PipePipe: NewPipe hard fork implementing SponsorBlock

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

An open-source fork of the Android YouTube client NewPipe, called PipePipe, is gaining attention for integrating SponsorBlock to automatically skip in-video sponsorship segments. Commenters weigh PipePipe’s faster updates and added features against NewPipe’s ethical stance that creator sponsorships are a “mostly ethical” form of advertising that should not be circumvented. The conversation broadens into how people watch YouTube without official apps or tracking, the trade-offs between privacy and creator revenue, and the shifting ecosystem of alternative clients on Android, desktop, and iOS.

NewPipe’s Stance on SponsorBlock and Ads

  • NewPipe explicitly refuses to integrate SponsorBlock.
  • Their stated rationale: core mission is privacy, not removing all forms of advertising; in‑video sponsorships are seen as “mostly ethical,” creator-controlled, and non‑tracking.
  • They argue blocking sponsorships would turn them into an “ad gatekeeper,” which they don’t want.

Reactions to NewPipe’s Position

  • Some call this a fair, principled stance and say forking to add SponsorBlock is the right way to resolve disagreements.
  • Others see it as inconsistent: NewPipe circumvents YouTube’s ad system but refuses to touch in‑video ads, even though many sponsors are perceived as scammy or privacy‑invasive.
  • Several posters reject the idea that push advertising is ethical at all, comparing SponsorBlock use to fast‑forwarding TV ads or ignoring junk mail.

PipePipe: Motivation and User Experience

  • PipePipe is a NewPipe hard fork that integrates SponsorBlock (and Return YouTube Dislike) and is reported to update quickly when YouTube breaks things.
  • Multiple users report switching from NewPipe due to slow bugfixes and say PipePipe feels less buggy with better navigation.
  • Some PipePipe users disable SponsorBlock because skipping segments can be annoying to undo.

Alternatives on Desktop and Other Platforms

  • Suggested desktop options: Firefox/Chrome with uBlock Origin + SponsorBlock, FreeTube (sometimes flaky), mpv + yt-dlp, and various web frontends.
  • On Android, many prefer browser-only setups for portability and de‑Googling, but others favor dedicated apps for background play, downloads, and hiding recommendations/comments.
  • iOS users miss NewPipe‑style apps; suggestions include Unwatched, Yattee with Invidious, and modded YouTube clients with built-in ad/SponsorBlock features.

Ethics, Creators, and “Stealing”

  • One camp views blocking sponsorships as stealing from creators whose income relies on those segments.
  • Others counter that viewers are free not to watch ads, they usually ignore them anyway, and making YouTube a guaranteed career path isn’t a moral requirement.

Broader Ideas and Issues

  • Some report YouTube intermittently blocking or rate‑limiting NewPipe/PipePipe, possibly worsened by CGNAT; VPN/DNS workarounds are suggested.
  • There is discussion of P2P caching and federated video (e.g., PeerTube/WebTorrent), but posters highlight legal risks (copyright, CSAM), poor mobile uplinks, CGNAT, and UX hurdles.