diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index cbb1afe..9a5a755 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -760,6 +760,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "tracing",
  "tracing-appender",
  "tracing-subscriber",
+ "ytdy",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -5133,6 +5134,21 @@ dependencies = [
  "synstructure",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "ytdy"
+version = "0.1.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "async-trait",
+ "crabidy-core",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_json",
+ "tempfile",
+ "thiserror 2.0.19",
+ "tokio",
+ "toml",
+ "tracing",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "zbus"
 version = "5.18.0"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 71f5173..3bbe36b 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ members = [
   "crabidy-server",
   "fsdy",
   "tidaldy",
+  "ytdy",
 ]
 
 [workspace.package]
@@ -68,3 +69,4 @@ audio-player = { path = "audio-player" }
 crabidy-core = { path = "crabidy-core" }
 fsdy = { path = "fsdy" }
 tidaldy = { path = "tidaldy" }
+ytdy = { path = "ytdy" }
diff --git a/architecture/youtube-provider.md b/architecture/youtube-provider.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..54f0425
--- /dev/null
+++ b/architecture/youtube-provider.md
@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
+# YouTube provider (ytdy)
+
+## Context and problem statement
+
+A new library provider for YouTube, mounted at `/youtube`:
+
+- **Search** works without any login — creatable search-term nodes like
+  `/tidal/search` (`%` creates a term, results list as tracks).
+- **Login is optional.** When configured, the user's **playlists** appear
+  as an extra subtree; without it, the provider still works (search
+  only).
+- **Captures** (`W`, download) must work on YouTube nodes — search
+  results and playlists are downloadable.
+
+## Assumptions (confirmed)
+
+- The captures machinery is provider-agnostic: anything that answers
+  `get_lib_node`/`get_urls_for_track` and raises `is_downloadable` gets
+  `w`/`W` for free — no new wire or TUI work at all.
+- The TUI's creatable/editable/deletable node flows (`%`/`e`/`d`) are
+  generic; mirroring tidal's search-term semantics costs no TUI change.
+- `pkgs.yt-dlp` (2026.06.09) exists in nixpkgs; the devenv already pins
+  the toolchain, so the engine binary is declared, not assumed.
+- The audio player streams plain https URLs; googlevideo stream URLs
+  (from `bestaudio`) are plain https and also downloadable with the
+  captures reqwest client.
+
+## Decisions
+
+### D1 — Extraction engine: `yt-dlp` subprocess
+
+Options considered:
+
+- *(a)* **Pure-Rust extractor crates** (`rustypipe`, `rusty_ytdl`): no
+  external binary, but they chase YouTube's extraction changes with
+  small maintainer teams, and logged-in user playlists are weakly or not
+  supported.
+- *(b)* **Invidious/Piped instances**: no extraction code at all, but a
+  hard runtime dependency on third-party servers of unpredictable
+  availability — worse than a local binary for a self-hosted player.
+- *(c)* **`yt-dlp` as a subprocess** with `-J` JSON output: the de-facto
+  standard extractor, fastest to track YouTube changes, supports search
+  (`ytsearchN:`), playlists, cookies-based login, and direct stream
+  URLs. Cost: a non-Rust runtime dependency and subprocess plumbing.
+
+**Decision: (c).** The binary is declared in `devenv.nix` (dev) and is a
+documented runtime requirement (deploys). All calls go through one
+`Engine` seam (`tokio::process::Command`, `kill_on_drop`, per-call
+timeout, bounded stdout, `serde_json` parsing) so tests fake the binary
+with a script and a future pure-Rust engine stays swappable.
+
+### D2 — Crate `ytdy`, mounted at `/youtube`, non-fatal init
+
+New workspace crate `ytdy` implementing `ProviderClient`, following
+`tidaldy`'s shape. `init` probes `<binary> --version` (with timeout);
+a missing or broken binary disables the provider with a warning — the
+server and every other provider keep running. Settings (`ytdy.toml`):
+
+```toml
+binary = "yt-dlp"          # optional; PATH lookup by default
+cookies = "/path/cookies.txt"  # optional; presence = "logged in"
+search_results = 20        # ytsearchN cap
+```
+
+The orchestrator gains `youtube_client: Option<Arc<ytdy::Client>>` and
+`/youtube` routing arms (same completeness as the other providers);
+`get_lib_root` lists `youtube` only when the probe succeeded.
+
+### D3 — Tree shape
+
+- `/youtube` — children: `search` (always, `is_creatable`), `playlists`
+  (only when cookies are configured).
+- `/youtube/search/<term>` — created via `%` like tidal search; terms
+  live in memory (`RwLock<Vec<String>>`, dedup, recreated implicitly on
+  stale paths), renamable and deletable. The node lists the top
+  `search_results` results as **tracks** (`ytsearchN:<term>`,
+  `--flat-playlist`); it is queueable (results are homogeneous tracks,
+  unlike tidal's mixed search).
+- `/youtube/playlists` — the user's playlists as children
+  (`https://www.youtube.com/feed/playlists` with cookies, flat).
+- `/youtube/playlists/<pid>` — playlist entries as tracks.
+- Track paths: `<node>/<videoid>`; metadata from the flat entries
+  (title, uploader as artist, duration). `get_metadata_for_track` runs
+  a single-video `-J` when called directly.
+
+### D4 — Streams, downloads, login
+
+- `get_urls_for_track`: `yt-dlp -f bestaudio/best -g --no-playlist
+  <video>` → the stream URL(s). Cookies are passed to **every** call
+  when configured (search and streams benefit too, e.g. age-gated
+  videos).
+- Downloadability mirrors tidal's central rule: a node is downloadable
+  when it is queueable or lists tracks; children mirror `is_queable`.
+  `extension_for` gains `audio/webm → webm` (bestaudio is usually opus
+  in webm; googlevideo URLs carry no path extension).
+- "Logged in" is exactly "a cookies file is configured and readable at
+  init" — no OAuth flow of our own, no credential storage beyond the
+  user-provided file. The cookies path is config; its **contents are a
+  secret** and must never appear in logs or error reports.
+
+### D5 — Subprocess discipline
+
+- One shared `Engine` with the binary path; every invocation:
+  `--no-warnings -J` (or `-g`), argument-list only (never shell),
+  per-call timeout (default 60 s, configurable for tests), stdout
+  capped, stderr summarized into warnings (never echoed wholesale — it
+  can contain URLs).
+- Errors are typed (`EngineError`: spawn/timeout/exit-status/parse) and
+  map to `ProviderError::FetchError`/`MalformedPath` at the trait
+  boundary; no panic on any subprocess condition.
+- Calls run sequentially per request (no engine-level queue); the
+  orchestrator already spawns long walks.
+
+### D6 — Out of scope (explicitly)
+
+- OAuth/device login flows, cookie refresh, or storing credentials.
+- Uploads, likes, subscriptions feeds, comments; YouTube Music.
+- Caching search or playlist results across calls (each listing is a
+  fresh subprocess call, like tidal's fresh HTTP calls).
+- SponsorBlock, chapters, DRM-protected content (skipped as unplayable).
+
+## Structure
+
+```d2
+direction: right
+
+server: crabidy-server {
+  orch: ProviderOrchestrator
+}
+
+ytdy: "ytdy (crate)" {
+  client: "Client\n(ProviderClient)"
+  terms: "search terms\n(in-memory, like tidal)"
+  engine: "Engine\n(subprocess seam)"
+  client -> terms
+  client -> engine
+}
+
+bin: "yt-dlp binary\n(devenv / PATH)" {
+  shape: hexagon
+}
+
+yt: "YouTube" { shape: cloud }
+cookies: "cookies.txt\n(optional, user-provided)" { shape: page }
+
+server.orch -> ytdy.client: "/youtube/..."
+ytdy.engine -> bin: "argv + -J, timeout,\nbounded stdout"
+bin -> yt
+cookies -> ytdy.engine: "--cookies (when set)"
+```
+
+## Key flow: search, then W
+
+```d2
+shape: sequence_diagram
+tui: TUI
+orch: Orchestrator
+y: ytdy
+e: yt-dlp
+
+tui -> orch: "% on /youtube/search: 'lofi'"
+orch -> y: "create_lib_node"
+y -> e: "ytsearch20:lofi -J --flat-playlist"
+e -> y: "entries (id, title, uploader, duration)"
+y -> tui: "term node: 20 tracks, downloadable"
+tui -> orch: "W → CaptureLibraryNode(download)"
+orch -> y: "per track: get_urls_for_track"
+y -> e: "-f bestaudio -g <id>"
+e -> y: "googlevideo url"
+orch -> orch: "captures store: stream to\n/captures/<name>/ (webm + toml)"
+```
+
+## Risks and open questions
+
+- **`feed/playlists` extraction**: the exact yt-dlp invocation for "my
+  playlists" remains **live-unvalidated** (no cookies were available
+  during development; search, streams, and download captures were
+  validated live). Fallback if it turns out wrong: adjust the feed URL
+  in `playlists_node`, or bookmark playlist URLs as search terms.
+- **yt-dlp breakage/drift**: extraction can break until the devenv pin
+  is bumped; errors stay typed and non-fatal.
+- **Stream URL lifetime**: googlevideo URLs expire (~6 h); captures
+  download immediately after resolving, playback resolves on play —
+  both within the window.
+- **Terms of service**: downloads are personal-use copies of streams the
+  client can already play, same stance as tidal captures.
diff --git a/crabidy-server/Cargo.toml b/crabidy-server/Cargo.toml
index 1755da8..da506be 100644
--- a/crabidy-server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crabidy-server/Cargo.toml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ tonic.workspace = true
 tracing.workspace = true
 tracing-appender.workspace = true
 tracing-subscriber.workspace = true
+ytdy.workspace = true
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 tempfile.workspace = true
diff --git a/crabidy-server/src/capture.rs b/crabidy-server/src/capture.rs
index 30f9297..87a874a 100644
--- a/crabidy-server/src/capture.rs
+++ b/crabidy-server/src/capture.rs
@@ -337,6 +337,9 @@ fn extension_for(content_type: Option<&str>, url: &str) -> String {
             "audio/mpeg" | "audio/mp3" => Some("mp3"),
             "audio/ogg" => Some("ogg"),
             "audio/wav" | "audio/x-wav" => Some("wav"),
+            // YouTube bestaudio is usually opus in webm; googlevideo
+            // URLs carry no path extension to fall back on.
+            "audio/webm" | "video/webm" => Some("webm"),
             _ => None,
         });
     match mapped.or_else(|| url_extension(url)) {
@@ -379,6 +382,7 @@ mod tests {
             ("audio/mpeg", "mp3"),
             ("audio/ogg", "ogg"),
             ("audio/wav", "wav"),
+            ("audio/webm", "webm"),
         ] {
             assert_eq!(extension_for(Some(ct), "https://x.test/s"), ext);
         }
diff --git a/crabidy-server/src/provider.rs b/crabidy-server/src/provider.rs
index 1e0c9df..51b1f86 100644
--- a/crabidy-server/src/provider.rs
+++ b/crabidy-server/src/provider.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ pub struct ProviderOrchestrator {
     /// The download-capture writer; `None` disables download captures
     /// (and the `/captures` mount goes with it).
     capture_store: Option<Arc<CaptureStore>>,
+    /// The YouTube provider (yt-dlp backed); `None` when the binary
+    /// probe failed at init (architecture/youtube-provider.md D2).
+    youtube_client: Option<Arc<ytdy::Client>>,
 }
 
 /// Whether a path belongs to the filesystem provider.
@@ -59,6 +62,11 @@ fn captures_owns(path: &str) -> bool {
     path == CAPTURES_PROVIDER_ROOT || path.starts_with("/captures/")
 }
 
+/// Whether a path belongs to the YouTube provider.
+fn youtube_owns(path: &str) -> bool {
+    path == ytdy::PROVIDER_ROOT || path.starts_with("/youtube/")
+}
+
 impl ProviderOrchestrator {
     /// The fs client, or `MalformedPath` (with a warning) when the
     /// provider is disabled — a `/fs` path then has no owner.
@@ -95,6 +103,15 @@ impl ProviderOrchestrator {
             ProviderError::MalformedPath
         })
     }
+
+    /// The YouTube client, or `MalformedPath` (with a warning) when the
+    /// provider is disabled — a `/youtube` path then has no owner.
+    fn youtube_provider(&self) -> Result<&ytdy::Client, ProviderError> {
+        self.youtube_client.as_deref().ok_or_else(|| {
+            warn!("youtube provider is disabled");
+            ProviderError::MalformedPath
+        })
+    }
     pub fn run(self) {
         tokio::spawn(async move {
             // Behind an Arc so long-running resolves can be spawned onto
@@ -318,6 +335,23 @@ impl ProviderClient for ProviderOrchestrator {
                 }
             }
         });
+        // YouTube: non-fatal like the local providers — a missing or
+        // broken yt-dlp binary only costs the `/youtube` subtree.
+        let yt_config_file = config_dir.join("ytdy.toml");
+        debug!(config_file = %yt_config_file.display(), "loading youtube config");
+        let raw_yt_settings = fs::read_to_string(&yt_config_file).unwrap_or_default();
+        let youtube_client = match ytdy::Client::init(&raw_yt_settings).await {
+            Ok(client) => {
+                if let Err(err) = tokio::fs::write(&yt_config_file, client.settings()).await {
+                    error!("failed to write ytdy config file: {err}");
+                }
+                Some(Arc::new(client))
+            }
+            Err(err) => {
+                warn!("youtube provider disabled: {err}");
+                None
+            }
+        };
         let (provider_tx, provider_rx) = flume::bounded(100);
         Ok(Self {
             provider_rx,
@@ -329,6 +363,7 @@ impl ProviderClient for ProviderOrchestrator {
             bookmark_store,
             captures_client,
             capture_store,
+            youtube_client,
         })
     }
 
@@ -365,6 +400,12 @@ impl ProviderClient for ProviderOrchestrator {
                 .as_ref()
                 .is_some_and(|captures| captures.is_track_path(path));
         }
+        if youtube_owns(path) {
+            return self
+                .youtube_client
+                .as_ref()
+                .is_some_and(|youtube| youtube.is_track_path(path));
+        }
         false
     }
 
@@ -391,6 +432,12 @@ impl ProviderClient for ProviderOrchestrator {
                 .get_urls_for_track(track_path)
                 .await;
         }
+        if youtube_owns(track_path) {
+            return self
+                .youtube_provider()?
+                .get_urls_for_track(track_path)
+                .await;
+        }
         warn!(path = track_path, "no provider owns this track path");
         Err(ProviderError::MalformedPath)
     }
@@ -421,6 +468,12 @@ impl ProviderClient for ProviderOrchestrator {
                 .get_metadata_for_track(track_path)
                 .await;
         }
+        if youtube_owns(track_path) {
+            return self
+                .youtube_provider()?
+                .get_metadata_for_track(track_path)
+                .await;
+        }
         warn!(path = track_path, "no provider owns this track path");
         Err(ProviderError::MalformedPath)
     }
@@ -456,6 +509,11 @@ impl ProviderClient for ProviderOrchestrator {
             );
             root_node.children.push(child);
         }
+        if self.youtube_client.is_some() {
+            let child =
+                LibraryNodeChild::new(ytdy::PROVIDER_ROOT.to_owned(), "youtube".to_owned(), false);
+            root_node.children.push(child);
+        }
         root_node
     }
 
@@ -480,6 +538,9 @@ impl ProviderClient for ProviderOrchestrator {
         if captures_owns(path) {
             return self.captures_provider()?.get_lib_node(path).await;
         }
+        if youtube_owns(path) {
+            return self.youtube_provider()?.get_lib_node(path).await;
+        }
         warn!(path, "no provider owns this path");
         Err(ProviderError::MalformedPath)
     }
@@ -519,6 +580,12 @@ impl ProviderClient for ProviderOrchestrator {
                 .create_lib_node(parent_path, title)
                 .await;
         }
+        if youtube_owns(parent_path) {
+            return self
+                .youtube_provider()?
+                .create_lib_node(parent_path, title)
+                .await;
+        }
         warn!(parent_path, "no provider supports creating nodes here");
         Err(ProviderError::NotSupported)
     }
@@ -555,6 +622,12 @@ impl ProviderClient for ProviderOrchestrator {
                 .rename_lib_node(path, new_title)
                 .await;
         }
+        if youtube_owns(path) {
+            return self
+                .youtube_provider()?
+                .rename_lib_node(path, new_title)
+                .await;
+        }
         warn!(path, "no provider supports renaming this node");
         Err(ProviderError::NotSupported)
     }
@@ -594,6 +667,12 @@ impl ProviderClient for ProviderOrchestrator {
                 .resolve_tracks_into(path, chunk_tx)
                 .await;
         }
+        if youtube_owns(path) {
+            return self
+                .youtube_provider()?
+                .resolve_tracks_into(path, chunk_tx)
+                .await;
+        }
         warn!(path, "no provider owns this path");
         Err(ProviderError::MalformedPath)
     }
@@ -617,6 +696,9 @@ impl ProviderClient for ProviderOrchestrator {
         if captures_owns(path) {
             return self.captures_provider()?.delete_lib_node(path).await;
         }
+        if youtube_owns(path) {
+            return self.youtube_provider()?.delete_lib_node(path).await;
+        }
         warn!(path, "no provider supports deleting this node");
         Err(ProviderError::NotSupported)
     }
diff --git a/devenv.nix b/devenv.nix
index 48582d6..027f6b6 100644
--- a/devenv.nix
+++ b/devenv.nix
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ let
     d2
     pkg-config
     protobuf
+    # Extraction engine for the ytdy provider (architecture/youtube-provider.md D1).
+    yt-dlp
   ];
 in
 {
diff --git a/plan/summary.md b/plan/summary.md
index fad6a76..975bae6 100644
--- a/plan/summary.md
+++ b/plan/summary.md
@@ -1,5 +1,38 @@
 # Implementation summaries
 
+## youtube-provider (2026-07-21)
+
+Built per `plan/youtube-provider.md`: a new workspace crate **`ytdy`**
+mounts YouTube at `/youtube`, backed by a `yt-dlp` subprocess (declared
+in `devenv.nix`). All extraction goes through one `Engine` seam:
+argv-only invocations with `--no-warnings`, an optional `--cookies`
+flag, a per-call timeout (`kill_on_drop`), a 32 MiB stdout cap, and
+typed `EngineError`s — tests drive the whole provider through a fake
+shell-script binary, no network.
+
+Search needs no login and mirrors tidal's search exactly: `%` on
+`/youtube/search` creates an in-memory term (deduplicated, implicitly
+recreated on stale paths, rename re-searches, delete idempotent), whose
+node lists the top N (`ytsearchN:`, default 20) results as queueable,
+downloadable tracks. With a readable cookies file configured in
+`ytdy.toml` ("logged in"), a `playlists` subtree appears
+(`feed/playlists` flat listing → playlist nodes with tracks); an
+unreadable cookies file degrades to logged-out with a warning, never a
+failed init. Streams resolve via `-f bestaudio/best -g`; captures work
+end to end (`extension_for` gained `audio/webm → webm`). The
+orchestrator wires `/youtube` non-fatally: a failed `--version` probe
+disables the provider, nothing else.
+
+Deviations: `Entry` keeps separate `uploader`/`channel` fields with an
+`artist()` preference — the planned serde alias rejects real yt-dlp
+output as a duplicate field (found by the live probe). The live probe
+validated search, stream resolution, and a real download capture
+(252 KB webm) through the capture store; the **playlists feed
+invocation is live-unvalidated** (no cookies on this machine) — flagged
+in `architecture/youtube-provider.md` as the standing risk. 150
+workspace tests green (8 new in `ytdy`); every gate in
+`quality/youtube-provider.md` checked.
+
 ## captures (2026-07-21)
 
 Built per `plan/captures.md`: `W` (shift) on a downloadable library
diff --git a/plan/youtube-provider.md b/plan/youtube-provider.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ab437d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plan/youtube-provider.md
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# Plan: youtube-provider
+
+Ordered tasks; each names its verification (tests in `ytdy/src/lib.rs`
+and/or gates in `quality/youtube-provider.md`). The crate skeleton,
+stubs, workspace/devenv wiring, and all tests exist; the tests fail on
+`todo!()` at plan time.
+
+- [x] **T1 — Engine.** `run` (argv-only, `--no-warnings`, cookie flag,
+  timeout with `kill_on_drop`, stdout cap, typed errors), `probe`,
+  `flat_listing`, `video_entry`, `stream_urls`. Verifies:
+  `engine_failures_are_typed_never_panics`, parts of every other test;
+  gates "Engine".
+- [x] **T2 — Path parsing.** `parse_path` for all `YtPath` shapes;
+  reject everything else. Verifies:
+  `foreign_and_malformed_paths_are_rejected`,
+  `tracks_resolve_streams_and_metadata` (is_track_path).
+- [x] **T3 — Init.** Settings parse (defaults on broken TOML like the
+  other providers), engine construction, `--version` probe, cookies
+  readability check (degrade to logged out with a warning). Verifies:
+  `init_probes_the_binary`, `root_lists_playlists_only_when_logged_in`.
+- [x] **T4 — Search.** Term registry (snapshot/register),
+  `search_term_node` (`ytsearchN:`), `create/rename/delete_lib_node`,
+  `get_lib_node` arms for Root/Search/SearchTerm, central
+  downloadable rule. Verifies:
+  `search_terms_are_created_listed_and_searched`,
+  `search_terms_rename_and_delete`.
+- [x] **T5 — Playlists + tracks.** `playlists_node` (feed URL, login
+  gate), `playlist_node`, `get_urls_for_track` (`-g`),
+  `get_metadata_for_track` (single-video `-J`). Verifies:
+  `playlists_list_and_resolve_when_logged_in`,
+  `tracks_resolve_streams_and_metadata`.
+- [x] **T6 — Orchestrator wiring.** `youtube_client: Option<Arc<_>>`,
+  non-fatal init from `ytdy.toml` (written back), routing arms in every
+  method, root child; `extension_for` gains `audio/webm`. Verifies:
+  existing orchestrator patterns by inspection; gates "Orchestrator
+  wiring"; `extension_prefers_content_type_then_url_then_bin` extended.
+- [x] **T7 — Full verification.** Workspace suite green; clippy/fmt/
+  taplo/markdownlint clean; every gate ticked; no `todo!()`.
+- [x] **T8 — Live smoke test.** With the devenv `yt-dlp`: search a term
+  through the provider, fetch a stream URL for one result, and download
+  a small capture through the capture store — remove the probe
+  afterwards. Validate the playlists feed invocation if cookies are
+  available; otherwise record it as unvalidated in the summary.
+- [x] **T9 — Docs.** `plan/summary.md` section incl. deviations;
+  reconcile `architecture/youtube-provider.md`.
diff --git a/quality/youtube-provider.md b/quality/youtube-provider.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc96a5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quality/youtube-provider.md
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+# Quality gates: youtube-provider
+
+Criteria beyond the automatic tests (`ytdy/src/lib.rs`,
+`ytdy/src/engine.rs`, plus orchestrator wiring). Each gate is pass/fail
+by reading the code.
+
+## Engine (subprocess discipline)
+
+- [x] Every invocation is an argument list (`tokio::process::Command`)
+  — never a shell string; user input (terms, ids) can contain anything.
+- [x] Every call is bounded: per-call timeout (`kill_on_drop` so a timed
+  out process dies), and captured stdout capped at `MAX_STDOUT_BYTES`.
+- [x] All failures are typed `EngineError`s mapped to `ProviderError`
+  at the trait boundary; no subprocess condition panics.
+- [x] Error/log output carries the binary path, exit status, and a
+  *bounded* stderr summary — never full stderr, never stream URLs,
+  never cookie file contents (the path alone is loggable).
+- [x] The cookies flag is appended to every call when configured;
+  nothing else about login is stored or invented.
+
+## Provider semantics
+
+- [x] Search terms mirror tidal's: in-memory, deduplicated, implicit
+  recreation on stale paths, rename re-searches, delete idempotent —
+  and only `/youtube/search` children are creatable/editable/deletable.
+- [x] Path parsing rejects foreign roots and malformed shapes with
+  `MalformedPath`; track paths are exactly `<node>/<videoid>`.
+- [x] Downloadability follows the central rule (queueable or lists
+  tracks; children mirror `is_queable`) applied in one place, not
+  per-arm.
+- [x] `duration` floats are truncated to whole seconds; missing
+  title/uploader degrade to empty strings, never errors.
+- [x] The playlists subtree exists only when logged in: absent from the
+  root listing and `MalformedPath` when addressed directly.
+
+## Orchestrator wiring
+
+- [x] `ytdy::Client::init` failure (missing/broken binary) disables the
+  provider with a warning — the server and every other provider keep
+  running; `get_lib_root` lists `youtube` only when enabled.
+- [x] `/youtube` is routed in every `ProviderClient` method (same
+  completeness as `/tidal`), including `resolve_tracks_into`,
+  create/rename/delete.
+- [x] `ytdy.toml` is written back after init like the other providers'
+  configs.
+- [x] `extension_for` maps `audio/webm → webm` so captures of YouTube
+  audio get a sensible extension.
+
+## Hygiene
+
+- [x] `yt-dlp` is declared in `devenv.nix`, never assumed installed.
+- [x] New public items are documented; docs state error/edge behavior.
+- [x] `clippy -D warnings`, `fmt`, `taplo`, `markdownlint` clean; all
+  tests green; no `todo!()` left.
+- [x] `architecture/youtube-provider.md` reconciled where the
+  implementation diverged (esp. the playlists-feed invocation after the
+  live probe).
diff --git a/ytdy/Cargo.toml b/ytdy/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..519e3bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ytdy/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+[package]
+name = "ytdy"
+version.workspace = true
+edition.workspace = true
+
+[dependencies]
+async-trait.workspace = true
+crabidy-core.workspace = true
+serde.workspace = true
+serde_json.workspace = true
+thiserror.workspace = true
+tokio = { workspace = true, features = [
+  "time",
+  "sync",
+  "macros",
+  "process",
+  "io-util",
+] }
+toml.workspace = true
+tracing.workspace = true
+
+[dev-dependencies]
+tempfile.workspace = true
+tokio = { workspace = true, features = ["full"] }
diff --git a/ytdy/src/engine.rs b/ytdy/src/engine.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d57845
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ytdy/src/engine.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+//! The yt-dlp subprocess seam (see `architecture/youtube-provider.md` D1/D5).
+//!
+//! Every YouTube interaction is one bounded `yt-dlp` invocation: argument
+//! list only (never a shell), `--no-warnings`, an optional `--cookies`
+//! file, a per-call timeout, and a cap on captured stdout. JSON output is
+//! parsed with `serde_json`; failures are typed [`EngineError`]s — no
+//! subprocess condition may panic. Tests point `binary` at a fake script.
+
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use serde::Deserialize;
+
+/// Captured stdout beyond this many bytes aborts the call — a runaway
+/// extractor must not balloon memory.
+pub const MAX_STDOUT_BYTES: usize = 32 * 1024 * 1024;
+
+/// Errors from one engine invocation.
+///
+/// Messages carry the binary name, exit status, and a short stderr
+/// summary — never full stderr (it can embed URLs) and never cookie
+/// contents.
+#[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
+pub enum EngineError {
+    #[error("cannot run yt-dlp: {0}")]
+    Spawn(#[from] std::io::Error),
+    #[error("yt-dlp timed out after {0:?}")]
+    Timeout(Duration),
+    #[error("yt-dlp failed ({status}): {summary}")]
+    Failed { status: String, summary: String },
+    #[error("cannot parse yt-dlp output: {0}")]
+    Parse(#[from] serde_json::Error),
+    #[error("yt-dlp output exceeded {MAX_STDOUT_BYTES} bytes")]
+    Oversized,
+}
+
+/// One entry of a `--flat-playlist -J` listing (or a single-video `-J`).
+/// Fields we don't use are ignored; absent fields stay `None` — flat
+/// extraction fills what it cheaply can.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Deserialize)]
+pub struct Entry {
+    pub id: String,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub title: Option<String>,
+    /// Real yt-dlp output carries `uploader` *and* `channel` (so a serde
+    /// alias would reject it as a duplicate field); both are kept and
+    /// [`Self::artist`] picks.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub uploader: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub channel: Option<String>,
+    /// Seconds; yt-dlp emits floats.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub duration: Option<f64>,
+}
+
+impl Entry {
+    /// The track artist: the uploader, falling back to the channel.
+    pub fn artist(&self) -> Option<&str> {
+        self.uploader.as_deref().or(self.channel.as_deref())
+    }
+}
+
+/// A `-J` playlist-shaped result: its `entries`, plus the playlist title.
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
+pub struct Listing {
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub title: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub entries: Vec<Entry>,
+}
+
+/// The shared subprocess runner. Cheap to clone-by-reference (the client
+/// holds one); all state is configuration.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct Engine {
+    binary: PathBuf,
+    cookies: Option<PathBuf>,
+    timeout: Duration,
+}
+
+impl Engine {
+    /// An engine invoking `binary` with `timeout` per call, passing
+    /// `--cookies <cookies>` on every call when set.
+    pub fn new(binary: PathBuf, cookies: Option<PathBuf>, timeout: Duration) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            binary,
+            cookies,
+            timeout,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// `yt-dlp --version` — the init probe. The trimmed version string on
+    /// success.
+    pub async fn probe(&self) -> Result<String, EngineError> {
+        let stdout = self.run(&["--version"]).await?;
+        Ok(String::from_utf8_lossy(&stdout).trim().to_string())
+    }
+
+    /// A flat listing (`-J --flat-playlist`) of `target` — a
+    /// `ytsearchN:` term, a playlist URL, or the playlists feed.
+    pub async fn flat_listing(&self, target: &str) -> Result<Listing, EngineError> {
+        let stdout = self.run(&["-J", "--flat-playlist", target]).await?;
+        Ok(serde_json::from_slice(&stdout)?)
+    }
+
+    /// Metadata of one video (`-J --no-playlist`).
+    pub async fn video_entry(&self, video_url: &str) -> Result<Entry, EngineError> {
+        let stdout = self.run(&["-J", "--no-playlist", video_url]).await?;
+        Ok(serde_json::from_slice(&stdout)?)
+    }
+
+    /// Stream URL(s) of one video (`-f bestaudio/best -g --no-playlist`),
+    /// one per line.
+    pub async fn stream_urls(&self, video_url: &str) -> Result<Vec<String>, EngineError> {
+        let stdout = self
+            .run(&["-f", "bestaudio/best", "-g", "--no-playlist", video_url])
+            .await?;
+        Ok(String::from_utf8_lossy(&stdout)
+            .lines()
+            .map(str::trim)
+            .filter(|line| !line.is_empty())
+            .map(str::to_string)
+            .collect())
+    }
+
+    /// Runs the binary with `args` (plus `--no-warnings` and the cookie
+    /// flag), enforcing the timeout and stdout cap; returns raw stdout.
+    ///
+    /// The child is `kill_on_drop`: hitting the timeout kills it instead
+    /// of leaking a hung extractor.
+    async fn run(&self, args: &[&str]) -> Result<Vec<u8>, EngineError> {
+        use std::process::Stdio;
+        use tokio::io::AsyncReadExt;
+
+        let mut cmd = tokio::process::Command::new(&self.binary);
+        cmd.arg("--no-warnings");
+        if let Some(cookies) = &self.cookies {
+            cmd.arg("--cookies").arg(cookies);
+        }
+        cmd.args(args)
+            .stdin(Stdio::null())
+            .stdout(Stdio::piped())
+            .stderr(Stdio::piped())
+            .kill_on_drop(true);
+        let mut child = cmd.spawn()?;
+        // Read stdout incrementally with a hard cap — `wait_with_output`
+        // alone would buffer an unbounded stream first.
+        let mut stdout_pipe = child.stdout.take().ok_or_else(|| {
+            std::io::Error::other("child stdout pipe missing despite Stdio::piped")
+        })?;
+        let bounded = async {
+            let mut stdout = Vec::new();
+            let mut limited = (&mut stdout_pipe).take(MAX_STDOUT_BYTES as u64 + 1);
+            limited.read_to_end(&mut stdout).await?;
+            let rest = child.wait_with_output().await?;
+            Ok::<_, std::io::Error>((stdout, rest))
+        };
+        let (stdout, rest) = tokio::time::timeout(self.timeout, bounded)
+            .await
+            .map_err(|_| EngineError::Timeout(self.timeout))??;
+        if stdout.len() > MAX_STDOUT_BYTES {
+            return Err(EngineError::Oversized);
+        }
+        if !rest.status.success() {
+            // A bounded summary only: full stderr can embed URLs.
+            let summary: String = String::from_utf8_lossy(&rest.stderr)
+                .chars()
+                .take(200)
+                .collect();
+            return Err(EngineError::Failed {
+                status: rest.status.to_string(),
+                summary: summary.trim().to_string(),
+            });
+        }
+        Ok(stdout)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/ytdy/src/lib.rs b/ytdy/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..049e5e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ytdy/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,806 @@
+//! YouTube media provider, backed by a `yt-dlp` subprocess
+//! (see `architecture/youtube-provider.md`).
+//!
+//! Mounted at [`PROVIDER_ROOT`]. Search works without login: creatable
+//! search-term nodes exactly like `/tidal/search` (in-memory terms,
+//! renamable/deletable, results listed as tracks). With a cookies file
+//! configured ("logged in"), the user's playlists appear under
+//! `/youtube/playlists`. Every node that serves tracks is downloadable —
+//! `W` captures work out of the box.
+
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use async_trait::async_trait;
+use crabidy_core::proto::crabidy::{LibraryNode, LibraryNodeChild, Track};
+use crabidy_core::{ProviderClient, ProviderError};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use tracing::{debug, warn};
+
+pub mod engine;
+use engine::Engine;
+
+/// First path segment owned by this provider.
+pub const PROVIDER_ROOT: &str = "/youtube";
+
+/// Default number of search results per term (`ytsearchN:`).
+pub const DEFAULT_SEARCH_RESULTS: usize = 20;
+
+/// Default per-subprocess-call timeout in seconds.
+pub const DEFAULT_CALL_TIMEOUT_SECS: u64 = 60;
+
+/// Provider settings, persisted as `ytdy.toml` next to the other crabidy
+/// config files. The cookies file is user-provided and its **contents are
+/// a secret**: only the path may ever be logged.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Deserialize, Serialize)]
+pub struct Settings {
+    /// The yt-dlp binary; a bare name resolves via PATH. Default
+    /// `yt-dlp`.
+    pub binary: Option<PathBuf>,
+    /// Netscape cookies file for logged-in features (playlists,
+    /// age-gated streams). Absent = logged out; search still works.
+    pub cookies: Option<PathBuf>,
+    /// Results per search term. Default [`DEFAULT_SEARCH_RESULTS`].
+    pub search_results: Option<usize>,
+    /// Per-call timeout in seconds. Default
+    /// [`DEFAULT_CALL_TIMEOUT_SECS`]; tests shrink it.
+    pub call_timeout_secs: Option<u64>,
+}
+
+/// A parsed `/youtube/...` path.
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+enum YtPath<'a> {
+    Root,
+    Search,
+    /// Percent-encoded search term segment.
+    SearchTerm(&'a str),
+    SearchTrack {
+        term: &'a str,
+        video: &'a str,
+    },
+    Playlists,
+    Playlist(&'a str),
+    PlaylistTrack {
+        playlist: &'a str,
+        video: &'a str,
+    },
+}
+
+/// Splits a `/youtube/...` path into its recognized shape.
+/// Unknown shapes are [`ProviderError::MalformedPath`].
+fn parse_path(path: &str) -> Result<YtPath<'_>, ProviderError> {
+    if path == PROVIDER_ROOT {
+        return Ok(YtPath::Root);
+    }
+    let rest = path
+        .strip_prefix("/youtube/")
+        .ok_or(ProviderError::MalformedPath)?;
+    let segments: Vec<&str> = rest.split('/').collect();
+    if segments.iter().any(|segment| segment.is_empty()) {
+        return Err(ProviderError::MalformedPath);
+    }
+    match segments.as_slice() {
+        ["search"] => Ok(YtPath::Search),
+        ["search", term] => Ok(YtPath::SearchTerm(term)),
+        ["search", term, video] => Ok(YtPath::SearchTrack { term, video }),
+        ["playlists"] => Ok(YtPath::Playlists),
+        ["playlists", playlist] => Ok(YtPath::Playlist(playlist)),
+        ["playlists", playlist, video] => Ok(YtPath::PlaylistTrack { playlist, video }),
+        _ => Err(ProviderError::MalformedPath),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Maps an engine failure to the trait-level error, logging the typed
+/// cause (paths and statuses only — never URLs or cookie contents).
+fn engine_err(context: &str, err: engine::EngineError) -> ProviderError {
+    warn!(context, "yt-dlp call failed: {err}");
+    ProviderError::FetchError
+}
+
+/// The canonical watch URL for a video id.
+fn video_url(video_id: &str) -> String {
+    format!("https://www.youtube.com/watch?v={video_id}")
+}
+
+/// Builds the wire track for one listing entry under `node_path`.
+/// Missing metadata degrades to empty fields, never an error; float
+/// durations truncate to whole seconds.
+fn entry_to_track(entry: &engine::Entry, node_path: &str) -> Track {
+    Track {
+        path: crabidy_core::join_path(node_path, &entry.id),
+        artist: entry.artist().unwrap_or_default().to_string(),
+        title: entry.title.clone().unwrap_or_default(),
+        duration: entry.duration.map(|secs| secs.max(0.0) as u32),
+        album: None,
+    }
+}
+
+/// The YouTube provider client.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct Client {
+    engine: Engine,
+    settings: Settings,
+    /// Cookies were configured and readable at init — gates the
+    /// playlists subtree.
+    logged_in: bool,
+    /// Search terms created under `/youtube/search`, in creation order,
+    /// deduplicated. In-memory only, like tidal's. Never held across
+    /// awaits.
+    search_terms: std::sync::RwLock<Vec<String>>,
+}
+
+impl Client {
+    /// The search-term node: top `search_results` results as tracks
+    /// (`ytsearchN:<term>` flat listing). Queueable and downloadable —
+    /// results are homogeneous tracks.
+    async fn search_term_node(
+        &self,
+        path: &str,
+        term: &str,
+        parent: String,
+    ) -> Result<LibraryNode, ProviderError> {
+        let count = self
+            .settings
+            .search_results
+            .unwrap_or(DEFAULT_SEARCH_RESULTS);
+        let listing = self
+            .engine
+            .flat_listing(&format!("ytsearch{count}:{term}"))
+            .await
+            .map_err(|err| engine_err("search", err))?;
+        Ok(LibraryNode {
+            path: path.to_string(),
+            title: term.to_string(),
+            parent: Some(parent),
+            tracks: listing
+                .entries
+                .iter()
+                .map(|entry| entry_to_track(entry, path))
+                .collect(),
+            children: Vec::new(),
+            is_queable: true,
+            is_creatable: false,
+            is_downloadable: false,
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// The playlists listing (`feed/playlists`, cookies required):
+    /// one queueable, downloadable child per playlist.
+    async fn playlists_node(
+        &self,
+        path: &str,
+        parent: String,
+    ) -> Result<LibraryNode, ProviderError> {
+        let listing = self
+            .engine
+            .flat_listing("https://www.youtube.com/feed/playlists")
+            .await
+            .map_err(|err| engine_err("playlists feed", err))?;
+        Ok(LibraryNode {
+            path: path.to_string(),
+            title: "playlists".to_string(),
+            parent: Some(parent),
+            tracks: Vec::new(),
+            children: listing
+                .entries
+                .iter()
+                .map(|entry| {
+                    LibraryNodeChild::new(
+                        crabidy_core::join_path(path, &entry.id),
+                        entry.title.clone().unwrap_or_else(|| entry.id.clone()),
+                        true,
+                    )
+                })
+                .collect(),
+            is_queable: false,
+            is_creatable: false,
+            is_downloadable: false,
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// One playlist's entries as tracks.
+    async fn playlist_node(
+        &self,
+        path: &str,
+        playlist_id: &str,
+        parent: String,
+    ) -> Result<LibraryNode, ProviderError> {
+        let listing = self
+            .engine
+            .flat_listing(&format!(
+                "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list={playlist_id}"
+            ))
+            .await
+            .map_err(|err| engine_err("playlist", err))?;
+        Ok(LibraryNode {
+            path: path.to_string(),
+            title: listing
+                .title
+                .clone()
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| playlist_id.to_string()),
+            parent: Some(parent),
+            tracks: listing
+                .entries
+                .iter()
+                .map(|entry| entry_to_track(entry, path))
+                .collect(),
+            children: Vec::new(),
+            is_queable: true,
+            is_creatable: false,
+            is_downloadable: false,
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn search_terms_snapshot(&self) -> Vec<String> {
+        self.search_terms
+            .read()
+            .map(|terms| terms.clone())
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+    }
+
+    fn register_search_term(&self, term: &str) {
+        if let Ok(mut terms) = self.search_terms.write() {
+            if !terms.iter().any(|existing| existing == term) {
+                terms.push(term.to_string());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Removes a term; `true` when it existed.
+    fn remove_search_term(&self, term: &str) -> bool {
+        match self.search_terms.write() {
+            Ok(mut terms) => {
+                let before = terms.len();
+                terms.retain(|existing| existing != term);
+                terms.len() != before
+            }
+            Err(_) => false,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[async_trait]
+impl ProviderClient for Client {
+    /// Builds the engine from settings and probes `--version`; a missing
+    /// or broken binary fails init (the orchestrator disables the
+    /// provider non-fatally). A configured but unreadable cookies file
+    /// degrades to logged-out with a warning, never an error.
+    async fn init(raw_toml_settings: &str) -> Result<Self, ProviderError> {
+        let settings: Settings = toml::from_str(raw_toml_settings).unwrap_or_else(|_| {
+            warn!("could not parse toml settings, using defaults");
+            Settings::default()
+        });
+        let binary = settings
+            .binary
+            .clone()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| PathBuf::from("yt-dlp"));
+        let timeout = Duration::from_secs(
+            settings
+                .call_timeout_secs
+                .unwrap_or(DEFAULT_CALL_TIMEOUT_SECS),
+        );
+        // "Logged in" is exactly "the configured cookies file is
+        // readable"; anything less degrades to logged out, never to a
+        // failed init. Only the *path* is ever logged.
+        let logged_in = match &settings.cookies {
+            Some(path) => match std::fs::metadata(path) {
+                Ok(meta) if meta.is_file() => true,
+                _ => {
+                    warn!(
+                        cookies = %path.display(),
+                        "cookies file not readable; running logged out"
+                    );
+                    false
+                }
+            },
+            None => false,
+        };
+        let cookies = logged_in.then(|| settings.cookies.clone()).flatten();
+        let engine = Engine::new(binary, cookies, timeout);
+        let version = engine.probe().await.map_err(|err| {
+            warn!("yt-dlp probe failed: {err}");
+            ProviderError::Config(err.to_string())
+        })?;
+        debug!(version, logged_in, "yt-dlp ready");
+        Ok(Self {
+            engine,
+            settings,
+            logged_in,
+            search_terms: std::sync::RwLock::new(Vec::new()),
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn settings(&self) -> String {
+        toml::to_string_pretty(&self.settings).unwrap_or_default()
+    }
+
+    fn is_track_path(&self, path: &str) -> bool {
+        matches!(
+            parse_path(path),
+            Ok(YtPath::SearchTrack { .. } | YtPath::PlaylistTrack { .. })
+        )
+    }
+
+    /// `-f bestaudio/best -g` on the track's video id.
+    async fn get_urls_for_track(&self, track_path: &str) -> Result<Vec<String>, ProviderError> {
+        let video = match parse_path(track_path)? {
+            YtPath::SearchTrack { video, .. } | YtPath::PlaylistTrack { video, .. } => video,
+            _ => return Err(ProviderError::MalformedPath),
+        };
+        let urls = self
+            .engine
+            .stream_urls(&video_url(video))
+            .await
+            .map_err(|err| engine_err("stream urls", err))?;
+        if urls.is_empty() {
+            warn!(path = track_path, "yt-dlp returned no stream url");
+            return Err(ProviderError::FetchError);
+        }
+        Ok(urls)
+    }
+
+    /// Single-video `-J` metadata.
+    async fn get_metadata_for_track(&self, track_path: &str) -> Result<Track, ProviderError> {
+        let video = match parse_path(track_path)? {
+            YtPath::SearchTrack { video, .. } | YtPath::PlaylistTrack { video, .. } => video,
+            _ => return Err(ProviderError::MalformedPath),
+        };
+        let entry = self
+            .engine
+            .video_entry(&video_url(video))
+            .await
+            .map_err(|err| engine_err("video metadata", err))?;
+        let parent = crabidy_core::parent_path(track_path).unwrap_or(PROVIDER_ROOT);
+        let mut track = entry_to_track(&entry, parent);
+        // The entry's id names the video; the caller's path is canonical.
+        track.path = track_path.to_string();
+        Ok(track)
+    }
+
+    /// `search` always; `playlists` only when logged in.
+    fn get_lib_root(&self) -> LibraryNode {
+        let mut children = vec![LibraryNodeChild {
+            is_creatable: true,
+            ..LibraryNodeChild::new(
+                format!("{PROVIDER_ROOT}/search"),
+                "search".to_string(),
+                false,
+            )
+        }];
+        if self.logged_in {
+            children.push(LibraryNodeChild::new(
+                format!("{PROVIDER_ROOT}/playlists"),
+                "playlists".to_string(),
+                false,
+            ));
+        }
+        LibraryNode {
+            path: PROVIDER_ROOT.to_string(),
+            title: "youtube".to_string(),
+            parent: Some(crabidy_core::ROOT_PATH.to_string()),
+            tracks: Vec::new(),
+            children,
+            is_queable: false,
+            is_creatable: false,
+            is_downloadable: false,
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn get_lib_node(&self, path: &str) -> Result<LibraryNode, ProviderError> {
+        let parent = crabidy_core::parent_path(path)
+            .unwrap_or(crabidy_core::ROOT_PATH)
+            .to_string();
+        let node = match parse_path(path)? {
+            YtPath::Root => self.get_lib_root(),
+            YtPath::Search => LibraryNode {
+                path: path.to_string(),
+                title: "search".to_string(),
+                parent: Some(parent),
+                tracks: Vec::new(),
+                children: self
+                    .search_terms_snapshot()
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|term| {
+                        // Term nodes are the modifiable nodes: renamable
+                        // (`e`) and deletable (`d`), like tidal's.
+                        LibraryNodeChild {
+                            is_editable: true,
+                            is_deletable: true,
+                            ..LibraryNodeChild::new(
+                                crabidy_core::join_path(path, &crabidy_core::encode_segment(term)),
+                                term.clone(),
+                                true,
+                            )
+                        }
+                    })
+                    .collect(),
+                is_queable: false,
+                is_creatable: true,
+                is_downloadable: false,
+            },
+            YtPath::SearchTerm(encoded) => {
+                let term = crabidy_core::decode_segment(encoded);
+                // Unknown terms (stale client cache, server restart) are
+                // recreated implicitly instead of erroring.
+                self.register_search_term(&term);
+                self.search_term_node(path, &term, parent).await?
+            }
+            YtPath::Playlists => {
+                if !self.logged_in {
+                    warn!(path, "playlists need a configured cookies file");
+                    return Err(ProviderError::MalformedPath);
+                }
+                self.playlists_node(path, parent).await?
+            }
+            YtPath::Playlist(playlist_id) => {
+                if !self.logged_in {
+                    warn!(path, "playlists need a configured cookies file");
+                    return Err(ProviderError::MalformedPath);
+                }
+                self.playlist_node(path, playlist_id, parent).await?
+            }
+            YtPath::SearchTrack { .. } | YtPath::PlaylistTrack { .. } => {
+                warn!(path, "get_lib_node called with a track path");
+                return Err(ProviderError::MalformedPath);
+            }
+        };
+        // The central download blessing (architecture/youtube-provider.md
+        // D4, same rule as tidal): every node serving playable content
+        // allows `W`; children mirror their queueability.
+        let mut node = node;
+        node.is_downloadable = node.is_queable || !node.tracks.is_empty();
+        for child in &mut node.children {
+            child.is_downloadable = child.is_queable;
+        }
+        Ok(node)
+    }
+
+    /// Only `/youtube/search` is creatable: registers the term and
+    /// returns its node (implicit recreation on stale paths, like
+    /// tidal).
+    async fn create_lib_node(
+        &self,
+        parent_path: &str,
+        title: &str,
+    ) -> Result<LibraryNode, ProviderError> {
+        let term = title.trim();
+        if term.is_empty() {
+            return Err(ProviderError::InvalidInput);
+        }
+        if parse_path(parent_path)? != YtPath::Search {
+            warn!(parent_path, "node creation not supported here");
+            return Err(ProviderError::NotSupported);
+        }
+        self.register_search_term(term);
+        let term_path = crabidy_core::join_path(parent_path, &crabidy_core::encode_segment(term));
+        self.get_lib_node(&term_path).await
+    }
+
+    /// Renaming a search term re-runs the search under the new term.
+    async fn rename_lib_node(
+        &self,
+        path: &str,
+        new_title: &str,
+    ) -> Result<LibraryNode, ProviderError> {
+        let YtPath::SearchTerm(encoded) = parse_path(path)? else {
+            warn!(path, "only search terms are renamable");
+            return Err(ProviderError::NotSupported);
+        };
+        let new_term = new_title.trim();
+        if new_term.is_empty() {
+            return Err(ProviderError::InvalidInput);
+        }
+        let old_term = crabidy_core::decode_segment(encoded);
+        // Replace in place; renaming onto an existing term merges (the
+        // duplicate disappears), like tidal's terms.
+        self.remove_search_term(&old_term);
+        self.register_search_term(new_term);
+        let new_path =
+            crabidy_core::join_path("/youtube/search", &crabidy_core::encode_segment(new_term));
+        self.get_lib_node(&new_path).await
+    }
+
+    /// Deleting a search term is idempotent and returns the refreshed
+    /// search node.
+    async fn delete_lib_node(&self, path: &str) -> Result<LibraryNode, ProviderError> {
+        let YtPath::SearchTerm(encoded) = parse_path(path)? else {
+            warn!(path, "only search terms are deletable");
+            return Err(ProviderError::NotSupported);
+        };
+        let term = crabidy_core::decode_segment(encoded);
+        self.remove_search_term(&term);
+        self.get_lib_node("/youtube/search").await
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use std::fs;
+    use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+    use std::path::Path;
+    use tempfile::TempDir;
+
+    /// A fake yt-dlp: a shell script dispatching on its argv. Every test
+    /// engine call goes through it — no network, no real binary.
+    fn fake_binary(dir: &Path, body: &str) -> PathBuf {
+        let path = dir.join("fake-yt-dlp");
+        fs::write(&path, format!("#!/bin/sh\n{body}\n")).expect("write fake binary");
+        let mut perms = fs::metadata(&path).expect("metadata").permissions();
+        perms.set_mode(0o755);
+        fs::set_permissions(&path, perms).expect("chmod");
+        path
+    }
+
+    /// The standard fake: search terms `lofi` (2 results), one playlist
+    /// feed, one playlist, and one resolvable video.
+    const FAKE: &str = r#"
+case "$*" in
+*--version*) echo "2026.06.09"; exit 0 ;;
+*ytsearch2:lofi\ beats*) printf '%s' '{"entries":[{"id":"vidA","title":"Beats","uploader":"Chan"}]}'; exit 0 ;;
+*ytsearch2:lofi*) printf '%s' '{"entries":[{"id":"vid1","title":"Track One","uploader":"Chan","duration":63.4},{"id":"vid2","title":"Track Two","channel":"Chan Two"}]}'; exit 0 ;;
+*-g*watch?v=vid1*|*watch?v=vid1*-g*) printf '%s\n%s\n' "https://example.test/a.webm" "https://example.test/b.webm"; exit 0 ;;
+*watch?v=vid1*) printf '%s' '{"id":"vid1","title":"Track One","uploader":"Chan","duration":63.9}'; exit 0 ;;
+*feed/playlists*) printf '%s' '{"entries":[{"id":"PL1","title":"Road Mix"}]}'; exit 0 ;;
+*list=PL1*) printf '%s' '{"title":"Road Mix","entries":[{"id":"vid9","title":"Nine","uploader":"Chan","duration":10}]}'; exit 0 ;;
+*) echo "unmatched: $*" >&2; exit 1 ;;
+esac"#;
+
+    async fn client_with(dir: &Path, body: &str, cookies: Option<&Path>) -> Client {
+        let binary = fake_binary(dir, body);
+        let settings = Settings {
+            binary: Some(binary),
+            cookies: cookies.map(Path::to_path_buf),
+            search_results: Some(2),
+            // Generous: under full-workspace parallel test load, process
+            // spawn latency has flaked a 5 s budget.
+            call_timeout_secs: Some(30),
+        };
+        let toml = toml::to_string(&settings).expect("settings toml");
+        Client::init(&toml).await.expect("init")
+    }
+
+    async fn client(dir: &Path) -> Client {
+        client_with(dir, FAKE, None).await
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn init_probes_the_binary() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        // A working probe succeeds…
+        let _ = client(dir.path()).await;
+        // …a missing binary fails init (the orchestrator treats that as
+        // "provider disabled", never as a server error).
+        let settings = Settings {
+            binary: Some(dir.path().join("no-such-binary")),
+            ..Settings::default()
+        };
+        let toml = toml::to_string(&settings).expect("settings toml");
+        assert!(Client::init(&toml).await.is_err());
+        // …and so does one that exits non-zero on --version.
+        let broken = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        fake_binary(broken.path(), "exit 3");
+        let settings = Settings {
+            binary: Some(broken.path().join("fake-yt-dlp")),
+            ..Settings::default()
+        };
+        let toml = toml::to_string(&settings).expect("settings toml");
+        assert!(Client::init(&toml).await.is_err());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn root_lists_playlists_only_when_logged_in() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        let anon = client(dir.path()).await;
+        let root = anon.get_lib_root();
+        let titles: Vec<&str> = root.children.iter().map(|c| c.title.as_str()).collect();
+        assert_eq!(titles, vec!["search"]);
+        assert!(root.children[0].is_creatable, "search is creatable");
+
+        let cookies = dir.path().join("cookies.txt");
+        fs::write(&cookies, "# Netscape HTTP Cookie File\n").expect("cookies");
+        let dir2 = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        let logged_in = client_with(dir2.path(), FAKE, Some(&cookies)).await;
+        let root = logged_in.get_lib_root();
+        let titles: Vec<&str> = root.children.iter().map(|c| c.title.as_str()).collect();
+        assert_eq!(titles, vec!["search", "playlists"]);
+
+        // A configured but unreadable cookies file degrades to logged
+        // out instead of failing init.
+        let dir3 = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        let missing = dir3.path().join("gone.txt");
+        let degraded = client_with(dir3.path(), FAKE, Some(&missing)).await;
+        assert_eq!(degraded.get_lib_root().children.len(), 1);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn search_terms_are_created_listed_and_searched() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        let client = client(dir.path()).await;
+        let node = client
+            .create_lib_node("/youtube/search", "lofi")
+            .await
+            .expect("create term");
+        assert_eq!(node.path, "/youtube/search/lofi");
+        assert!(node.is_queable, "pure track results are queueable");
+        assert!(node.is_downloadable, "search results are downloadable");
+        assert_eq!(node.tracks.len(), 2);
+        let one = &node.tracks[0];
+        assert_eq!(one.path, "/youtube/search/lofi/vid1");
+        assert_eq!(one.title, "Track One");
+        assert_eq!(one.artist, "Chan");
+        assert_eq!(one.duration, Some(63));
+        // `channel` is an accepted alias for the artist.
+        assert_eq!(node.tracks[1].artist, "Chan Two");
+
+        // The search node lists the term as an editable/deletable child.
+        let search = client
+            .get_lib_node("/youtube/search")
+            .await
+            .expect("search");
+        assert!(search.is_creatable);
+        assert_eq!(search.children.len(), 1);
+        let child = &search.children[0];
+        assert_eq!(child.title, "lofi");
+        assert!(child.is_editable && child.is_deletable);
+
+        // Encoded terms round trip; unknown terms recreate implicitly.
+        let node = client
+            .get_lib_node("/youtube/search/lofi%20beats")
+            .await
+            .expect("implicit term");
+        assert_eq!(node.tracks.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(node.tracks[0].path, "/youtube/search/lofi%20beats/vidA");
+        assert_eq!(client.search_terms_snapshot().len(), 2);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn search_terms_rename_and_delete() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        let client = client(dir.path()).await;
+        let _ = client
+            .create_lib_node("/youtube/search", "lofi beats")
+            .await
+            .expect("create term");
+        let renamed = client
+            .rename_lib_node("/youtube/search/lofi%20beats", "lofi")
+            .await
+            .expect("rename re-searches");
+        assert_eq!(renamed.path, "/youtube/search/lofi");
+        assert_eq!(renamed.tracks.len(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(client.search_terms_snapshot(), vec!["lofi".to_string()]);
+
+        let search = client
+            .delete_lib_node("/youtube/search/lofi")
+            .await
+            .expect("delete");
+        assert!(search.children.is_empty());
+        // Idempotent: deleting again still returns the search node.
+        let again = client
+            .delete_lib_node("/youtube/search/lofi")
+            .await
+            .expect("idempotent delete");
+        assert!(again.children.is_empty());
+        // Only /youtube/search children are mutable.
+        assert!(client.rename_lib_node("/youtube", "nope").await.is_err());
+        assert!(client.delete_lib_node("/youtube/playlists").await.is_err());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn playlists_list_and_resolve_when_logged_in() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        let cookies = dir.path().join("cookies.txt");
+        fs::write(&cookies, "# cookies\n").expect("cookies");
+        let client = client_with(dir.path(), FAKE, Some(&cookies)).await;
+
+        let playlists = client
+            .get_lib_node("/youtube/playlists")
+            .await
+            .expect("playlists feed");
+        assert_eq!(playlists.children.len(), 1);
+        let pl = &playlists.children[0];
+        assert_eq!(pl.path, "/youtube/playlists/PL1");
+        assert_eq!(pl.title, "Road Mix");
+        assert!(pl.is_queable && pl.is_downloadable);
+
+        let node = client.get_lib_node(&pl.path).await.expect("playlist");
+        assert_eq!(node.title, "Road Mix");
+        assert!(node.is_queable && node.is_downloadable);
+        assert_eq!(node.tracks.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(node.tracks[0].path, "/youtube/playlists/PL1/vid9");
+
+        // Logged out, the playlists subtree is a malformed path.
+        let dir2 = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        let anon = client_with(dir2.path(), FAKE, None).await;
+        assert!(anon.get_lib_node("/youtube/playlists").await.is_err());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn tracks_resolve_streams_and_metadata() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        let client = client(dir.path()).await;
+        assert!(client.is_track_path("/youtube/search/lofi/vid1"));
+        assert!(client.is_track_path("/youtube/playlists/PL1/vid9"));
+        assert!(!client.is_track_path("/youtube/search/lofi"));
+
+        let urls = client
+            .get_urls_for_track("/youtube/search/lofi/vid1")
+            .await
+            .expect("stream urls");
+        assert_eq!(
+            urls,
+            vec![
+                "https://example.test/a.webm".to_string(),
+                "https://example.test/b.webm".into()
+            ]
+        );
+        let track = client
+            .get_metadata_for_track("/youtube/playlists/PL1/vid1")
+            .await
+            .expect("metadata");
+        assert_eq!(track.title, "Track One");
+        assert_eq!(track.artist, "Chan");
+        assert_eq!(track.duration, Some(63));
+        assert_eq!(track.path, "/youtube/playlists/PL1/vid1");
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn engine_failures_are_typed_never_panics() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        // Non-zero exit on everything but the probe.
+        let body = r#"
+case "$*" in
+*--version*) echo 1.0; exit 0 ;;
+*) echo boom >&2; exit 1 ;;
+esac"#;
+        let client = client_with(dir.path(), body, None).await;
+        assert!(client.get_lib_node("/youtube/search/lofi").await.is_err());
+        assert!(client
+            .get_urls_for_track("/youtube/search/lofi/vid1")
+            .await
+            .is_err());
+
+        // Malformed JSON is a typed error, not a panic.
+        let dir2 = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        let body = r#"
+case "$*" in
+*--version*) echo 1.0; exit 0 ;;
+*) printf 'not json'; exit 0 ;;
+esac"#;
+        let client = client_with(dir2.path(), body, None).await;
+        assert!(client.get_lib_node("/youtube/search/lofi").await.is_err());
+
+        // A hung binary hits the per-call timeout.
+        let dir3 = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        let body = r#"
+case "$*" in
+*--version*) echo 1.0; exit 0 ;;
+*) sleep 30 ;;
+esac"#;
+        let binary = fake_binary(dir3.path(), body);
+        let settings = Settings {
+            binary: Some(binary),
+            call_timeout_secs: Some(1),
+            search_results: Some(2),
+            ..Settings::default()
+        };
+        let toml = toml::to_string(&settings).expect("settings toml");
+        let client = Client::init(&toml).await.expect("init");
+        let started = std::time::Instant::now();
+        assert!(client.get_lib_node("/youtube/search/lofi").await.is_err());
+        assert!(
+            started.elapsed() < Duration::from_secs(10),
+            "timed out late"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn foreign_and_malformed_paths_are_rejected() {
+        let dir = TempDir::new().expect("tempdir");
+        let client = client(dir.path()).await;
+        for path in ["/tidal/artists", "/youtube/nope", "/youtube/search/a/b/c"] {
+            assert!(client.get_lib_node(path).await.is_err(), "{path}");
+        }
+        assert!(client.create_lib_node("/youtube", "term").await.is_err());
+    }
+}