Genshiken - The free video downloader/streaming client

Most websites load media files using proprietary software (a.k.a. nonfree software), and distribute said media in proprietary formats– all of which restrict the user's freedom. According to John Sullivan, Executive Director of the FSF⁴: When software is proprietary, that means that some company claims ownership of it, and through that ownership claim, imposes restrictions on users as to how they can or can't use the software. People who commonly use nonfree software may even feel like there is nothing wrong with using YouTube– the consequence, being your dependence on software which actively restricts you. Although there exists nonfree software in YouTube, a tech-savvy user can still view the media using free software like youtube-dl. Who knows how long this may be true, for Google constantly changes the way videos are distributed on YouTube– the same way Microsoft keeps changing Word format.

DRM⁵ streaming dis-services, however, are different. Streaming dis-services, such as Netflix, Pandora, Spotify, and iTunes, implement DRM which actively prevents you from viewing media files with free software, and from sharing your copies of media that you purchased. Some companies, like Amazon⁶, even consider this malware to be a desirable feature. As the FSF has already identified: the initial injustice of proprietary software often leads to further injustices: malicious functionalities. DRM is a visible type of malware that proprietary software companies expect users to tolerate. I only bring this up, because my software is the direct opposite of theirs in terms of ethics and purpose: One implements DRM, while the other does not; one restricts/ensnares the user, while the other frees/liberates the user; one enforces dependence and subjugation, while the other encourages development and community. There are several proprietary companies that use or make nonfree software in an effort to subjugate users, so what should we do in response to that? Sometimes, if we want to keep our freedom, we need to make sacrifices. But the kind of sacrifices I'm talking about are small; any ethical person can make these kinds of sacrifices, in order to protect their freedom.

The idea behind DRM, is to subject all users to a system that prevents copyright infringement. In reality, though, this software exists to restrict users from controlling their software; from sharing digital media; from cooperating with other users; from maintaining anonymity and privacy; and finally– like all proprietary software– it gives the owner unjust power over the user. We don't need such defective software, and we certainly don't need the large scale surveillance that it employs. No one should have this kind of power, so why encourage this malpractice, and why use propaganda terms that are in favor of DRM and other types of malware?

Malware, by definition, mistreats the user– never forget that; no ethical reason or justifiable defense exists for those implementing it. To implement malware is malicious, because the mistreatment of users is irrational, and can make people anti-social if they believe that sharing their copies of digital information (e.g. media files, books, software, etc.) will brand them as pirates– someone who attacks and steals from a ship at sea. Ignore any propaganda definition that implies that the word piracy involves copyright infringement. I'm not only talking about files that you can easily download off of the internet; I'm talking about files that you pay for in order to access, or store a copy of. You are not allowed to make copies of your own media files, if it is encumbered with DRM!

Copying data means you are reproducing the original digital work in the form of `ones' and `zeroes', which is binary data for computers to read; whereas, sharing data means you are redistributing a copy of said original work. Reproduction is not the same as theft! The former involves recreating the original copy; the ladder involves physically taking the original copy. Just to let you know: It is physically impossible to steal something as intangible as digital information. If I haven't gotten through to you yet, riddle me this:

How can anyone say that you are pirating data, when you are the owner of said data, or when the data in question is just a copy– not the original? This vague assumption proposes that you are capable of stealing information from yourself or others! How ludicrous!? Information can't be stolen, and damages or losses are not incurred when you make copies of information.

• In conclusion with the above– for illustrative purposes– please examine the following scenarios:
  • I dare you to steal the text on this screen! Go on, remove the text off of this website. Well, did you steal it, yet? Oh! That's right… it can't be stolen, only copied.
  • Let's pretend this website was published using a nonfree license (it's not). Now let's say that the only way that you can access this information, is to install some secret, restrictive software that will allow you to view this website, in such a way that you can't copy it.
    • Ok, the DRM software is installed. After a few corporate click-throughs, you activate the nonfree software. You are now viewing this website, and noticed that all copy commands have been disabled– as intended, of course, since you are not allowed to have freedom.
    • Now, for the questions:
      1. What stops you from recreating this nonfree website using a pen, paper, and a free text editor on another computer?
      2. If the website in question was streaming DRM-encumbered media, what would prevent you from copying this media with a video camera? Sure, there might be a loss in quality, but you can still copy it.
      3. If this DRM-laden software required you to buy a sensor for your computer, that would detect if unauthorized people were in the room watching DRM videos… would you still install it?
         • Wouldn't this be an invasion of your privacy?
         • Wouldn't this be considered mass-surveillance?
         • Wouldn't this make society anti-social, knowing that people can't access their data without getting spied on; knowing that they can be censored when they publish their data?
           1. Facebook users may not understand this sentiment, and may unknowingly like spyware on websites; fortunately, there already exists free replacements for Facebook.
              • Yes, Facebook uses spyware and it is considered to be a mass-surveillance engine. Because this spyware is a form of malware, and since Facebook uses nonfree software in general: You have no control of your data on Facebook, and it can collect more data about you from like buttons on other websites. It uses this type of Malware to trace and track users, and to create personal profiles of them– even if they have no Facebook account.
              • Facebook like buttons are the spyware! Learn more about Facebook Spyware.
              • If you read their privacy policy, then you'll learn that not only is Facebook directly in control of your data, but it can also turn it over to a third party– like big brother– at their discretion at anytime. This implies that they actually can– regardless of what they say– turn over your PII (a.k.a Personally Identifiable Information) if someone with more authority than Facebook coerces them to provide it. Because your data exists on their server, there is no guarantee that when you delete your account that it's actually being removed– the very nature of nonfree software prevents you from verifying this. Since their privacy policy mandates that they must collect information on you, then that means their privacy policy, like Google's, means no privacy for you.
           2. Users who are interested in social media may try GNU Social, if they wish to avoid malware commonly found on proprietary social media dis-services, like Facebook.
              • This software provides microblogging capabilities similar to Facebook; however, the difference is that you can use it in freedom. Users are in control of the software, and can even implement their own versions on their servers.
              • Because you are not being forced to communicate and store all of your data onto a single server, this software creates a decentralized network that promotes privacy, eliminates censorship, and gives you the freedom to control your data– all of which, is on the contrary for Facebook.
              • Since GNU Social servers are federated, users may communicate with each other even if their accounts exist on other servers– just like with XMPP (formerly Jabber).
         • Is it not frustrating to realize that someone else is in control of what you are doing on your own computer?
• The only thing DRM is effective at, is stopping users from sharing their own copies of digital information with each other⁷. This malware creates disunity between users, which prevents public cooperation and threatens the very autonomy and spirit of our community!
  • Proponents of DRM, who wish to legitimize this malware, act against the public's interest. How can we learn, if we are restricted from sharing what we know?
  • When your data is DRM-free, it's portable, and you can make copies to view on other devices you own; however, if your data is encumbered with DRM, it becomes immobile, and remains constrained within the confines of its digital prison.
  • Information is not designed to be locked away; it is designed to be shared. Information would not exist, if people never saw a reason to inform. How can we inform, if our information is restricted and uncommunicable?
  • The only solution is to reject nonfree software, for this is software that seeks to restrict us– some, in more ways than others. DRM– in this respect– stands out as the type of software that should never be accepted by any society, for it takes away control of our programs and personal information.
• Maybe in the future, businesses will start selling DRM-paper that can only record information from DRM-pens.
  • The DRM-paper will have a fingerprint sensor that will only allow people to write on it, if they've already submitted their fingerprints to a corporate or federal database.
  • The DRM-paper can store authorized fingerprints inside it's miniature database, which will only allow authorized people to read what was written. You know what that means… alternatives to circumvent this technology could become outlawed soon after. Citizens may no longer find it strange for proprietary software companies to work hand-in-hand with their govenments; thus, the corruption begins.
• Maybe in the future, businesses will start selling DRM-pens that can only write information that hasn't been discovered, or owned yet. Once all information has been seized and declared as nonfree, pens may no longer function as intended anymore.
  • As you write with your DRM-pen, the pen will make constant checks via its network connection to see if what you are writing already exists in their database. If what you wrote matches something under copyright, patent, or trademark laws, and it is not under a free license… the ink will vanish off the face of the page!
  • You won't be told why this is happening, but you'll know the reason. Someone owns that knowledge, and what you wrote needs to be revised to reinvent the wheel, so to speak– which may be hard to do, if the wheel itself was patented, and that's what you were writing about.

  • When businesses start adopting DRM-pens and other subjugating devices, free software activists will protest; however, their efforts may be to no avail for they usually only represent a minority of, perhaps, 1% in the current population. One imaginary activist excaimed:

    Is it right to call something a right, when that "right" takes away our rights? Perhaps we should call this riduculous law copywrong, for I hardly see any rights being preserved by these wrongdoings. The same can be said for DRM; how dare you take away our copying machines and public libraries!?

    Sadly, this was a voice that was gradually silenced…

  • Time passes and the DRM-pens become even more malicious, and can now only load authorized DRM-ink. The ink is holographic and multi-colored; a design chosen in order to distract readers, and to make the information harder to remember and duplicate. The ink is also laced with psychedelic chemicals in order to prevent savants from mentally photographing the information. These poisons were strictly opposed at first; however, after banning the use of copying machines, there was little resistance when DRM-authorities declared it to be the next logical step– all under the auspices of copyright, which was slowly being rebranded as copywrong by protesters.
• Maybe in the future, every single media file will be distributed with DRM. Corrupt mathematicians will have created an algorithm to detect if your camera is capturing something that appears eerily similar to what already exists in a DRM media files database– a restricted repository containing data which you own, but businesses will have already convinced you that it's safer in their hands!
  • The moment the DRM in a camera detects you copying DRM-data, the camera will refuse to continue recording.
  • If you try to correct this malicious behavior, then the owner of the DRM program would proceed to brick your camera in order to prevent you from using it in freedom.
    • The concept of bricking– or rendering hardware non-functional– is becoming standard practice by proprietary software companies today.
    • Computers that contain 100% nonfree software, can be bricked at anytime at the owners discretion (sorry, the owner of the nonfree software controls your computer– not you, which is why it should be replaced with free software).
      1. Section 2 of this readme, Basic Requirements, contains resources that you can use to avoid this threat. Ensure to reject nonfree software whenever you encounter it, and to educate users by pointing them to http://www.fsf.org/, and http://www.gnu.org/ in order to protect their freedom!
    • With free software, there are no owners– only users, where every user is a potential contributor for the program; however, with nonfree software, there exists an owner who arbitrarily imposes restrictions on you.
    • Nonfree software users are often asked to comply with an NDA or EULA in order to get them to agree with the restrictions that come with the program, because the "owner" has declared that all knowledge of the program is strictly confidential. If you read these tyranical contracts, you'll learn that the software in question is not being sold to you; rather, it is being licensed to you. In essence, you are not allowed to purchase a copy; you are a licensee of a black box technology (i.e. a technology whose inner-workings are censored), that exists in a binary executable.
    • All software– except Public Domain software– is distributed under a license, and these licenses will tell you what you can or can't do with the software. I urge you to read the license that comes with your software, in order to find out how much control you really have over your programs. If a program does not come with source code, and the author[s] of the program have not given you permission to freely control it, then the normal restrictions of copyright apply: The owner of the program has exclusive rights for its use and distribution; in other words, the user does NOT control the program, the owner controls it. RMS: The owner controls the program and the program controls the users, which means this program is an instrument giving the owner unjust power over the users. This is why nonfree software should not exist, so the aim of the Free Software Movement is: No more nonfree software; we want to liberate everyone in cyberspace.

    • According to RMS, President and Founder of the FSF…

      As a computer user today, you may find yourself using a proprietary program. If your friend asks to make a copy, it would be wrong to refuse. Cooperation is more important than copyright. But underground, closet cooperation does not make for a good society. A person should aspire to live an upright life openly with pride, and this means saying no to proprietary software.

      You deserve to be able to cooperate openly and freely with other people who use software. You deserve to be able to learn how the software works, and to teach your students with it. You deserve to be able to hire your favorite programmer to fix it when it breaks.

      You deserve free software.

  • What if the above threat of DRM has affected several colleagues of yours?

    I'll expand. Pretend you live in a world dependent on nonfree software…

    Some of your colleagues were able to inform you of the irregularities they noticed in their cameras right before they became bricked. Noticing the irregularities in your own camera, when you tried to record an invaluable speech about freedom– which was seized by the government and then copyrighted– you power it off, just in time! You now proceed to transfer the temporary copy of the recording onto DRM-paper. After approximately 69 hours of physically transcribing the binary information by hand, the DRM ink starts becoming blurred. Your fingerprint is stored on both the DRM-paper and inside the DRM-camera, so DRM-authorities were able to identify you as attempting to infringe the copyright draconian laws.

    Your actions manage to set a precedent, though…

    The ink does not disappear, even though the data you copied matches a file in the DRM media files database. The reason for this, is because corrupt lawyers, businessmen, and programmers never expected anyone to rip a media file onto DRM-paper; thus, they never added a routine to make ink disappear when such an event occurs. You see, DRM-paper isn't accepted by printers in this era; printers have been outlawed by this time since DRM can't be used on them; the same goes for public libraries– they don't even exist in this time frame. The only way to capture and disseminate information in this proprietary era, is to use DRM approved information devices– otherwise known as DAID. Businesses provide people with DAID gratis whenever they want to begin an academic career, or wish to create technical works; however, all users of DAID are subjected to surveillance, censorship, and royalty fees (this specific penalty is incurred whenever you publish information with DAID– providing a steady income that continues to fund the proprietary corruption).

    I digress, though. No one expected you to circumvent DAID!

    You managed to bypass the nonfree restriction of DRM, and retrieved a lost artifact of the old world– evidence of free speech! You publish your findings on over a thousand copies of DRM-paper, using an illegal copying machine running free software. You transfer it to a friend, who just so happens to be a pilot. After dumping boxes and boxes filled with this publication to neighboring cities, people soon begin to wake up and question their local businesses and governments. Even though you were incarcerated before your friend took flight, DAID and all draconian laws that enforced DRM were abolished 10 years later. After people finally came to their senses, nations were able to communicate with each other in peace for the first time in decades; not only that, but scientific progress and public literacy skyrocketed! Students were no longer criminalized for "taking notes" while studying textbooks; public libraries were re-opened; copying machines were no longer guarded by security guards; authors were no longer forbidden from cooperating with each other, and were able to create bibliographies again; children were allowed to bring the source code of programs that they liked on digital devices, so that they could present how they work for "show and tell". You were released from your imprisonment soon after and given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as a copy of the U.S. Constitution– with the missing 13th Ammendment restored– one of the first documents in over five decades to be written without DAID. For your insights on software freedom, you were applauded as a visionary for a free society. Soon after, nonfree software became outlawed on every continent on earth, in order to ensure that the general public will never be left divided and helpless again!

    What's the moral of the story?

    Such a bleak and dismal future awaits us if we accept nonfree software, so why support the possibility? Do not write, run, share, or fund nonfree software!

    • When you write nonfree software, you impose restrictions on the user that are similar to the above story. Software is born free… until you decide to distribute it without a free license. Keep in mind that the moment you create a work (in the U.S. at least), your work becomes copyrighted by default and hence restricts users; thus, unrestrict your work via a free license so that users can have their basic computing rights (A.K.A. software freedom).
    • When you run nonfree software, you develop a dependence on software that you can not control, and that can mistreat you at the owners discretion. Most of the time, there exists DRM that controls how many copies you can install and hence run on your computer; once you reach the install limit, the malware will corrupt the installer so that you can't install anymore copies. Do you really think you are in control of such software?
    • When you share nonfree software with others, you run the risk of being branded as a pirate for making unauthorized copies, and can be jailed for this "crime"; whereas, if you made copies of free software, the Free Software Movement will not penalize you for sharing– we encourage this type of cooperation and do NOT consider it to be illegal. Another reason to reject nonfree software, is because it supplants the users right to software freedom, with the penalty of software restriction.
    • Last, but not least: When you pay for nonfree software, you help fund the creation of a dark and dismal future similar to the above story; a future, where all users are restricted, and left divided and helpless. A free society will not come into being, if we accept software designed to prevent its existence.

• Nonfree software is the gateway to malware!
  • Knowing that you can't see the source code and change it, proprietary developers will be tempted to put in malicious functionalities. This type of software can abuse you at anytime; imposes usability restrictions; and how it works, remains a secret.
  • No matter if its a backdoor, censorship, sabotage, spyware, or DRM, the consequence for it's inclusion is always the same: Nonfree software, in the form of malware, will put the user at a disadvantage; implant dependence for future abuse; and can remotely change it's policies, your programs, and your data without your consent. Nonfree software that restricts Freedom #1 is always possible malware, because there is no way to verify or rule out that it is not without the source code.
• Malware does not exist in the free software world, because the moment a free program is published, you have the chance to view the source code of that program. If it contains bugs or malicious functionalities, the users are in a position to take the effort to get rid of them. They can make a modified version of that software, devoid of any bugs or malware. No computer user wants to install defective software, so they'll use the corrected version instead.

I mentioned earlier that nonfree software in general and DRM (a type of nonfree software) both restrict the user; however, how do they compare with one another? Here's an oversimplified answer: With nonfree software in general, you can not control a program; with DRM specifically, you can not control your data. Proprietary software owners want to control your programs, but they also want to control your personal data, as well. Most people find that they can not copy their DRM-encumbered data to non-DRM enabled devices. This malpractice is an example of vendor lock-in, because the vendor does not want you to leave their platform. The fact of the matter is that if you use nonfree software, then your freedom will be restricted– plain and simple.

Genshiken is different from proprietary streaming dis-services, because you are not required to give up your freedom in order to use it. Genshiken gives you the freedom to be in control of the content you watch. Since most websites, companies, or services use nonfree software– which has already been identified as divisive to society– the user is left helpless for they can not control the software (i.e. no access to the source code; denied software freedom; more on this topic later). In comparison, free software programs operate in a transparent manner and can be audited, adapted, and shared to suit our needs!

The main purpose of Genshiken is to give you that kind of control when loading online videos, without the need for nonfree software– which can't be audited, adapted, or shared by anyone except for the owner of the nonfree program who monopolizes the software. DRM is proprietary malware; thus, it is incompatible with free software, and will never be found in Genshiken's source code. Also, since there is no DRM in Genshiken, there is no concept of approved platforms– Genshiken can run on any platform that supports free software. I don't believe in vendor lock-in, either– every file you download with Genshiken, can be shared on any platform that supports free software.

Genshiken is not a browser plugin, but rather, a command-line script that parses the HTML markup of a website. Websites are then converted into playlists, marked from A-Z, that are sent to a pager program on your computer. From there, you can browse and select from an alphabetized list of video series. Once you've made your selection, you may prompt for a description to be printed to standard output– along with an image, giving you an idea of what type of animation to expect. If you like what you've read and seen, then you may download/stream the series.

Genshiken currently works on 1 website: The Watchcartoononline.COM Network. This website acts as a central hub that hosts third party video links submitted by users. These links, however, are loaded utilizing nonfree software, like Flash⁸ or nonfree JavaScript⁹. With nonfree software being run on your computer, you do NOT control how these videos are loaded– that's where Genshiken comes in. Genshiken is similar to youtube-dl and Linterna Magica¹⁰ in purpose. Genshiken is designed to operate on a website, treat it as a series of playlists, and works with external players/viewers that you have installed on your system. It's name comes from an Anime whose abbreviation meant: "The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture".

• Execute the below script check-dependencies, to find out what you're missing

  REQUIRED: Check to see if you have all required dependencies

  # Checking version of GNU Bash (needs to be version 4 or higher)
  [[ $BASH_VERSINFO -lt 4 ]] && echo -e "\e[31mError: You need to install version 4+ of GNU Bash." >&2 ||
  {
    # Take note of any Warnings that are printed!  You'll need it for section 6
    echo -e "\e[32mOK:\e[0m Package \e[36mbash\e[0m is the correct version: \e[35m$(bash --version | sed -n '1 p')\e[0m"
    type getopt &> /dev/null
    [[ $? -eq 0 ]] &&
    echo -e "\e[32mOK:\e[0m Package \e[36mgetopt\e[0m is already installed." ||
    echo -e "\e[31mError:\e[0m You need to install \e[36mgetopt\e[0m!" >&2
    # Checking for the GNU Core Utilities...
    info coreutils &> /dev/null
    [[ $? -eq 0 ]] && echo -e '\e[32mOK:\e[0m You have the \e[35mGNU Coreutils\e[0m installed.'
    for pkg in $(echo -e 'cp\nsed\ngrep\ngawk')
    do
      type $pkg &> /dev/null
      [[ $? -eq 0 ]] &&
      echo -e "\e[32mOK:\e[0m Package \e[36m$pkg\e[0m, a part of \e[36mcoreutils\e[0m, is already installed." ||
      echo -e "\e[31mError:\e[0m You need to install \e[36m$pkg\e[0m!" >&2
    done
    # Checking for the GNU Find Utilities...
    find --version | grep GNU | grep '.*' &> /dev/null && xargs --version | grep GNU | grep '.*' &> /dev/null
    [[ $? -eq 0 ]] && echo -e '\e[32mOK:\e[0m You have the \e[35mGNU Findutils\e[0m installed.'
    for pkg in $(echo -e 'find\nxargs')
    do
      type $pkg &> /dev/null
      [[ $? -eq 0 ]] &&
      echo -e "\e[32mOK:\e[0m Package \e[36m$pkg\e[0m, a part of \e[36mfindutils\e[0m, is already installed." ||
      echo -e "\e[31mError:\e[0m You need to install \e[36m$pkg\e[0m!" >&2
    done
    # Checking for command-line networking utilities...
    for pkg in $(echo -e 'wget\ncurl\nlynx')
    do
      type $pkg &> /dev/null
      [[ $? -eq 0 ]] &&
      echo -e "\e[32mOK:\e[0m Package \e[36m$pkg\e[0m is already installed." ||
      echo -e "\e[31mError:\e[0m You need to install \e[36m$pkg\e[0m!" >&2
    done
    # Checking to see if you have common media players...
    which mpv mplayer2 totem vlc xine | grep '.*' &> /dev/null
    [[ $? -eq 0 ]] &&
    echo -e '\e[32mOK:\e[0m You already have a \e[35mmedia player\e[0m installed.' ||
    {
      echo -e '\e[33mWarning:\e[0m Could not detect any media players!' >&2
      echo -e 'Please install one of the following media players:'
      echo -e '\e[36mmpv\e[0m'
      echo -e '\e[36mmplayer2\e[0m'
      echo -e '\e[36mtotem\e[0m'
      echo -e '\e[36mvlc\e[0m'
      echo -e '\e[36mxine\e[0m'
      echo -e '\e[36ma-different-choice\e[0m'
    }
    # Checking to see if you have common image viewers...
    which eog geeqie ristretto | grep '.*' &> /dev/null
    [[ $? -eq 0 ]] &&
    echo -e '\e[32mOK:\e[0m You already have an \e[35mimage viewer\e[0m installed.' ||
    {
      echo -e '\e[33mWarning:\e[0m Could not detect any image viewers!' >&2
      echo -e 'Please install one of the following image viewers:'
      echo -e '\e[36meog\e[0m'
      echo -e '\e[36mgeeqie\e[0m'
      echo -e '\e[36mristretto\e[0m'
      echo -e '\e[36ma-different-choice\e[0m'
    }
  }
  

If you are running a GNU/Linux operating system, then at least half of these packages (approx. 55%) should already be installed by default. Follow the URL for each software package to learn more about them.

1. [X] GNU Bash (Version 4+)
   • License: GPLv3+
   • URL: http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/
2. [X] Getopt (from util-linux 2.25.2 or higher)
   • License: GPLv2+ (defined in getopt.c under misc-utils of Util-linux)
   • URL: ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/util-linux/
3. [X] GNU Core Utilities
   • License: GPLv3+
   • URL: http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/coreutils.html
4. [X] GNU Find Utilities
   • License: GPLv3+
   • URL: http://www.gnu.org/software/findutils/findutils.html
5. [X] GNU Wget
   • License: GPLv3+
   • URL: https://www.gnu.org/software/wget/
6. [ ] cURL
   • License: MIT/X
   • URL: http://curl.haxx.se/
7. [ ] Lynx
   • License: GPLv2
   • URL: http://lynx.browser.org/
8. [ ] A video player (below are some examples; export PLAYER for others)
   • Mpv (fork of MPlayer2)
     • License: GPLv2+
     • URL: http://mpv.io/
   • GNU Videos (formerly known as Totem)
     • License: GPLv2+
     • URL: https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Videos
   • VLC Media Player
     • License: GPLv2+
     • URL: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
   • Xine
     • License: GPLv2
     • URL: http://xinehq.de/
9. [ ] An image viewer (below are some examples; export IMAGER for others)
   • Eye of Gnome
     • License: GPLv2+
     • URL: https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/EyeOfGnome
   • Geeqie
     • License: GPLv2
     • URL: http://geeqie.sourceforge.net/
   • Imgv
     • License: GPLv2
     • URL: http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Imgv
   • Ristretto
     • License: GPLv2+
     • URL: http://goodies.xfce.org/projects/applications/ristretto

The following packages may also be installed for use with Genshiken. The URL of certain videos can't be ascertained by Genshiken alone; thus, youtube-dl may be invoked to test whether Python can handle the job. Certain video links are obscured through the use of JavaScript; which, most of the time is nonfree. Support for PhantomJS could be added in the future; hence, any URL's to video links which are contained inside of JavaScript, instead of user-friendly iframes, could be read by PhantomJS within a subshell.

• XRandR
  • License: X11
  • URL: https://www.x.org/wiki/Projects/XRandR/
• youtube-dl
  • License: Public Domain
  • URL: http://rg3.github.io/youtube-dl/
• A notification program (below are some examples)
  • gxmessage
    • License: GPLv3
    • URL: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~trmusson/programs.html#gxmessage
  • Notify
    • License: MIT
    • URL: http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Notify
• A terminal emulator (required to use Genshiken inside a GUI; below are some examples)
  • gnome-terminal
    • License: GPLv2+
    • URL: ftp://ftp.gnome.org/pub/GNOME/sources/gnome-terminal/2.16/gnome-terminal-2.16.1.tar.gz
  • RXVT
    • License: GPLv2
    • URL: http://rxvt.sourceforge.net/
  • XTerm
    • License: X11
    • URL: http://invisible-island.net/xterm/
  • Genshiken can also be run within Emacs using the ansi-term or shell commands; however, these commands must invoke bash(1) in order to run Genshiken.