[feature] Filter download URLs to skip trackers about podcast-dl

[lightpohl]

Hey @calebj!

Sorry for the delayed response on this one!

Those trackers seem pretty annoying. I haven't really noticed them too much, but is it pretty common for the full podcast URL to be embedded in the tracking URL? And the embedded URL typically works by itself when pulled out?

This could be really neat idea — a new experimental flag (something like --filter-url-trackers) that attempts to grab the embedded URL at download time. Probably just need to work some regex magic or find a library that does it already.

I'll take a look here in a few days and see what we can do!

[calebj]

[I]s it pretty common for the full podcast URL to be embedded in the tracking URL? And the embedded URL typically works by itself when pulled out?

In some form, and yes. I haven't tested to see if the trackers insert ads or just track downloads; odds are that it depends on how the publisher has it set up. I randomized parts of my example URLs in the first post for privacy, but here are some popular 'cast feeds:

• https://feeds.twit.tv/podcasts/ttg.xml
• https://anchor.fm/s/91c7948/podcast/rss
• https://feeds.megaphone.fm/stuffyoushouldknow

[lightpohl]

Thanks for the examples!

Added a simple version of this experimental flag in the latest release. We need to validate the potential URLs before using them, so it adds some delay before the download starts. I wouldn't recommend using it unless you know the feed does this — validated with the feeds listed above.