Your intelligent, browser-integrated media retriever for learning-oriented content platforms. Not a “downloader” in the traditional sense—more like a curated copy assistant for knowledge preservation.

Welcome to SavvyDownloader—a thoughtfully crafted browser extension and companion tool designed to help you archive instructional video content from visual learning repositories. Whether you’re compiling offline study materials, building a personal reference library, or preserving educational demonstrations for later review, SavvyDownloader acts as your gentle, reliable digital librarian.

This repository is the central hub for the SavvyDownloader ecosystem: from the browser extension source code to the CLI companion for advanced users. Everything here is designed with transparency, privacy, and ethical use at its core.

We noticed a gap: many learning platforms offer rich video content, but their in-built “save for later” features are often fragile, expire, or depend on constant internet connectivity. Meanwhile, manual screen recording is clumsy and lossy.

SavvyDownloader bridges this gap by extracting the video stream URL (not re-encoding, not hacking DRM) and letting you store it locally in its original quality. Think of it as copy-paste for video files—legitimate, frictionless, and respectful of the source.

Important Philosophy: This tool does not bypass paywalls, authentication, or subscription gates. It only works with content that is already accessible in your browser session. If you cannot watch it normally, SavvyDownloader cannot retrieve it either.

The first SavvyDownloader release v1.6.0 (2026 Edition) is available now. It includes the browser extension (Chrome/Edge/Firefox) and the optional CLI helper.

Download the latest build directly:

(No ads, no sign-up, no page redirects—just a single ZIP file containing the signed extension and the CLI binary for Windows/macOS/Linux.)

SavvyDownloader uses a lightweight content script injected into the page after you press the extension icon. This script:

1. Scans the DOM for <video> elements and any associated src attributes or blob URLs.
2. Intercepts the network request headers (via the webRequest API) to identify the final media segment URLs.
3. Reconstructs the full stream URL (handling segmented MPEG-DASH or HLS playlists intelligently).
4. Displays the URL in a clean overlay—you click “Copy” and your standard download manager takes it from there.

The entire process takes under 2 seconds. No background processes. No persistent permissions.

savvy-downloader/
├── extension/              # Browser extension source (Manifest V3)
│   ├── popup/              # HTML/CSS/JS for the overlay UI
│   ├── background/         # Service worker scripts
│   ├── content/            # Content script for DOM scanning
│   └── icons/              # Branded extension icons
├── cli/                    # Optional command-line companion
│   ├── src/                # Rust source (lightweight, no Node.js needed)
│   ├── builds/             # Pre-compiled binaries
│   └── README.md           # CLI-specific documentation
├── docs/                   # Full documentation & FAQ
├── locales/                # i18n translation files (.json)
├── tests/                  # Unit & integration tests
├── CONTRIBUTING.md         # How to contribute
├── LICENSE                 # MIT License
└── README.md               # This file

If you just want to try SavvyDownloader without committing to an install:

1. Download the ZIP from the section above.
2. Extract the folder.
3. Chrome/Edge users: Go to chrome://extensions → Enable “Developer mode” → “Load unpacked” → Select the extension/ folder.
4. Firefox users: Go to about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox → “Load Temporary Add-on” → Select any file inside extension/.
5. The SavvyDownloader icon will appear in your toolbar. Navigate to a video page, click the icon, and watch the magic happen.

• 24/7 Email Support: response time typically under 3 hours (non-holiday). Email is listed in the extension’s support page.
• Discourse Forum: Community-driven Q&A at forum.savvydownloader.local (placeholder—future integration).
• Issue Tracker: Use GitHub Issues for bugs, but please search existing tickets first.
• FAQ: See the /docs/faq.md for common questions like “Why can’t I download from X platform?” or “Is this legal in my country?”

SavvyDownloader is a tool for lawful, personal use only.

• You are responsible for complying with the Terms of Service of any website you use this tool with.
• This software does not circumvent access controls, authentication mechanisms, or paid subscriptions.
• The developers of SavvyDownloader assume zero liability for any copyright infringement, data loss, or policy violation resulting from your use of this tool.
• No warranty is provided—the tool is offered “as is” under the MIT License.

If you are unsure whether your intended use is permitted, consult a legal professional. When in doubt, do not download.

This project is licensed under the MIT License — you are free to use, modify, and distribute it, provided you include the original copyright notice and disclaimer.

For the full license text, please visit: MIT License

• Q1 2026: Smart playlist detection for multi-episode series.
• Q2 2026: Native integration with open-source media players (VLC, MPV) for direct streaming.
• Q3 2026: Automated subtitle extraction (sidecar SRT files).
• Q4 2026: Community translation tool—help internationalize the extension into 20+ languages.

We welcome thoughtful contributions. Please read our CONTRIBUTING.md before opening a PR. We prioritize code quality, security, and maintainability above feature count.

SavvyDownloader was born from a simple observation: information should be archivable. Videos, as a medium, are often ephemeral—a link breaks, a platform shuts down, an account gets deactivated. By giving users a legal, non-invasive way to preserve what they’ve already accessed, we empower personal knowledge management without disrupting the creator economy.

Use it wisely. Use it respectfully. And never forget: the best copy is the one that respects the original.

© 2026 SavvyDownloader Project. Made with 🧠, not 💰.