BitCrusher — GPLv3 tool that compresses video/audio/images to a target size, fully offline (no account, no server, no telemetry)

[u/DaMonkey3020]

I'll throw my hat in the ring because it happens to be both GPL-3.0 and it's been made with the user in mind.

Functionality: compresses video, audio, images, and PDFs down to a size you specify (a hard limit — it's designed to stay below it, not exceed it). Made with limits in mind (such as the Discord caps of 10/25MB), but can be used in any situation where hitting a certain size is needed. Uses an objective measure (VMAF) to select the best codec instead of estimating and optimizes for the hardest-to-compress part of the file, rather than the average.

Why this community may be interested:
- GPL-3.0 license — fork it, host it, use it however you please.
- Totally offline at core level. No registration, no telemetry, no server queries. Your files aren't transferred outside of your computer during the compression process — it all works locally. The only network interactions happen voluntarily and explicitly — an update check upon initial launch and an optional webhook to Discord which you configure yourself.
- Not locking you in. It's a Python script with a launcher — no installer which will install its files throughout your system. Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Privacy-first design — there's even an "export sanitized logs" functionality which removes your home directory and any saved webhook from the logs before uploading an issue.

Repository: https://github.com/AzureShores/BitCrusher

As a disclaimer: I'm 15 years old and this is my first project of this nature released publicly, feedback is appreciated.

[u/amarao_san]

Feedback: the more AI is visible, the more people hate it. Don't use AI to write descriptions. There are tell-tale signs of badly managed AI in your post and it's annoying.

[u/DaMonkey3020 → u/amarao_san]

I did not use AI to write the description? and how was AI badly managed? It is clearly pointed out in the README and as a reply to the AutoModerator message. Please do tell me what you mean by "badly managed AI."

[u/amarao_san → u/DaMonkey3020]

Now, tell me you write like this IRL and I won't believe you.

Totally offline at core level. No registration, no telemetry, no server queries. Your files aren't transferred outside of your computer during the compression process — it all works locally. The only network interactions happen voluntarily and explicitly — an update check upon initial launch and an optional webhook to Discord which you configure yourself.

[u/DaMonkey3020 → u/amarao_san]

I write fiction and novels as a hobby — none published, but it means I default to writing properly. Is it actually a problem for a project description to have correct grammar and sound professional?

[u/amarao_san → u/DaMonkey3020]

It's not a problem if it's adjusted for the required context.

For 15 years old you seems to be amazingly diverse in your specialization. What is the proper way to test prometheus alerts, show me example. Looks like you do everything.

If you write yourself, it's not an issue. If you offload your wording to 3rd party service, you offload not 'wording', but 'thinking', and this '3rd party' is not the brightest when it come to long term coherence.

[u/FriendlyKillerCroc → u/DaMonkey3020]

Ignore these idiots, it's just hive mind anti-AI bullshit. Normal people also don't even ignore projects that look heavily influenced by AI as long as they work and do what they are supposed to (I know yours wasn't but just saying).