are guilty of excessive ads and dark patterns more often than not. "Use adblock!" of course, but even that is not 100% foolproof or they would annoy you by making you wait before your DL link is available. You were supposed to be seeing an ad while the wait countdown is on by the way. I did not even count the cognitive load of these dark patterns in my accounting above (is the download link the green "GET VIDEOS" button or the blue "Save" button?) because it's too varied to settle a proper score. SaveVideo might be a viral ad strategy but yet another difference with the ad strategy of these DL sites it is that SaveVideo is a useful trick to know for Reddit users; i.e., that ad is far more relevant. The people who learn about it might actually find use for it one day. That's not the only reason they are popular too. It's also because... > If on every thread of Reddit I was posting a message about my magnificent browser extension/bookmarklet/website for downloading videos, how popular do you think it would get, convenient or not? Another aspect of these bots is that one person invokes it, the rest of the community can benefit from it. Plus, though my opinion is unchanged on the subsequent thread of "good bot" comments, the community finds that kind of behavior charming. This behavior you describe is just shameless self promotion, I'd wager you'd get more detractors than users before your account is moderated out of existence.

AshamedCaptain 5y ago

I have literally _a toolbar button_ in my Android web browser that downloads the video of any page that I'm viewing right now. How can there be anything more convenient than that? But your comparison is extremely flawed anyway. E.g. "Fumble on your mobile keyboard to type the address of your preferred save video service." Even if you claim not to know how to use bookmarks, you still have history. Basically, the "unconvenient" method you are describing is literally fewer taps away than the "convenient" method of messaging SaveVideo, which has no autocomplete at all, and _requires me to login to Reddit_. And with SaveVideo you still spam and even reveal to everyone you are downloading the video in the process. I'm even more convinced the only reason SaveVideo is popular is because their viral spamming strategy actually works, and bazillions of people learn about it because every user of it actively spams everyone else while using it. If on every thread of Reddit I was posting a message about my magnificent browser extension/bookmarklet/website for downloading videos, how popular do you think it would get, convenient or not?

marapuru 5y ago
So what's your toolbar button? A custom script/extension? Or a downloaded extension?
- AshamedCaptain 5y ago
  Yes, it is an extension. But you could also have a bookmarklet, for example.
  - marapuru 5y ago
    Sorry, let me rephrase. What is the extension you are using?
wizzwizz4 5y ago
> And with SaveVideo you still spam and even reveal to everyone you are downloading the video in the process. Unless the SaveVideo link is already there, in which case it's one click. Just because your workflow works for you, that doesn't mean others are morally compromised for doing things differently.
- AshamedCaptain 5y ago
  So, add "search for the existing link first" to the list of steps of the supposed "convenient" method. These arguments that "oh its more convenient for me anyway" do not got very far, specially when i claim its the virical advertising that makes people think it is convenient.
skytreader 5y ago
> I have literally _a toolbar button_ in my Android web browser that downloads the video of any page that I'm viewing right now Well, that's you. It might surprise you to know, not everyone is you. > Basically, the "unconvenient" method you are describing is literally fewer taps away than the "convenient" method of messaging SaveVideo, which has no autocomplete at all, and _requires me to login to Reddit_ Of course I made the assumption that you are already logged in to Reddit, because that's the type of person the usage of this bot is for anyway. If you browse without an account, this is not the bot (or service) you are looking for. But I'm gonna humor you and count taps, tell me where I'm wrong. I'll go for the shortest actions possible. Unconvenient method: 1. Find the URL (+1 swipe to reveal address bar), copy and paste URL (+1 long tap and +1 short tap). 2. Tap on bookmarks (+1). Search for your DL service ((+1) swipe, depending how much bookmarks you use), tap on actual bookmark entry (+1). 3. Paste URL from Reddit (+1 tap minimum. If it did not autofocus to textbox, that's another (+1)). Tap action button to DL video (+1). 4. Download video finally (+1). Total: 8 definite taps + 2 possible swipes + 1 possible additional tap if DL website does not autofocus on textbox) + the cognitive load of opening a new browser tab. Convenient method: 1. Type command. Let's make things equal and assume autocomplete (this is a string you type frequently), score it +2 taps. Hit comment button (+1). 2. Open notifications (+1), open comment (+1), click link to download (+1). Total: 6 definite taps. I'll humor you further, if you had to login (and let's assume OAuth, Google login to make it equal to having a bookmark on hand) you tap on the login link (+1) and tap on the Google option (+1). Total: 8 definite taps without the inconvenience of going out of Reddit. Where's the "extreme flaw" in my reasoning, please? > the only reason SaveVideo is popular is because their viral spamming strategy actually works I really find it disingenuous of you to keep harping about a "viral spamming strategy" without mentioning that video download sites are guilty of excessive ads and dark patterns more often than not. "Use adblock!" of course, but even that is not 100% foolproof or they would annoy you by making you wait before your DL link is available. You were supposed to be seeing an ad while the wait countdown is on by the way. I did not even count the cognitive load of these dark patterns in my accounting above (is the download link the green "GET VIDEOS" button or the blue "Save" button?) because it's too varied to settle a proper score. SaveVideo might be a viral ad strategy but yet another difference with the ad strategy of these DL sites it is that SaveVideo is a useful trick to know for Reddit users; i.e., that ad is far more relevant. The people who learn about it might actually find use for it one day. That's not the only reason they are popular too. It's also because... > If on every thread of Reddit I was posting a message about my magnificent browser extension/bookmarklet/website for downloading videos, how popular do you think it would get, convenient or not? Another aspect of these bots is that one person invokes it, the rest of the community can benefit from it. Plus, though my opinion is unchanged on the subsequent thread of "good bot" comments, the community finds that kind of behavior charming. This behavior you describe is just shameless self promotion, I'd wager you'd get more detractors than users before your account is moderated out of existence.