Improve console suppression for windowed mode on Windows

Refactored console window suppression logic to better handle PyInstaller windowed applications and prevent console flicker. Added creation flags and redirected subprocess streams in multiple modules to ensure hidden console windows when running subprocesses. Introduced a utility function for running subprocesses with hidden console and updated all relevant subprocess calls to use it.

main.py

@@ -1,14 +1,50 @@
 import sys
 import os
 
-# Suppress console window for windowed applications (PyInstaller --windowed)
+# Early detection and handling of windowed mode to prevent console window flicker
+def setup_windowed_mode():
+    """
+    Setup windowed mode handling to prevent console window flickering.
+    This must be called as early as possible in the application startup.
+    """
     if getattr(sys, 'frozen', False):
-    # Running as compiled executable
+        # Running as compiled executable (PyInstaller)
         if sys.stdout is None or sys.stderr is None:
-        # Windowed mode - redirect stdout/stderr to prevent console window flicker
+            # Windowed mode - completely suppress console output
             import io
-        sys.stdout = io.StringIO()
+            null_stream = io.StringIO()
-        sys.stderr = io.StringIO()
+            if sys.stdout is None:
+                sys.stdout = null_stream
+            if sys.stderr is None:
+                sys.stderr = null_stream
+        else:
+            # Console mode but compiled - redirect to null to prevent window flicker
+            if os.name == 'nt':  # Windows
+                try:
+                    import io
+                    # Create a null output stream
+                    null_stream = io.StringIO()
+                    # Only redirect if we detect this might cause console window issues
+                    # Check if we're not already in a console
+                    try:
+                        # Try to get console window handle - if this fails, we're likely windowed
+                        import ctypes
+                        kernel32 = ctypes.windll.kernel32
+                        console_window = kernel32.GetConsoleWindow()
+                        if console_window == 0:
+                            # No console window exists, redirect to prevent one from appearing
+                            sys.stdout = null_stream
+                            sys.stderr = null_stream
+                    except:
+                        # If console detection fails, err on the side of caution
+                        sys.stdout = null_stream
+                        sys.stderr = null_stream
+                except:
+                    # If all else fails, continue normally
+                    pass
+
+# Call windowed mode setup immediately
+setup_windowed_mode()
 
 from PySide6.QtWidgets import QApplication, QMessageBox
 

src/core/ytsage_logging.py

@@ -98,8 +98,21 @@ def setup_logging():
     stdout_available = sys.stdout is not None
     is_windowed_app = getattr(sys, 'frozen', False) and sys.stdout is None
     
-    # Skip console output if we're in a windowed application to prevent brief console window
+    # Additional check for windowed mode - check if console window exists on Windows
-    if stdout_available and not is_windowed_app:
+    is_console_hidden = False
+    if sys.platform == 'win32' and getattr(sys, 'frozen', False):
+        try:
+            import ctypes
+            kernel32 = ctypes.windll.kernel32
+            console_window = kernel32.GetConsoleWindow()
+            if console_window == 0:
+                is_console_hidden = True
+        except:
+            # If console detection fails, assume we might be windowed
+            is_console_hidden = True
+    
+    # Skip console output if we're in a windowed application or console is hidden
+    if stdout_available and not is_windowed_app and not is_console_hidden:
         try:
             logger.add(
                 sys.stdout,
@@ -120,8 +133,8 @@ def setup_logging():
             except Exception:
                 stdout_available = False
 
-    # If stdout is not available or we're in windowed mode, try stderr for critical messages only
+    # If stdout is not available or we're in windowed mode, skip stderr too to prevent console windows
-    if (not stdout_available or is_windowed_app) and not is_windowed_app:
+    if (not stdout_available or is_windowed_app or is_console_hidden) and not (is_windowed_app or is_console_hidden):
         try:
             if sys.stderr is not None:
                 logger.add(

src/core/ytsage_utils.py

@@ -36,6 +36,37 @@ _version_cache = {
 CACHE_EXPIRY = 300
 
 
+def run_subprocess_hidden(cmd_args, **kwargs):
+    """
+    Run subprocess with proper console window hiding for windowed applications.
+    
+    Args:
+        cmd_args: Command arguments list
+        **kwargs: Additional subprocess.run arguments
+    
+    Returns:
+        subprocess.CompletedProcess result
+    """
+    # Set up creation flags to hide console window
+    creation_flags = SUBPROCESS_CREATIONFLAGS
+    if getattr(sys, 'frozen', False):
+        # Running as compiled executable - use additional flags to prevent console flicker
+        creation_flags |= subprocess.CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP | subprocess.DETACHED_PROCESS
+    
+    # Set default parameters to suppress console
+    default_kwargs = {
+        'capture_output': True,
+        'text': True,
+        'creationflags': creation_flags,
+        'stdin': subprocess.DEVNULL
+    }
+    
+    # Merge with provided kwargs (user kwargs take precedence)
+    default_kwargs.update(kwargs)
+    
+    return subprocess.run(cmd_args, **default_kwargs)
+
+
 def get_file_mtime(filepath) -> float:
     """Get file modification time safely."""
     try:
@@ -196,8 +227,8 @@ def get_ytdlp_version_direct(yt_dlp_path=None) -> str:
             return "Not found"
 
         # Extra logic moved to src\utils\ytsage_constants.py
-        result = subprocess.run(
+        result = run_subprocess_hidden(
-            [yt_dlp_path, "--version"], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=10, creationflags=SUBPROCESS_CREATIONFLAGS
+            [yt_dlp_path, "--version"], timeout=10
         )
 
         if result.returncode == 0:
@@ -213,8 +244,8 @@ def get_ffmpeg_version_direct() -> str:
     """Get FFmpeg version directly without caching."""
     try:
         # Extra logic moved to src\utils\ytsage_constants.py
-        result = subprocess.run(
+        result = run_subprocess_hidden(
-            ["ffmpeg", "-version"], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=10, creationflags=SUBPROCESS_CREATIONFLAGS
+            ["ffmpeg", "-version"], timeout=10
         )
 
         if result.returncode == 0:
@@ -242,8 +273,8 @@ def get_ffmpeg_version_direct() -> str:
                 ffmpeg_exe = Path(ffmpeg_path).joinpath("ffmpeg")
 
             if ffmpeg_exe.exists():
-                result = subprocess.run(
+                result = run_subprocess_hidden(
-                    [ffmpeg_exe, "-version"], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=10, creationflags=SUBPROCESS_CREATIONFLAGS
+                    [ffmpeg_exe, "-version"], timeout=10
                 )
 
                 if result.returncode == 0:
@@ -489,7 +520,7 @@ def update_yt_dlp() -> bool:
                     # Compare versions and update if needed
                     if version.parse(latest_version) > version.parse(current_version):
                         logger.info(f"Updating yt-dlp from {current_version} to {latest_version}...")
-                        update_result = subprocess.run(
+                        update_result = run_subprocess_hidden(
                             [
                                 sys.executable,
                                 "-m",
@@ -498,10 +529,7 @@ def update_yt_dlp() -> bool:
                                 "--upgrade",
                                 "yt-dlp",
                             ],
-                            capture_output=True,
+                            check=False
-                            text=True,
-                            check=False,
-                            creationflags=SUBPROCESS_CREATIONFLAGS,
                         )
                         if update_result.returncode == 0:
                             logger.info("yt-dlp successfully updated")

src/core/ytsage_yt_dlp.py

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import os
 import shutil
 import subprocess
+import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional
 
@@ -500,10 +501,22 @@ def check_ytdlp_binary() -> Optional[Path]:
         # Use subprocess to check if yt-dlp is available
         if OS_NAME == "Windows":
             # On Windows, use 'where' command and hide console window
-            # Extra logic moved to src\utils\ytsage_constants.py
+            # For windowed applications, use additional flags to prevent console window flicker
+            creation_flags = SUBPROCESS_CREATIONFLAGS
+            if getattr(sys, 'frozen', False):
+                # Running as compiled executable - use additional flags
+                creation_flags |= subprocess.CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP | subprocess.DETACHED_PROCESS
 
             result = subprocess.run(
-                ["where", "yt-dlp"], capture_output=True, text=True, check=False, creationflags=SUBPROCESS_CREATIONFLAGS
+                ["where", "yt-dlp"], 
+                capture_output=True, 
+                text=True, 
+                check=False, 
+                creationflags=creation_flags,
+                # Additional parameters to suppress console
+                stdin=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                stderr=subprocess.PIPE
             )
             if result.returncode == 0 and result.stdout.strip():
                 yt_dlp_path = result.stdout.strip().split("\n")[0]
@@ -534,9 +547,22 @@ def check_ytdlp_installed() -> bool:
         if ytdlp_path:
             # Try to run yt-dlp --version to verify it's working
             try:
-                # Extra logic moved to src\utils\ytsage_constants.py
+                # For windowed applications, use additional flags to prevent console window flicker
+                creation_flags = SUBPROCESS_CREATIONFLAGS
+                if getattr(sys, 'frozen', False):
+                    # Running as compiled executable - use additional flags
+                    creation_flags |= subprocess.CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP | subprocess.DETACHED_PROCESS
+
                 result = subprocess.run(
-                    [ytdlp_path, "--version"], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5, creationflags=SUBPROCESS_CREATIONFLAGS
+                    [ytdlp_path, "--version"], 
+                    capture_output=True, 
+                    text=True, 
+                    timeout=5, 
+                    creationflags=creation_flags,
+                    # Additional parameters to suppress console
+                    stdin=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                    stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                    stderr=subprocess.PIPE
                 )
                 return result.returncode == 0
             except Exception:

src/gui/ytsage_gui_main.py

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import json
 import subprocess
+import sys
 import threading
 import webbrowser
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -1735,7 +1736,21 @@ class YTSageApp(QMainWindow, FormatTableMixin, VideoInfoMixin):  # Inherit from
 
             # Execute command with hidden console window on Windows
             # Extra logic moved to src\utils\ytsage_constants.py
-            result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=60, creationflags=SUBPROCESS_CREATIONFLAGS)
+            creation_flags = SUBPROCESS_CREATIONFLAGS
+            if getattr(sys, 'frozen', False):
+                # Running as compiled executable - use additional flags to prevent console flicker
+                creation_flags |= subprocess.CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP | subprocess.DETACHED_PROCESS
+            
+            result = subprocess.run(
+                cmd, 
+                capture_output=True, 
+                text=True, 
+                timeout=60, 
+                creationflags=creation_flags,
+                stdin=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                stderr=subprocess.PIPE
+            )
 
             if result.returncode != 0:
                 raise Exception(f"yt-dlp failed: {result.stderr}")