Create consistent stream alerts from any source. From idea to done, fast.

Alert! Alert! is a small native desktop app for streamers: pull in a clip from a URL or a local file, crop and trim it, and export a clean alert — without opening a full editor.

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Supported platforms

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What it does

• Load from a video URL (via yt-dlp) or a local file.
• Preview natively — H.264 plays directly, no browser engine, no transcode workaround.
• Crop with aspect-ratio presets (1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4, 21:9), zoom, and a draggable box with rule-of-thirds guides.
• Trim right on the timeline — drag the in/out handles on the waveform scrubber, or use keyboard shortcuts.
• Export a square alert: resolution + quality presets, audio normalize, fades, and an optional end-buffer freeze.
• Overrides — swap in a separate audio track, or use a still image as the visual with the clip's audio.
• Batch queue — line up multiple clips, each with its own crop/trim/overrides, and Export All in one go.

It's a native PySide6 (Qt Widgets) app — no web server, no embedded browser. The packaged exe is ~70 MB and launches instantly.

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Quick start

Download the app

1. Grab alert-alert.exe from the latest release.
2. Run it. Standalone — no Python needed.
3. On first launch, if FFmpeg or yt-dlp aren't found, the app offers a one-click setup that downloads them for you from their official sources (nothing downloads until you click).

Run from source

git clone https://github.com/thedeutschmark/alert-alert.git
cd alert-alert
pip install -r requirements.txt
python native_app.py

Requirements: Windows (primary target), Python 3.10+, and internet access for URL loading and runtime setup.

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Keyboard shortcuts

Key	Action
Space	Play / pause
I / O	Set trim in / out at the playhead
← / →	Seek ∓1s
, / .	Nudge ∓0.1s
J / L	Seek ∓5s
Home / End	Jump to start / end
↑ / ↓	Volume up / down
+ / −	Zoom in / out
R	Reset crop to Original
PgUp / PgDn	Previous / next clip in queue
Ctrl+E	Export All

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Menu

• Take the tour — replay the guided walkthrough (loads a sample clip if your queue is empty).
• Check dependencies — see FFmpeg / ffprobe / yt-dlp status anytime.
• Update yt-dlp — pull the latest yt-dlp so YouTube changes don't break downloads.
• Show log terminal — open a console alongside the app for live logs (off by default; also --console on launch).
• Open Output Folder, About.

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Building the exe

pip install -r requirements.txt pyinstaller
python -m PyInstaller --clean --noconfirm AlertNative.spec

Produces dist/alert-alert.exe (native build — AlertNative.spec excludes QtWebEngine). Pushing a v* tag also builds and attaches the exe via GitHub Actions.

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Troubleshooting

• Downloads/exports fail on a fresh machine → FFmpeg or yt-dlp isn't installed. Use the first-run setup prompt, or install them yourself.
• YouTube URL won't download → run Update yt-dlp from the App menu; install optional deno if challenge handling still fails.

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deutschmark's other apps

	Clipline Livestream VODs → shortform clips with auto-captions.
	The Stream Toolset OBS overlays + companion apps. One login, no subscriptions.
	ForgetMeNot A Twitch chat bot that remembers your regulars.
	Collab Planner Finds collab windows from streamers' broadcast history.
	P.A.T.H.O.S. AI career platform — resume tailoring + ATS scoring.

_{All projects → github.com/thedeutschmark}

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License

AGPL-3.0 — see LICENSE. Third-party runtime notices are in THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.txt.

Credits

Created by deutschmark. Built with FFmpeg, yt-dlp, and PySide6.