/Download.cpp

Adds a download button to CalPoly Pomona video players

Primary LanguageJavaScriptGNU General Public License v3.0GPL-3.0

Download.cpp

A web extension that enables students to download videos directly from CalPoly Pomona video players in easy as two-clicks. Powered by a ton of late night reverse engineering work and coffee - lots of it.

How to use

Simply download the extension from Firefox Add-ons or the Chrome Web Store. Alternatively, download the .crx file and install it manually in any Chromium-based browser.

Now open up any CPP video player on Canvas or Streaming @ CPP. A new download button should appear on the lower right corner. Simply select which resolution you would like to download the video in and your download will begin.

The top-most option provides the highest quality possible. Most videos will offer a "Source" option which provides a download of the original content exactly as it was uploaded.

Why was it made

As a developer and a student for years, I believe that information should be as widely available as possible. From code to papers to lecture materials. Information and therefore truth, should not have barriers to its access. The video players and the video hosting providers that CPP partners with makes retrieving and retaining this information intentionally difficult for students.

Providing direct access to video files also provides additional accessibility options especially to students who utilize third-party playback software or services such as Note Taking Express.

How does it work

Download.cpp utilizes mechanisms reverse engineered from Kaltura's video players in order to provide download functionality directly in the player itself. The download itself utilizes functionality that Kaltura has built into their backend with no janky mods required. This extension simply exposes these endpoints in a simple, user-friendly way.

As a result, we don't need to pay for servers and you get 100% control of your privacy. No need for a privacy policy because we don't collect any data.

Pretty cool, right?

License

Download.cpp is licensed under the terms of GNU GPLV3. For the full terms, see the license.md file.

Logo created by SweetMint - all rights reserved.