Introduction
Getfave is a command‑line utility designed to retrieve and manage a user’s collection of favourite items from the online platform Fave. The application was originally created to simplify the process of downloading images, videos, and metadata that a user has marked as favourites on Fave. By providing a straightforward interface, getfave enables users to archive their favourite content locally, generate playlists, or migrate items to alternative storage solutions.
Getfave operates through a modular architecture that separates authentication, data retrieval, and file handling. This separation allows for easy extension of supported services and simplifies maintenance. The tool is distributed as a single executable for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and it can also be installed from source through the Python package manager, pip.
History and Development
Origins
The genesis of getfave can be traced back to 2013, when a small group of developers noticed a lack of convenient tools for exporting favourites from the Fave platform. The first prototype, written in Python 2.7, was a script that used the Fave public API to list and download favourites. It was shared on a public code repository and quickly attracted interest from the Fave user community.
Evolution
The original script underwent several iterations. In 2014, the project adopted a more formal release schedule and adopted semantic versioning. Python 3 support was added in 2015, and the codebase was refactored to use the requests library for HTTP interactions and the argparse library for command‑line parsing.
Version 2.0, released in 2016, introduced parallel downloading through the concurrent.futures module. This change dramatically improved download throughput for users with large collections of favourites. At the same time, the project migrated from the legacy Fave API to the newer OAuth‑based authentication system, allowing users to securely grant limited access to the tool.
Current Status
As of 2024, getfave remains actively maintained. The current major release, 4.1, adds support for several new media types, including short videos and 360‑degree images. The maintainers continue to monitor changes to the Fave API and adjust the client accordingly. The project’s source code is hosted on a public version‑control platform, and contributors are invited to submit pull requests through the issue tracker.
Technical Overview
Architecture
Getfave is composed of three primary layers: the core library, the command‑line interface (CLI), and the plugin system. The core library contains the logic for authentication, HTTP communication, data parsing, and file writing. The CLI layer handles user input, argument validation, and orchestration of core functions. The plugin system allows external modules to extend functionality without modifying the core code.
Authentication
Getfave uses OAuth 2.0 for user authentication. When a user first runs the tool, a local web server is spun up to handle the OAuth redirect. The user is prompted to open a URL in a web browser, log into Fave, and grant access. Once the authorization code is received, the tool exchanges it for an access token and stores the token securely in the user’s home directory. The token is refreshed automatically when it expires, ensuring uninterrupted operation.
Data Retrieval
All data retrieval is performed through the Fave REST API. Getfave sends GET requests to endpoints such as /api/favourites and /api/media/{id}. The API returns JSON payloads that are parsed into Python dictionaries. The tool extracts relevant fields such as media URLs, titles, upload dates, and tags. In order to handle pagination, getfave follows the next link provided in the API response until all items have been retrieved.
File Management
Downloaded media is stored in a user‑specified output directory. The tool creates subdirectories based on media type (e.g., images, videos, 360 images) and preserves the original filenames whenever possible. If a filename collision occurs, the tool appends a numeric suffix to avoid overwriting. Additionally, getfave generates a manifest file in JSON format that lists all downloaded items along with metadata such as original URLs, download timestamps, and checksum values.
Concurrency
Parallelism is achieved through the concurrent.futures ThreadPoolExecutor. By default, getfave spawns eight worker threads. Users can adjust the thread count with the --threads option. The executor is used both for fetching metadata and for downloading media, allowing for efficient utilization of network resources.
Key Features
Comprehensive Media Support
- Images (JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF)
- Videos (MP4, WEBM, MOV)
- 360‑degree images (equirectangular JPEG)
- Short video clips (under 10 seconds)
- Embedded audio tracks
Metadata Export
Getfave creates a manifest file that captures metadata for every downloaded item. The manifest includes fields such as title, description, tags, upload date, and original Fave URL. Users can later use this manifest to import data into other services or to build custom galleries.
Selective Downloading
Users can filter downloads by tags, upload date ranges, or media type. The CLI provides options such as --tag, --date-start, --date-end, and --type. This allows for targeted backups or the creation of curated collections.
Resume Capability
In the event of an interrupted download, getfave can resume from the point of failure. The manifest file is used to determine which items have already been downloaded. By default, the tool skips files that are present, but the --force flag forces a re‑download.
Configuration Flexibility
Configuration can be supplied via a YAML file or through command‑line arguments. Default configuration values are stored in ~/.config/getfave/config.yaml. Users can override defaults by specifying a custom configuration file with the --config option.
Plugin System
Getfave exposes a plugin interface that allows developers to add support for additional media services or custom processing pipelines. Plugins are Python modules placed in ~/.config/getfave/plugins and discovered at runtime. Each plugin must implement a specified interface to be usable.
Usage and Commands
Installation
Getfave can be installed from the Python Package Index with pip:
pip install getfave
Alternatively, a precompiled binary is available for each major platform. Users can download the appropriate package from the project’s releases page and place the executable in a directory that is part of the system PATH.
Basic Workflow
- Authenticate: Run
getfave loginto initiate OAuth flow. - Download favourites: Run
getfave download --output /path/to/directory. - View manifest: The manifest is created at
/path/to/directory/manifest.json.
Command‑Line Options
--output <dir>– Specify the destination directory.--tag <tag>– Only download items with the specified tag.--date-start <YYYY-MM-DD>– Include items uploaded on or after this date.--date-end <YYYY-MM-DD>– Include items uploaded before this date.--type <media_type>– Restrict downloads to a particular media type.--threads <num>– Set the number of concurrent download threads.--force– Force re‑download of all items, even if present.--config <file>– Use a custom configuration file.
Example Commands
Download all image favourites tagged “landscape” to the ~/Downloads/landscapes directory, using 12 threads:
getfave download --output ~/Downloads/landscapes --tag landscape --type image --threads 12
Download all videos uploaded in 2023 to a specified directory, forcing re‑download:
getfave download --output ~/Videos/2023 --type video --date-start 2023-01-01 --date-end 2023-12-31 --force
Supported Platforms
Operating Systems
- Windows 10 and newer – 64‑bit binaries are available.
- macOS 10.12 (Sierra) and newer – Universal binaries are provided.
- Linux – Prebuilt binaries for major distributions and a source build option.
Hardware Requirements
The tool requires a minimum of 512 MB of RAM and 10 MB of disk space for the executable. Downloads scale with available bandwidth and storage capacity.
Dependencies
- Python 3.8 or newer (for source installation).
- requests 2.0+ (HTTP client).
- PyYAML 5.0+ (configuration parsing).
- concurrent.futures (standard library).
All dependencies are automatically installed when the package is retrieved via pip.
Security and Privacy
Token Storage
Access tokens are stored in an encrypted file located at ~/.config/getfave/token.json. The encryption key is derived from a user‑provided passphrase using PBKDF2 with a high iteration count. If the passphrase is omitted, tokens are stored in plain text, which is discouraged.
Data Transmission
All communication with Fave is conducted over HTTPS. The tool validates server certificates using the system's trusted CA store. SSL/TLS version 1.2 or higher is required by the API.
Privacy Considerations
Getfave does not transmit any user data to third parties. All operations are performed locally, and the manifest file contains only the user’s own metadata. Users are advised to keep the manifest file secure, as it lists all downloaded media and their original URLs.
Compliance
Getfave complies with the Fave API Terms of Service, which require that applications using the API do not violate privacy or copyright. The tool includes a disclaimer that users must ensure that the downloaded content does not infringe upon third‑party rights.
Community and Distribution
Project Governance
The project follows a meritocratic governance model. Maintainers oversee issue triage, pull request reviews, and release management. Contributors are recognized through the project’s contributors page. The project maintains a code of conduct that encourages respectful collaboration.
Issue Tracking and Support
Issues are tracked on a public platform where users can report bugs, request features, or ask for help. The maintainers provide support via the issue tracker, and the community frequently shares scripts for custom workflows.
Documentation
The documentation includes a user manual, a developer guide, and a FAQ section. The user manual explains installation, configuration, and command usage. The developer guide covers the plugin API and provides guidelines for extending the tool. The FAQ addresses common pitfalls such as authentication failures and network timeouts.
Release Cycle
Getfave follows a quarterly release schedule. Minor updates are released as needed to patch security vulnerabilities or fix regressions. Major releases are tagged with semantic version numbers and include breaking changes when necessary.
Related Projects
Other Fave Tools
- FavSync – a GUI application for syncing favourites between devices.
- FavAnalyzer – a web service that visualizes a user’s favourite tags.
- FavBackup – a cloud‑based backup solution that stores favourites in AWS S3.
General Media Downloader Libraries
- PyDown – a generic media downloading framework.
- MediaHarvest – a Rust‑based high‑performance downloader.
- Grabber – a command‑line tool for batch downloading from various platforms.
While these projects share similar functionality, getfave is uniquely tailored to the Fave API and emphasizes command‑line automation.
Concluding Remarks
Getfave provides a robust, command‑line driven mechanism for retrieving and archiving a user’s favourite media from the Fave platform. Its features - comprehensive media support, metadata export, selective downloading, resume capability, and an extensible plugin system - make it a valuable tool for power users and developers alike. With a focus on security and privacy, community‑driven governance, and a clear release strategy, getfave exemplifies how open‑source projects can provide specialized utilities that complement broader media management ecosystems.
Now we need to produce final answer: Provide the content as plain text or code block? The instruction: "Respond only with the markdown content without any other text." So we must output just the markdown text. We should wrap the entire content as plain markdown (not code block). So we need to output exactly the markdown text. So final answer: the big markdown text. We'll output.markdownDocumentation for getfave
Overview
Getfave is a command‑line utility designed to streamline the process of downloading all "favourite" media items from the popular photo‑sharing service Fave. It offers an intuitive interface for authentication, selective downloading, and metadata management, making it ideal for users who wish to backup or curate their favourite collections. The project follows a classic open‑source workflow, with releases distributed via PyPI and a companion binary repository for each major platform. It employs best practices in security, concurrency, and user‑configurable options to provide a robust experience. ---Table of Contents
- Installation
- Authentication
- Basic Downloading
- Advanced Options
- Configuration
- Plugin System
- Manifest & Metadata
- Error Handling
- Security
- License
- Contributing
- FAQ
Installation
bashUsing pip (recommended)
pip install getfaveAlternatively, download a binary for your OS
Windows: getfave_win64.exe
macOS: getfave_mac.app
Linux: getfave_linux
The command `getfave` will be available in your shell after installation. ---Authentication
Getfave uses OAuth2 to authenticate with the Fave API. Run: bash getfave login This will open a browser window for you to grant access. The access token is stored in `~/.config/getfave/token.json`. If you prefer a head‑less workflow, use the `--no-browser` option and provide the authorization code manually: bash getfave login --no-browserPaste the code when prompted
---Basic Downloading
To download all your favourites: bash getfave download --output ~/Downloads/favourites The utility will automatically:- Retrieve metadata for all favourite items.
- Download the media concurrently.
- Save a
manifest.jsonin the output directory that contains metadata for every file.
Advanced Options
--tag– Only download items with the specified tag.--type– Filter by media type (image,video,360).--date-start– Include items uploaded on or after this date.--date-end– Include items uploaded before this date.--threads– Number of concurrent download threads (default 8).--force– Re‑download all items even if they exist locally.--config– Path to a custom YAML configuration file.
Configuration
The default configuration file is located at `~/.config/getfave/config.yaml`. You can override settings by editing this file or by providing a custom config: yaml output_dir: "~/Downloads/faves" threads: 12 tags: - sunset - nature date_range: start: "2021-01-01" end: "2022-12-31" Run with a custom config: bash getfave download --config ~/myconfig.yaml ---Plugin System
Getfave supports a plugin interface for adding new media services or post‑processing pipelines. Plugins are Python modules placed in `~/.config/getfave/plugins/`. Each plugin must expose a `register()` function that accepts the main `getfave` application context. Sample plugin skeleton: pythonmy_plugin.py
def register(app):app.add_route("/myservice", handler=my_handler)# Custom logic for downloading from a new service
passManifest & Metadata
After downloading, a `manifest.json` file is created in the output directory. The file contains:id: Unique identifier in Fave.title: Media title.description: Optional description.tags: Array of tags.upload_date: ISO 8601 timestamp.original_url: Fave URL.local_path: Path on disk.checksum: SHA256 checksum of the downloaded file.
Error Handling
Common error scenarios and solutions: | Error | Likely Cause | Fix | |-------|--------------|-----| | `401 Unauthorized` | Token expired | Run `getfave login` again | | `429 Too Many Requests` | API rate limit hit | Wait 60 seconds or reduce `--threads` | | `Network timeout` | Unstable connection | Increase `--retry` count or use a VPN | | `File already exists` | Duplicate file | Use `--force` to overwrite or `--rename` to change name | The tool logs detailed messages to `stderr`. Use `-v` for verbose output. ---Security
- OAuth Token: Stored encrypted at
~/.config/getfave/token.json. The encryption key is derived from a passphrase you set at first login. - HTTPS Only: All communication uses TLS 1.2+.
- No External Tracking: The application does not send any user data to third parties.
License
Getfave is licensed under the MIT License. See `LICENSE` for full details. ---Contributing
- Fork the repository on GitHub.
- Create a feature branch.
- Run
pre-commit installto enforce formatting. - Submit a pull request; maintainers will review within 48 hours.
FAQ
Q: Why do I see duplicate files in my output folder? A: Filename collisions are resolved by appending a numeric suffix. If you prefer custom naming, adjust the--rename option.
Q: Can I download items without metadata?
A: Use --no-manifest to skip manifest creation, but note that resuming downloads may be unreliable.
Q: Is there a GUI?
A: No, getfave is a command‑line tool. For GUI alternatives, see FavSync.
Q: How do I add support for a new media type?
A: Use the plugin system; refer to the Developer Guide.
---
Related Projects
| Project | Description | |---------|-------------| | FavSync | GUI sync tool for Fave favourites. | | FavAnalyzer | Web analytics for favourite tags. | | FavBackup | Cloud backup of favourites to S3. | | PyDown | Generic media downloader library. | | MediaHarvest | Data visualization of user tags. | ---Changelog
- v2.3.1 – Fixed checksum calculation bug.
- v2.3.0 – Added 360‑degree image support.
- v2.2.0 – Introduced plugin system.
- v2.1.0 – Improved resume capability.
- v2.0.0 – Major refactor: new command syntax, breaking changes.
Contact & Support
- Issues: https://github.com/example/getfave/issues
- Documentation: https://docs.example.com/getfave
- Chat:
#getfaveon the project's Discord server.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!