Add option `--no-simulate` to not simulate even when `--print` or `--list...` are used

* Deprecates `--print-json`
* Some listings like `--list-extractors` are handled by `yt_dlp` and so are not affected by this. These have been documented as such

Addresses: https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/issues/29675, https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/issues/29580#issuecomment-882046305

README.md

@@ -1424,6 +1424,7 @@ While these options still work, their use is not recommended since there are oth
 
     --all-formats                    -f all
     --all-subs                       --sub-langs all --write-subs
+    --print-json                     -j --no-simulate
     --autonumber-size NUMBER         Use string formatting. Eg: %(autonumber)03d
     --autonumber-start NUMBER        Use internal field formatting like %(autonumber+NUMBER)s
     --metadata-from-title FORMAT     --parse-metadata "%(title)s:FORMAT"

yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py

@@ -198,7 +198,8 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
                        (or video) as a single JSON line.
     force_write_download_archive: Force writing download archive regardless
                        of 'skip_download' or 'simulate'.
-    simulate:          Do not download the video files.
+    simulate:          Do not download the video files. If unset (or None),
+                       simulate only if listsubtitles, listformats or list_thumbnails is used
     format:            Video format code. see "FORMAT SELECTION" for more details.
     allow_unplayable_formats:   Allow unplayable formats to be extracted and downloaded.
     ignore_no_formats_error: Ignore "No video formats" error. Usefull for
@@ -706,7 +707,7 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
     def save_console_title(self):
         if not self.params.get('consoletitle', False):
             return
-        if self.params.get('simulate', False):
+        if self.params.get('simulate'):
             return
         if compat_os_name != 'nt' and 'TERM' in os.environ:
             # Save the title on stack
@@ -715,7 +716,7 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
     def restore_console_title(self):
         if not self.params.get('consoletitle', False):
             return
-        if self.params.get('simulate', False):
+        if self.params.get('simulate'):
             return
         if compat_os_name != 'nt' and 'TERM' in os.environ:
             # Restore the title from stack
@@ -1616,7 +1617,7 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
             return merger.available and merger.can_merge()
 
         prefer_best = (
-            not self.params.get('simulate', False)
+            not self.params.get('simulate')
             and download
             and (
                 not can_merge()
@@ -2218,20 +2219,22 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
 
         info_dict, _ = self.pre_process(info_dict)
 
-        list_only = self.params.get('list_thumbnails') or self.params.get('listformats') or self.params.get('listsubtitles')
+        if self.params.get('list_thumbnails'):
+            self.list_thumbnails(info_dict)
+        if self.params.get('listformats'):
+            if not info_dict.get('formats'):
+                raise ExtractorError('No video formats found', expected=True)
+            self.list_formats(info_dict)
+        if self.params.get('listsubtitles'):
+            if 'automatic_captions' in info_dict:
+                self.list_subtitles(
+                    info_dict['id'], automatic_captions, 'automatic captions')
+            self.list_subtitles(info_dict['id'], subtitles, 'subtitles')
+        list_only = self.params.get('simulate') is None and (
+            self.params.get('list_thumbnails') or self.params.get('listformats') or self.params.get('listsubtitles'))
         if list_only:
+            # Without this printing, -F --print-json will not work
             self.__forced_printings(info_dict, self.prepare_filename(info_dict), incomplete=True)
-            if self.params.get('list_thumbnails'):
-                self.list_thumbnails(info_dict)
-            if self.params.get('listformats'):
-                if not info_dict.get('formats'):
-                    raise ExtractorError('No video formats found', expected=True)
-                self.list_formats(info_dict)
-            if self.params.get('listsubtitles'):
-                if 'automatic_captions' in info_dict:
-                    self.list_subtitles(
-                        info_dict['id'], automatic_captions, 'automatic captions')
-                self.list_subtitles(info_dict['id'], subtitles, 'subtitles')
             return
 
         format_selector = self.format_selector
@@ -2455,7 +2458,7 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
         # Forced printings
         self.__forced_printings(info_dict, full_filename, incomplete=('format' not in info_dict))
 
-        if self.params.get('simulate', False):
+        if self.params.get('simulate'):
             if self.params.get('force_write_download_archive', False):
                 self.record_download_archive(info_dict)
 

yt_dlp/__init__.py

@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ def _real_main(argv=None):
         'forcejson': opts.dumpjson or opts.print_json,
         'dump_single_json': opts.dump_single_json,
         'force_write_download_archive': opts.force_write_download_archive,
-        'simulate': opts.simulate or any_getting,
+        'simulate': (any_getting or None) if opts.simulate is None else opts.simulate,
         'skip_download': opts.skip_download,
         'format': opts.format,
         'allow_unplayable_formats': opts.allow_unplayable_formats,

yt_dlp/options.py

@@ -190,15 +190,15 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
     general.add_option(
         '--dump-user-agent',
         action='store_true', dest='dump_user_agent', default=False,
-        help='Display the current browser identification')
+        help='Display the current browser identification and exit')
     general.add_option(
         '--list-extractors',
         action='store_true', dest='list_extractors', default=False,
-        help='List all supported extractors')
+        help='List all supported extractors and exit')
     general.add_option(
         '--extractor-descriptions',
         action='store_true', dest='list_extractor_descriptions', default=False,
-        help='Output descriptions of all supported extractors')
+        help='Output descriptions of all supported extractors and exit')
     general.add_option(
         '--force-generic-extractor',
         action='store_true', dest='force_generic_extractor', default=False,
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
     video_format.add_option(
         '-F', '--list-formats',
         action='store_true', dest='listformats',
-        help='List all available formats of requested videos')
+        help='List available formats of each video. Simulate unless --no-simulate is used')
     video_format.add_option(
         '--list-formats-as-table',
         action='store_true', dest='listformats_table', default=True,
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
     subtitles.add_option(
         '--list-subs',
         action='store_true', dest='listsubtitles', default=False,
-        help='List all available subtitles for the video')
+        help='List available subtitles of each video. Simulate unless --no-simulate is used')
     subtitles.add_option(
         '--sub-format',
         action='store', dest='subtitlesformat', metavar='FORMAT', default='best',
@@ -788,8 +788,12 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
         help='Ignore warnings')
     verbosity.add_option(
         '-s', '--simulate',
-        action='store_true', dest='simulate', default=False,
+        action='store_true', dest='simulate', default=None,
         help='Do not download the video and do not write anything to disk')
+    verbosity.add_option(
+        '--no-simulate',
+        action='store_false', dest='simulate',
+        help='Download the video even if printing/listing options are used')
     verbosity.add_option(
         '--ignore-no-formats-error',
         action='store_true', dest='ignore_no_formats_error', default=False,
@@ -809,8 +813,8 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
         action='callback', dest='forceprint', type='str', default=[],
         callback=_list_from_options_callback, callback_kwargs={'delim': None},
         help=(
-            'Simulate, quiet but print the given fields. Either a field name '
+            'Quiet, but print the given fields for each video. Simulate unless --no-simulate is used. '
-            'or similar formatting as the output template can be used'))
+            'Either a field name or same syntax as the output template can be used'))
     verbosity.add_option(
         '-g', '--get-url',
         action='store_true', dest='geturl', default=False,
@@ -846,17 +850,17 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
     verbosity.add_option(
         '-j', '--dump-json',
         action='store_true', dest='dumpjson', default=False,
-        help='Simulate, quiet but print JSON information. See "OUTPUT TEMPLATE" for a description of available keys')
+        help='Quiet, but print JSON information for each video. Simulate unless --no-simulate is used. See "OUTPUT TEMPLATE" for a description of available keys')
     verbosity.add_option(
         '-J', '--dump-single-json',
         action='store_true', dest='dump_single_json', default=False,
         help=(
-            'Simulate, quiet but print JSON information for each command-line argument. '
+            'Quiet, but print JSON information for each url or infojson passed. Simulate unless --no-simulate is used. '
-            'If the URL refers to a playlist, dump the whole playlist information in a single line'))
+            'If the URL refers to a playlist, the whole playlist information is dumped in a single line'))
     verbosity.add_option(
         '--print-json',
         action='store_true', dest='print_json', default=False,
-        help='Be quiet and print the video information as JSON (video is still being downloaded)')
+        help=optparse.SUPPRESS_HELP)
     verbosity.add_option(
         '--force-write-archive', '--force-write-download-archive', '--force-download-archive',
         action='store_true', dest='force_write_download_archive', default=False,
@@ -1127,7 +1131,7 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
     thumbnail.add_option(
         '--list-thumbnails',
         action='store_true', dest='list_thumbnails', default=False,
-        help='Simulate and list all available thumbnail formats')
+        help='List available thumbnails of each video. Simulate unless --no-simulate is used')
 
     link = optparse.OptionGroup(parser, 'Internet Shortcut Options')
     link.add_option(