Setting Up the Environment​

Your Mac needs the following four tools. Install them in order.

Homebrew​

macOS package manager — the foundation for installing everything else.

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Verify:

brew --version

✅ Success: shows Homebrew 4.x.x ❌ Failure: shows command not found

ffmpeg​

Merges audio and video streams — without it you'll only get a silent video.

brew install ffmpeg

Verify:

ffmpeg -version

✅ Success: shows ffmpeg version 7.x.x ❌ Failure: shows command not found

Node.js​

Solves YouTube's JS encryption challenge — without it all format options are lost.

brew install node

Verify:

node --version

✅ Success: shows v26.x.x ❌ Failure: shows command not found

yt-dlp​

The core download library.

pip3 install yt-dlp --break-system-packages

Verify:

yt-dlp --version

✅ Success: shows 2026.x.xx ❌ Failure: shows command not found

Two Extra Configuration Steps​

Grant Terminal Full Disk Access (needed to read Safari cookies)

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access → Add "Terminal"

Enable a proxy (required to access YouTube outside China)

I'm definitely not going to teach you that one!

Get the Code​

You can download the script I wrote, or write it yourself (or have AI write it — see the next section).

Download main.py

Script contents:

import subprocess
import sys
import os

# ── Configuration ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
VIDEO_URL  = "XXXX"                           # Replace with a real YouTube URL
OUTPUT_DIR = os.path.expanduser("~/Desktop")  # Output to Desktop
NODE_PATH  = "/opt/homebrew/bin/node"         # Node.js path (installed via Homebrew)
# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────


def download_video(url: str, output_dir: str) -> None:
    """
    Calls the yt-dlp CLI to download a YouTube video in H.264 MP4 format.
    """
    output_template = os.path.join(output_dir, "%(title)s.%(ext)s")

    cmd = [
        "yt-dlp",
        # Prefer H.264 video stream + best audio
        "--format", "bestvideo[vcodec^=avc1]+bestaudio/bestvideo[ext=mp4]+bestaudio/best",
        # Force MP4 container
        "--merge-output-format", "mp4",
        # Specify Node.js path for solving YouTube's JS encryption
        "--js-runtimes", f"node:{NODE_PATH}",
        # Download JS challenge decryption script from GitHub (requires internet on first run)
        "--remote-components", "ejs:github",
        # Read Safari cookies to bypass bot detection
        "--cookies-from-browser", "safari",
        # Output file path template
        "--output", output_template,
        url,
    ]

    print(f"[INFO] Starting download: {url}")
    print(f"[INFO] Output directory: {output_dir}\n")

    result = subprocess.run(cmd)

    if result.returncode == 0:
        print("\n[✓] Download complete! Video saved to Desktop.")
    else:
        print("\n[✗] Download failed. Check the error output above.", file=sys.stderr)
        sys.exit(1)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Supports passing a URL as a command-line argument: python3 main.py <url>
    url = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else VIDEO_URL

    if url == "XXXX":
        print("[✗] Please replace VIDEO_URL with a real URL, or pass it as a command-line argument.",
              file=sys.stderr)
        print("    Usage: python3 main.py \"YouTube URL\"", file=sys.stderr)
        sys.exit(1)

    download_video(url, OUTPUT_DIR)

The Lazy Approach: Let AI Write the Code​

Don't want to write the code yourself? Just paste one of these prompts into ChatGPT, DeepSeek, or Claude and they'll output a working script.

English prompt (recommended — more stable output):

I need you to help me set up a YouTube video download environment on macOS and write a complete Python script.

## My Environment
- Device: MacBook (Apple Silicon, M-series chip)
- OS: macOS

## What I Need You To Do

### Step 1 — Check and Install Dependencies
Check whether the following tools are installed one by one. If not, provide the install command:
1. Homebrew: via https://brew.sh/
2. ffmpeg: via brew install ffmpeg
3. Node.js: via brew install node
4. yt-dlp: via pip3 install yt-dlp --break-system-packages

### Step 2 — Write the Python Script
Filename: youtube_downloader.py
Requirements:
- Use subprocess to call the yt-dlp CLI (do NOT use the yt_dlp Python API)
- Video format: H.264 codec, MP4 container
- Quality: automatically select the highest available quality
- Cookies: read from Safari (--cookies-from-browser safari)
- Node.js path: /opt/homebrew/bin/node
- Include --remote-components ejs:github to solve JS challenges
- Output directory: Desktop (~/Desktop)
- Accept video URL as a command-line argument: python3 youtube_downloader.py "YouTube URL"
- Add comments in English

### Step 3 — Tell Me How To Use It
Explain how to run the script in one sentence.

## Important Notes
- macOS root directory / is read-only — do NOT output files there
- Terminal needs Full Disk Access enabled in System Settings to read Safari cookies — please remind me to do this
- Do NOT use "ios" as the player_client — it does not support cookies

AI can write the code for you, but you still need to set up the environment yourself (the four tools above). If you don't want to do that manually either, use Claude Code or Codex to run the install commands automatically — just keep clicking yes.

Usage​

Once the environment is set up, every download only takes one command.

Open Terminal and run:

python3 ~/Downloads/main.py "paste your YouTube URL here"

If you saved main.py somewhere else, replace ~/Downloads/main.py with the actual path. ~/Downloads refers to your Downloads folder — no need to substitute your username.

Example:

python3 ~/Downloads/main.py "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wvq8w7YBXU"

Press Enter and wait — the video will appear on your Desktop when done.

Two things to check before each use:

① Your proxy is active (e.g. Shadowrocket is connected)

② You're using a freshly opened Terminal window (not one that's been open for days)

You only need to set up the environment once. After that, any YouTube URL works.

FAQ​

What is Homebrew? I wrote a separate post about it — check that out.

What video quality will I get? The highest available by default. This line in the script controls the resolution selection logic:

"bestvideo[vcodec^=avc1]+bestaudio/bestvideo[ext=mp4]+bestaudio/best"

It selects the highest-quality stream among all H.264-encoded video tracks.

Terminal is stuck and nothing's happening? The first run downloads a decryption script from the internet, which can be slow on some networks. Make sure your proxy is active, or wait 1–2 minutes.

command not found error? A dependency didn't install correctly. Go back to the "Setting Up the Environment" section and verify each tool one by one.

permission denied or cookie read failure? Terminal doesn't have Full Disk Access. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access → Add "Terminal", then open a new Terminal window and try again.

Download failed and you can't read the error? Check in order: ① Is your proxy on? ② Is yt-dlp up to date? (pip3 install -U yt-dlp --break-system-packages) ③ Is the URL complete and wrapped in quotes?

"The most popular command-line package manager for macOS."

Still hunting down installers one by one on official websites? With Homebrew, one command handles everything — install, update, uninstall — all managed in one place. Say goodbye to manual downloads.

Homebrew is a package manager for macOS and Linux. Its core value in one sentence: manage all your software from the command line, unified.

Installing Homebrew​

In China​

Due to network restrictions, using a domestic mirror is recommended: source

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://gitee.com/ineo6/homebrew-install/raw/master/install.sh)"

Outside China​

Use the official script: source

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Core Concepts: formula and cask​

Before using Homebrew, understand two key concepts:

• formula: installs command-line tools like git or python — no graphical interface
• cask: installs GUI apps like Firefox or VS Code

Simple rule: App with an icon → cask; command-line only → formula.

Not talking about Gragas from League of Legends 😂

Installing Software​

Install a command-line tool (formula), e.g. git:

brew install git

Install a GUI app (cask), e.g. Firefox:

brew install --cask firefox

Updating Software​

Before upgrading, refresh Homebrew's package list to get the latest versions:

brew update  # refresh the package list (like refreshing the App Store)

Then upgrade a specific package, e.g. Python:

brew upgrade python

Note: brew update updates Homebrew's own package index; brew upgrade actually upgrades the software. They are different.

Pinning a Version​

Sometimes you don't want a package to be auto-upgraded — for example, your project depends on a specific version of Python and upgrading would break things. Use pin to lock the version:

brew pin python  # lock python, prevent auto-upgrade

List pinned packages:

brew list --pinned

Unpin to allow upgrades again:

brew unpin python

Uninstalling Software​

Uninstall a command-line tool:

brew uninstall node

Uninstall a GUI app:

brew uninstall --cask firefox

Uninstall Homebrew itself:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://gitee.com/ineo6/homebrew-install/raw/master/uninstall.sh)"

Summary​

These commands cover the vast majority of everyday Homebrew usage. In my opinion, Homebrew is an essential tool for every Mac — it's simply too convenient to go without.

Marker is an open-source tool that converts PDF, Word, PPT, and other file formats into Markdown. It's fast, and accuracy is pretty solid. This post documents how to get it running.

Setting Up the Environment​

Prerequisites​

• Python 3.10 or higher
• Conda is recommended for environment management (explained below)

If you're on a Mac M1/M2/M3, no extra configuration is needed — PyTorch natively supports Apple Silicon.

Install Conda​

Miniforge is recommended: lightweight and well-supported on Apple Silicon.

# macOS Apple Silicon
curl -L -O https://github.com/conda-forge/miniforge/releases/latest/download/Miniforge3-MacOSX-arm64.sh
bash Miniforge3-MacOSX-arm64.sh

After installation, run this command so Terminal recognizes conda:

~/miniforge3/bin/conda init zsh

Then close and reopen Terminal. You'll see (base) at the start of your prompt — conda is ready.

Create a Virtual Environment​

Think of a virtual environment as a separate "room" for this project — packages installed here won't affect anything else on your system.

conda create -n marker python=3.11 -y
conda activate marker

Once activated, your prompt changes from (base) to (marker).

Install Marker​

pip install marker-pdf

If you also need to convert Word, PPT, or EPUB files:

pip install marker-pdf[full]

Verify Installation​

marker_single --help

Wait about 10–15 seconds. If a list of parameters is printed, you're good to go.

Activating the Environment Each Session​

Every time you open a new Terminal, remember to activate the environment first:

conda activate marker

How to Use​

The basic format is a single line:

marker_single /path/to/your/file --output_dir /output/directory

Useful options:

• --output_dir: specify the output folder
• --output_format: output format — markdown, json, or html
• --page_range: convert specific pages, e.g. "0,5-10" (pages are 0-indexed)
• --force_ocr: force OCR — use this when text in the PDF is actually an image
• --langs zh: tells Marker the document is in Chinese for better accuracy
• --use_llm: use an LLM for assistance — higher accuracy, requires an API key

After conversion, the output folder will contain a .md file and extracted images. Open with Typora or Obsidian for proper rendering.

Practical Examples​

Convert a Research Paper​

marker_single ~/Downloads/paper.pdf \
  --output_dir ~/Documents/notes

The first run downloads the AI models (~1 GB) — be patient. Afterwards, math formulas are converted to LaTeX, tables and headings are preserved. Results are quite good.

Convert a Scanned PDF​

Text in scanned PDFs is stored as images and can't be recognized normally. Add --force_ocr:

marker_single ~/Downloads/scanned.pdf \
  --output_dir ~/Desktop/output \
  --force_ocr \
  --langs zh

This mode is slower — roughly 5–15 seconds per page. Don't stop it midway.

Convert Specific Pages, Output as JSON​

For example, from a 200-page report, extract only pages 1, 5–10, and 20:

marker_single ~/Downloads/report.pdf \
  --output_dir ~/Desktop/output \
  --page_range "0,4-9,19" \
  --output_format json

JSON output produces structured data — useful for further processing, such as importing into a database or feeding into an LLM.

Let AI Tools Handle the Deployment​

If the steps above feel tedious, paste this prompt into Claude Code, Cursor, or a similar AI tool and let it set up the environment automatically.

You are a professional Python environment configuration engineer. Please fully deploy the marker-pdf runtime environment on this machine.

My setup: macOS Apple Silicon (M1 Pro), shell is zsh, Conda is installed at ~/miniforge3.

Please complete the following steps in order, check the result after each step, and immediately diagnose and fix any errors:

1. Check if conda is available (conda --version). If not, run ~/miniforge3/bin/conda init zsh and remind me to reopen Terminal.
2. Create and activate a virtual environment: conda create -n marker python=3.11 -y && conda activate marker
3. Install marker: pip install marker-pdf
4. Verify PyTorch: python -c "import torch; print(torch.__version__)". If you see a libtorch_cpu.dylib error, reinstall immediately: pip uninstall torch torchvision torchaudio -y && pip install torch torchvision torchaudio
5. Verify marker: run marker_single --help, wait ~20 seconds. A list of parameters means success.

Tell me what you're doing before each step. Do not modify system-level configuration. When done, output the installed versions of Python, PyTorch, and marker-pdf.

Uninstalling​

Uninstall only the marker package, keep the environment:

conda activate marker
pip uninstall marker-pdf

Delete the entire environment (more thorough):

conda deactivate
conda env remove -n marker

Troubleshooting​

Terminal is stuck? The first run downloads models, which can be slow on some networks. Try configuring a proxy for Terminal:

export https_proxy=http://127.0.0.1:YOUR_PORT

libtorch_cpu.dylib error on Mac? Reinstall PyTorch:

pip uninstall torch torchvision torchaudio -y
pip install torch torchvision torchaudio

Poor Chinese recognition? Add --langs zh. For scanned documents, also add --force_ocr.

command not found? The environment isn't activated. Run conda activate marker first.

Summary​

Marker is essentially a locally-running document parsing engine, powered by AI models specifically trained on document layouts — not a general-purpose LLM. This makes it fast, offline-capable, and effective without any API key. It excels at complex academic PDFs: converting math formulas to LaTeX, preserving table structure, and extracting images separately. If you need to organize large volumes of documents into a knowledge base, or want to feed PDF content into an LLM for further processing, Marker is one of the best open-source options available.

Based on datalab-to/marker, compatible with marker v1.x

1. Qi Li Xiang (Seven-Mile Fragrance) - A timeless melody with the taste of summer.
2. Ye Qu (Nocturne) - The moment that intro plays, memories come flooding back.
3. Qing Tian (Clear Sky) - The secret crush and regret of adolescence.
4. Yi Fu Zhi Ming (In the Name of the Father) - The pinnacle of his dark style.
5. Qing Hua Ci (Blue and White Porcelain) - A beautiful ode to Chinese aesthetics.

These songs are more than just melodies — they are the mark of time.

Want to listen? Click below to open the player. You can upload local audio files and .lrc lyrics files to enjoy Apple Music-style scrolling lyrics.

In most cases, running DNS flush + DHCP reset is enough to fix the majority of network issues.

Common Commands (in recommended order)​

1. Flush DNS Cache​

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

2. Release and Renew IP Address (DHCP)​

sudo ipconfig set en0 DHCP

3. Restart Wi-Fi​

networksetup -setairportpower en0 off && networksetup -setairportpower en0 on

4. Restart Network Interface​

sudo ifconfig en0 down && sudo ifconfig en0 up

🔧 Full Network Settings Reset (more thorough)​

Delete network preference files — they will be automatically rebuilt after reboot:

sudo rm /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.network.identification.plist
sudo rm /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/NetworkInterfaces.plist
sudo rm /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist

⚠️ Note: A Mac restart is required after running these. All network configurations will be reset to defaults — Wi-Fi and other settings will need to be reconfigured.

📌 Notes​

If you're unsure of your interface name, run ifconfig to check.

Recommended Order​

Move away from Baidu. The following engines all make solid alternatives:

Engine Characteristics​

• Google: Results for controversial content lean toward mainstream PC viewpoints; opposing views are sparse and weak
• DuckDuckGo: More neutral than Google; no keyword highlighting in results (fixable with a userscript — see end of post)
• Yandex: Completely ignores Western political correctness; good for sensitive or edgy content
  • e.g. Search "Epstein list" — only Yandex puts the actual list at the top
  • e.g. Search "Hollywood scandals" — only Yandex shows hard-hitting results
• Political correctness level: Google > Brave > DuckDuckGo > Yandex

2. Practical Search Tips​

Software Resources (for students)​

Use Yandex and search:

software name + cracked / premium / unlocked

Works for Android, PC, and Mac.

Free Music Downloads (for students)​

Use Yandex and search:

song name + free download
song name + Скачать

Look for results with Russian-language links — they usually allow direct download.

Site-Specific Search​

keyword site:https://x.com

Useful for resource sites with poor built-in search.

Finding E-books (Anna's Archive / Z-Library)​

keyword + edition      # search for revised editions — usually higher quality, e.g.: tort edition
keyword + translation  # search for translated versions

Using Douban to Find Good Books​

Search on Douban → filter by high ratings; the book detail page also recommends similar titles.

3. DuckDuckGo Keyword Highlight Userscript​

Requires the Tampermonkey browser extension.

// ==UserScript==
// @name         DuckDuckGo Search Keyword Highlight
// @namespace    http://tampermonkey.net/
// @version      2025-08-05
// @description  Highlights search keywords in DuckDuckGo results
// @author       You
// @match        https://duckduckgo.com/?*
// @grant        GM_addStyle
// ==/UserScript==
(function() {
    'use strict';
    GM_addStyle(`
        .kY2IgmnCmOGjharHErah span b {
            color: #ff897e !important;
        }
    `);
})();

This post documents how to locally deploy Kokoro TTS on a Mac (Apple Silicon) via Docker to convert English/Chinese articles into high-quality audio.

1. Why Kokoro?​

After evaluating several open-source TTS solutions, here's why Kokoro + kokoro-web came out on top:

Key advantages of Kokoro:

• English quality approaches ElevenLabs commercial level
• 88 voices (American/British, male/female, A–D quality grades)
• 82M parameters — lightweight, runs directly on M1 Mac CPU
• Apache 2.0 — free for commercial use

2. Voice Quality Grades​

Kokoro voices are graded A–D, with A being the highest:

English (US) — Recommended​

English (UK) — Recommended​

💡 The first time you use a voice, its .bin file is downloaded automatically and cached — no need to re-download.

3. Deployment Options​

Verdict: Docker Compose is the recommended approach for daily use.

4. Prerequisites​

1. Install Docker Desktop​

Download Docker Desktop from the official site: docker.com

Download the .dmg file, double-click to install, open Docker Desktop, and wait for it to start (a 🐳 icon appears in the menu bar).

2. Configure the Command-Line Path (permanent)​

echo 'export PATH="$PATH:/Applications/Docker.app/Contents/Resources/bin"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

3. Verify Installation​

docker --version && docker compose version

Expected output:

Docker version 29.4.3, build 055a478
Docker Compose version v5.1.3

5. Deploy kokoro-web​

1. Create a Project Directory​

mkdir kokoro-web && cd kokoro-web

2. Create compose.yaml​

cat > compose.yaml << 'EOF'
services:
  kokoro-web:
    image: ghcr.io/eduardolat/kokoro-web:latest
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    environment:
      - KW_SECRET_API_KEY=my-secret-key
    volumes:
      - ./kokoro-cache:/kokoro/cache  # cache models to avoid re-downloading
    restart: unless-stopped
EOF

KW_SECRET_API_KEY is the access password for the local service — for local use, any value works.

3. Start the Service​

docker compose up -d

The first start pulls the image, which may take a few minutes.

4. Verify It's Running​

docker compose logs -f

When you see Listening on http://0.0.0.0:3000, the service is up.

6. Using the WebUI​

Open your browser and go to:

http://localhost:3000

Key Settings​

⚠️ Important: Always set Execution place to API (Self-hosted). Running in the browser is very slow.

7. Markdown File Input​

Kokoro only accepts plain text natively. Feeding a .md file directly will cause it to read out ##, **bold**, and other Markdown syntax aloud.

Solution: Use pandoc to convert first:

# Install pandoc
brew install pandoc

# Convert and generate audio
pandoc article.md -t plain | kokoro-tts - output.mp3 --voice am_michael

8. Generation Speed​

Factors that affect speed:

• Article length: scales linearly — ~300 words takes 30–60 seconds
• Model quantization: fp32 is slowest, q8f16 is balanced, q4 is fastest
• Execution location: API (Self-hosted) runs on CPU; Browser uses GPU but requires an initial model download

9. Common Management Commands​

docker compose logs -f    # view live logs
docker compose stop       # stop the service
docker compose start      # start the service
docker compose restart    # restart the service
docker compose pull       # update to the latest version

10. Related Links​

Deployment environment: MacBook Pro M1 Pro · macOS · Docker Desktop 29.4.3

2. prevent

   • Example: This option will ==prevent== Shadowrocket from being set as the default route.
   • Meaning: to stop something from happening; to block

3. modifier

   • Example: A new ==modifier== creates a new view based on the original one.
   • Meaning: (in SwiftUI) a method that transforms or configures a view

4. components

   • Example: One of the most common and recognizable user interface ==components== is the combination of an icon and a label.
   • Meaning: individual parts or elements that make up a larger system; components

5. idiom

   • Example: This ==idiom== appears across many kinds of apps and shows up in collections, lists, menus of action items, and disclosable lists, just to name a few.
   • Meaning: a common pattern or convention in UI/programming; an established way of doing something

6. just to name a few

   • Example: This idiom appears across many kinds of apps and shows up in collections, lists, menus of action items, and disclosable lists, ==just to name a few==.
   • Meaning: used to indicate that only a small number of examples are being given; "among others"

7. interface

   • Example: You create the user ==interface==, or UI, for your app inside the body; the entire contents of your app are in the code below.
   • Meaning: the visual layer of an application that users interact with; user interface (UI)

// NOTE: - Demo code
import SwiftUI

struct ContentView: View {
    var body: some View {
        VStack {
            Image(systemName: "globe")
                .imageScale(.large)
                .foregroundColor(.tint)
            
            Text("Hello World")
        }
    }
}

#Preview {
    ContentView()
}

8. instance

   • Example: To construct your narrative, the app needs an ==instance== of Story, which takes an array of StoryPage instances.
   • Meaning: a specific occurrence of an object created from a class or struct

9. hold

   • Example: The text property ==holds== a String that describes the choice readers can make.
   • Meaning: to store or contain a value; to hold

10. present

    • Example: Use a navigation stack to ==present== a stack of views over a root view.
    • Meaning: to display or show a view on screen

11. indicates

    • Example: A value-destination ==indicates== that you are pushing a value onto the path.
    • Meaning: to signal or show that something is the case; to indicate

2. One for all, all for one

   • Example: The three friends made a pact: ==one for all, all for one==. They promised to stand by each other no matter what challenges lay ahead.
   • Meaning: a phrase expressing mutual support and solidarity within a group

3. Be careful, though

   • Example: The restaurant is amazing and cheap. ==Be careful==, though: it gets really crowded on weekends.
   • Meaning: used to add a warning or caveat after a positive statement; "that said, watch out for..."

4. embedded in

   • Example: These attitudes are ==embedded in== our society.
   • Meaning: deeply ingrained or firmly fixed within something; deeply rooted in

5. enthusiasts

   • Example: She is one of the most dedicated fitness ==enthusiasts== I have ever met.
   • Meaning: people who are highly interested in and passionate about a particular activity or subject