VJ-2-108

I built a completely free forever open-source productivity Application called NoSuggest and featured it in HN community. Now recently I have implemented keyboard navigations, skip links, modal focus trapping, screen reader support and prefers reducted motion. The accessibility statement is published in https://nosuggest.com/accessibility.

I am planning to apply for CAST/Digital Promise's Accessibility Baseline certification. It is required for a formal badge in ISTE EdTech Index listing. Facing a blocker as they require a third party WCAG 2.1 AA conformance report (ACR/VPAT). Self assessment won't qualify for it.

This is a single page app with no login. Approx 8 screens and minimal scope. Professional audits would charge couple of thousands of dollars. For a permanently free tool, it is not a viable option.

Has anyone navigated this for a free, open-source project? Anyone can volunteer to review?

Thank you.

NoSuggest is using official YouTube iFrame player. No explicitly removing ads or views. No downloading or hosting any videos in NoSuggest. All views and ads revenue if YouTube serve any ads, will go straight to YouTube. Although YouTube serve way fewer ads in iFrame player. Totally upto YouTube.

Latest 5 videos of the channel. If the creator has only 3 videos posted many years ago, then NoSuggest will bring up those 3 videos only. Purely up to content creators.

NoSuggest more focused for mobile users where real doom scrolling happens. Unhook don't work in mobiles. There are some alternative solutions which require high technical knowledge but it won't help people who are not technical but still want to get out of doom scrolling, wasting time in YouTube and still stay connected with their favorite educational content or news content creators.

Thank you. Glad that you like it. Please use the app and provide feedback.

Interesting idea but the whole philosophy here is no algorithm at all, not a better one.

Interesting, haven't seen that one. NoSuggest takes the opposite approach though, no algorithm at all rather than a better one.

In previous versions, I had a direct YouTube channel link in the feed. So if user wants to see more than 5 videos of that channel then clicking on the link would take them directly to YouTube channel where they can find all the videos. But I got many users feedback that "making easy access to YouTube would be counter-intuitive and if they want to find a particular video obviously they know the search keywords and they can search for it in search tab." So scrolling videos or YouTube direct link was removed.

The Expand idea is interesting though, will think about it. Thank you.

That's really good idea which I am getting multiple times from Show HN post. Never thought about it before. Would definitely do it next. Thank you very much!

That's a nice idea for future enhancement. But for now, if in case you use different devices for different purpose like laptop for learning and mobile for background entertainment then both devices can have their own list of channels completely separate.

I highly appreciate you using the app. Please provide your feedback. Thank you.

That's great idea. Yes, that solves the YouTube in browser problem. I tried to solve here the remaining problem which is doom scrolling in mobile.

Interesting. But it won't work with mobiles i believe. Which is were real doom scrolling would happen. NoSuggest installs just like a native app and do the job of YouTube app without algorithms.

No, the name itself is NoSuggest. Not suggesting anything. Just a platform to watch Youtube videos of your choice and nothing else. Please try it out and provide feedback. Thank you.

It is same exact feeling I have with YouTube. Although I used YouTube more than any other streaming platforms. That frustration is exactly what NoSuggest is trying to fix, at least for YouTube. No algorithm, no recommendations, no suggestions. Just the channels you chose. Give it a try.

Yeah, I tried that too. But when I watch a video of the channel I like, there will be unending side cards of videos suggesting what to watch next. There are so many ways YouTube tries to keep you on their platform. And one more benefit that NoSuggest will not have as much ads as YouTube. Although I am using YouTube official player, meaning they could serve ads but definitely would be far less than what you see in YouTube app.

Yeah, I tried that too. But when I watch a video of the channel I like, there will be unending side cards of videos suggesting what to watch next. There are so many ways YouTube tries to keep you on their platform.

And one more benefit that NoSuggest will not have as much ads as YouTube. Although I am using YouTube official player, meaning they could serve ads but definitely would be far less than what you see in YouTube app.

Fair critique. The browser extension approach works well on desktop but does not work on mobile at all, which is exactly where the algorithm does the most damage. That's the gap NoSuggest is filling.

Yes, it is using RSS feeds per channel and also there are multiple fallbacks built. NoSuggest is a curated experience just like YouTube but without algorithm recommendations.

Sorry, it won't work like a YouTube app in TV. But if you can install a browser to your smart TV and access the URL then it will work just like in laptop.

That is a fair point and I hear you. The encrypted account idea is interesting. How about an export/import feature where you can save your channel list as a file and reload it anytime, or even a shareable link that encodes your channels in the URL like PCPartPicker does with builds. It would be faster than login. And no account creation and no tracking as promised. Would that solve your problem?

Yes, I 100% agree with you. Thank you for bringing it up.

And date filter: that is a fun way to use YouTube. The search tab in NoSuggest lets you search for specific videos without recommendations creeping in around them, so you can do that kind of intentional digging. Date filtering isn't there though. And the feed only shows the latest 5 videos per channel so it won't surface older content.

FreeTube is great but it is a desktop app you have to install. NoSuggest works on any device straight from the browser, especially mobile where nothing else really works. Give it a go and let me know what you think please. Looking forward for your valuable feedback.

Interesting idea but that moves it away from being a zero install web app which is core to what NoSuggest is. The PWA angle is the whole point, especially for mobile.

Hey Seirim, totally valid concern. The app uses localStorage so yes, clearing cookies/history on shutdown would wipe your channels. Accounts are off the table for now since the whole point is zero sign-in friction and zero data collection. But if it helps, you can download the PWA app to your mobile and use it. Thank you very much!

Hoping NoSuggest would be useful to you in any ways.

Thank you for the detailed feedback. Really useful.

On streams: I never thought about it as an use-case. Thank you for bring it up. Will look into it.

Showing 5 videos/channel is intentional. Idea is to only surface latest videos and not re-create a scroll feed like Youtube. But if I get more feedback from users that it is too restrictive then I can easily make it to recent 10 or 15 videos. What do you feel as an appropriate number of recent videos per channel is?

Good catch on the channels tab. Currently it just manages your list. Tapping a channel to jump to their feed section is a neat idea though, will look into adding it.

Glad to know you liked it. Thank you! Yes, please keep using it and provide feedback after using for few days.

Thank you! Yes, no account or sign-up to reduce any friction. Please provide feedback when you use it.

Australia just banned social media for under 16s. Living here, the conversation feels very real.

Impressive dedication, reverse engineering 35 years old game files is no small task.