diff --git a/devscripts/install_deps.py b/devscripts/install_deps.py
index d292505458b7..9e914def46c1 100755
--- a/devscripts/install_deps.py
+++ b/devscripts/install_deps.py
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ def main():
 
     def yield_deps(group):
         for dep in group:
-            if mobj := recursive_pattern.fullmatch(dep):
+            mobj = recursive_pattern.fullmatch(dep)
+            if mobj:
                 yield from optional_groups.get(mobj.group('group_name'), [])
             else:
                 yield dep
diff --git a/devscripts/make_changelog.py b/devscripts/make_changelog.py
index 8e199e7d0e8b..52261e375347 100644
--- a/devscripts/make_changelog.py
+++ b/devscripts/make_changelog.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class CommitGroup(enum.Enum):
     MISC = 'Misc.'
 
     @classmethod
-    @lru_cache
+    @lru_cache()
     def subgroup_lookup(cls):
         return {
             name: group
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def subgroup_lookup(cls):
         }
 
     @classmethod
-    @lru_cache
+    @lru_cache()
     def group_lookup(cls):
         result = {
             'fd': cls.DOWNLOADER,
diff --git a/devscripts/tomlparse.py b/devscripts/tomlparse.py
index ac9ea3170738..5102216f07ef 100755
--- a/devscripts/tomlparse.py
+++ b/devscripts/tomlparse.py
@@ -64,19 +64,22 @@ def get_target(root: dict, paths: list[str], is_list=False):
 def parse_enclosed(data: str, index: int, end: str, ws_re: re.Pattern):
     index += 1
 
-    if match := ws_re.match(data, index):
+    match = ws_re.match(data, index)
+    if match:
         index = match.end()
 
     while data[index] != end:
         index = yield True, index
 
-        if match := ws_re.match(data, index):
+        match = ws_re.match(data, index)
+        if match:
             index = match.end()
 
         if data[index] == ',':
             index += 1
 
-        if match := ws_re.match(data, index):
+        match = ws_re.match(data, index)
+        if match:
             index = match.end()
 
     assert data[index] == end
@@ -106,7 +109,8 @@ def parse_value(data: str, index: int):
 
         return index, result
 
-    if match := STRING_RE.match(data, index):
+    match = STRING_RE.match(data, index)
+    if match:
         return match.end(), json.loads(match[0]) if match[0][0] == '"' else match[0][1:-1]
 
     match = LEFTOVER_VALUE_RE.match(data, index)
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 96cb368b6d91..3ef73a682caa 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ maintainers = [
 ]
 description = "A feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader"
 readme = "README.md"
-requires-python = ">=3.8"
+requires-python = ">=3.7"
 keywords = [
     "youtube-dl",
     "video-downloader",
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ classifiers = [
     "Environment :: Console",
     "Programming Language :: Python",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: Only",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "pycryptodomex",
     "requests>=2.31.0,<3",
     "urllib3>=1.26.17,<3",
-    "websockets>=12.0",
+    "websockets>=11.0.0",
 ]
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 340cc3b4d999..6e1233e18be7 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -16,12 +16,15 @@ remove-unused-variables = true
 
 [tox:tox]
 skipsdist = true
-envlist = py{38,39,310,311,312},pypy{38,39,310}
+envlist = py{37,38,39,310,311,312},pypy{37,38,39,310}
 skip_missing_interpreters = true
 
 [testenv]  # tox
 deps =
     pytest
+    requests
+    curl-cffi
+    websockets
 commands = pytest {posargs:"-m not download"}
 passenv = HOME  # For test_compat_expanduser
 setenv =
@@ -29,7 +32,7 @@ setenv =
 
 
 [isort]
-py_version = 38
+py_version = 37
 multi_line_output = VERTICAL_HANGING_INDENT
 line_length = 80
 reverse_relative = true
diff --git a/test/test_traversal.py b/test/test_traversal.py
index 9b2a27b0807f..e8b9517e2c48 100644
--- a/test/test_traversal.py
+++ b/test/test_traversal.py
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ def test_traversal_morsel(self):
             'secure': 'f',
             'httponly': 'g',
             'version': 'h',
-            'samesite': 'i',
+            # 'samesite': 'i',
         }
         morsel = http.cookies.Morsel()
         morsel.set('item_key', 'item_value', 'coded_value')
diff --git a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
index 2c6f695d091f..7c25aabda935 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -718,7 +718,8 @@ def check_deprecated(param, option, suggestion):
         for msg in self.params.get('_deprecation_warnings', []):
             self.deprecated_feature(msg)
 
-        if impersonate_target := self.params.get('impersonate'):
+        impersonate_target = self.params.get('impersonate')
+        if impersonate_target:
             if not self._impersonate_target_available(impersonate_target):
                 raise YoutubeDLError(
                     f'Impersonate target "{impersonate_target}" is not available. '
@@ -2680,10 +2681,14 @@ def _fill_common_fields(self, info_dict, final=True):
             if new_key in info_dict and old_key in info_dict:
                 if '_version' not in info_dict:  # HACK: Do not warn when using --load-info-json
                     self.deprecation_warning(f'Do not return {old_key!r} when {new_key!r} is present')
-            elif old_value := info_dict.get(old_key):
-                info_dict[new_key] = old_value.split(', ')
-            elif new_value := info_dict.get(new_key):
-                info_dict[old_key] = ', '.join(v.replace(',', '\N{FULLWIDTH COMMA}') for v in new_value)
+            else:
+                old_value = info_dict.get(old_key)
+                if old_value:
+                    info_dict[new_key] = old_value.split(', ')
+                else:
+                    new_value = info_dict.get(new_key)
+                    if new_value:
+                        info_dict[old_key] = ', '.join(v.replace(',', '\N{FULLWIDTH COMMA}') for v in new_value)
 
     def _raise_pending_errors(self, info):
         err = info.pop('__pending_error', None)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/__init__.py b/yt_dlp/__init__.py
index 3d606bcba254..82a01fa919d4 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/__init__.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/__init__.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import sys
 
-if sys.version_info < (3, 8):
+if sys.version_info < (3, 7):
     raise ImportError(
-        f'You are using an unsupported version of Python. Only Python versions 3.8 and above are supported by yt-dlp')  # noqa: F541
+        f'You are using an unsupported version of Python. Only Python versions 3.7 and above are supported by yt-dlp')  # noqa: F541
 
 __license__ = 'The Unlicense'
 
diff --git a/yt_dlp/compat/functools.py b/yt_dlp/compat/functools.py
index 36c983642df1..ec003ea90e07 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/compat/functools.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/compat/functools.py
@@ -10,3 +10,17 @@
     cache  # >= 3.9
 except NameError:
     cache = lru_cache(maxsize=None)
+
+try:
+    cached_property  # >= 3.8
+except NameError:
+    class cached_property:
+        def __init__(self, func):
+            update_wrapper(self, func)
+            self.func = func
+
+        def __get__(self, instance, _):
+            if instance is None:
+                return self
+            setattr(instance, self.func.__name__, self.func(instance))
+            return getattr(instance, self.func.__name__)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/compat/shlex.py b/yt_dlp/compat/shlex.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ddd18094d0e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/yt_dlp/compat/shlex.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# flake8: noqa: F405
+from shlex import *  # noqa: F403
+
+from .compat_utils import passthrough_module
+
+passthrough_module(__name__, 'shlex')
+del passthrough_module
+
+
+try:
+    join
+except NameError:
+    def join(split_command):
+        """Return a shell-escaped string from *split_command*."""
+        return ' '.join(quote(arg) for arg in split_command)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/downloader/common.py b/yt_dlp/downloader/common.py
index 65a0d6f23483..46429ddd6c7a 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/downloader/common.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/downloader/common.py
@@ -371,7 +371,9 @@ def with_fields(*tups, default=''):
         if s['status'] != 'downloading':
             return
 
-        if update_delta := self.params.get('progress_delta'):
+        update_delta = self.params.get('progress_delta')
+
+        if update_delta:
             with self._progress_delta_lock:
                 if time.monotonic() < self._progress_delta_time:
                     return
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/asobistage.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/asobistage.py
index 8fa8f3edb634..4ff6ee012b09 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/asobistage.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/asobistage.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import functools
+from ..compat import functools
 
 from .common import InfoExtractor
 from ..utils import str_or_none, url_or_none
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/bbc.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/bbc.py
index f6b58b361f87..d8dc11beed4d 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/bbc.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/bbc.py
@@ -1424,14 +1424,16 @@ def extract_all(pattern):
             'model', 'blocks', is_type('media'),
             'model', 'blocks', is_type('mediaMetadata'),
             'model', {dict}, any))
-        if model and (entry := parse_model(model)):
-            if not entry.get('timestamp'):
-                entry['timestamp'] = traverse_obj(next_data, (
-                    ..., 'contents', is_type('timestamp'), 'model',
-                    'timestamp', {functools.partial(int_or_none, scale=1000)}, any))
-            entries.append(entry)
-            return self.playlist_result(
-                entries, playlist_id, playlist_title, playlist_description)
+        if model:
+            entry = parse_model(model)
+            if entry:
+                if not entry.get('timestamp'):
+                    entry['timestamp'] = traverse_obj(next_data, (
+                        ..., 'contents', is_type('timestamp'), 'model',
+                        'timestamp', {functools.partial(int_or_none, scale=1000)}, any))
+                entries.append(entry)
+                return self.playlist_result(
+                    entries, playlist_id, playlist_title, playlist_description)
 
         # Multiple video article (e.g.
         # http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/entries/3662a707-0af9-3149-963f-47bea720b460)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py
index 1d2c443c0b75..0771cc3a3c10 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import base64
 import collections
-import functools
 import getpass
 import hashlib
 import http.client
@@ -22,6 +21,7 @@
 import urllib.request
 import xml.etree.ElementTree
 
+from ..compat import functools  # isort: split
 from ..compat import (
     compat_etree_fromstring,
     compat_expanduser,
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/crtvg.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/crtvg.py
index 21325e331dfc..76d380640028 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/crtvg.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/crtvg.py
@@ -39,7 +39,10 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
         formats.extend(self._extract_mpd_formats(video_url + '/manifest.mpd', video_id, fatal=False))
 
         old_video_id = None
-        if mobj := re.fullmatch(r'[^/#?]+-(?P<old_id>\d{7})', video_id):
+
+        mobj = re.fullmatch(r'[^/#?]+-(?P<old_id>\d{7})', video_id)
+
+        if mobj:
             old_video_id = [make_archive_id(self, mobj.group('old_id'))]
 
         return {
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/crunchyroll.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/crunchyroll.py
index ea54f019511c..eb40174962fc 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/crunchyroll.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/crunchyroll.py
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ def _request_token(self, headers, data, note='Requesting token', errnote='Failed
         except ExtractorError as error:
             if not isinstance(error.cause, HTTPError) or error.cause.status != 403:
                 raise
-            if target := error.cause.response.extensions.get('impersonate'):
+            target = error.cause.response.extensions.get('impersonate')
+            if target:
                 raise ExtractorError(f'Got HTTP Error 403 when using impersonate target "{target}"')
             raise ExtractorError(
                 'Request blocked by Cloudflare. '
@@ -234,7 +235,8 @@ def _extract_stream(self, identifier, display_id=None):
 
         # Invalidate stream token to avoid rate-limit
         error_msg = 'Unable to invalidate stream token; you may experience rate-limiting'
-        if stream_token := stream_response.get('token'):
+        stream_token = stream_response.get('token')
+        if stream_token:
             self._request_webpage(Request(
                 f'https://cr-play-service.prd.crunchyrollsvc.com/v1/token/{identifier}/{stream_token}/inactive',
                 headers=headers, method='PATCH'), display_id, 'Invalidating stream token', error_msg, fatal=False)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/dangalplay.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/dangalplay.py
index 50e4136b578a..d194bb2e3a23 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/dangalplay.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/dangalplay.py
@@ -132,8 +132,10 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
                 if error_info.get('code') == '1016':
                     self.raise_login_required(
                         f'Your token has expired or is invalid. {self._LOGIN_HINT}', method=None)
-                elif msg := error_info.get('message'):
-                    raise ExtractorError(msg)
+                else:
+                    msg = error_info.get('message')
+                    if msg:
+                        raise ExtractorError(msg)
             raise
 
         m3u8_url = traverse_obj(details, (
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/elementorembed.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/elementorembed.py
index 638893f6f6ed..0e0b5650af60 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/elementorembed.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/elementorembed.py
@@ -56,13 +56,16 @@ class ElementorEmbedIE(InfoExtractor):
     def _extract_from_webpage(self, url, webpage):
         for data_settings in re.findall(self._WIDGET_REGEX, webpage):
             data = self._parse_json(data_settings, None, fatal=False, transform_source=unescapeHTML)
-            if youtube_url := traverse_obj(data, ('youtube_url', {url_or_none})):
+            youtube_url = traverse_obj(data, ('youtube_url', {url_or_none}))
+            if youtube_url:
                 yield self.url_result(youtube_url, ie=YoutubeIE)
 
             for video in traverse_obj(data, ('tabs', lambda _, v: v['_id'], {dict})):
-                if youtube_url := traverse_obj(video, ('youtube_url', {url_or_none})):
+                youtube_url = traverse_obj(video, ('youtube_url', {url_or_none}))
+                if youtube_url:
                     yield self.url_result(youtube_url, ie=YoutubeIE)
-                if vimeo_url := traverse_obj(video, ('vimeo_url', {url_or_none})):
+                vimeo_url = traverse_obj(video, ('vimeo_url', {url_or_none}))
+                if vimeo_url:
                     yield self.url_result(vimeo_url, ie=VimeoIE)
                 for direct_url in traverse_obj(video, (('hosted_url', 'external_url'), 'url', {url_or_none})):
                     yield {
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/err.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/err.py
index abd00f2d5843..29d1e85441e5 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/err.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/err.py
@@ -194,7 +194,9 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
                 format_url, video_id, mpd_id='dash', fatal=False)
             formats.extend(fmts)
             self._merge_subtitles(subs, target=subtitles)
-        if format_url := traverse_obj(media_data, ('src', 'file', {url_or_none})):
+
+        format_url = traverse_obj(media_data, ('src', 'file', {url_or_none}))
+        if format_url:
             formats.append({
                 'url': format_url,
                 'format_id': 'http',
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/francetv.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/francetv.py
index 7b8f7dd0404f..21d4b1ea823f 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/francetv.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/francetv.py
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ def _extract_video(self, video_id, hostname=None):
             video_url = video['url']
             format_id = video.get('format')
 
-            if token_url := url_or_none(video.get('token')):
+            token_url = url_or_none(video.get('token'))
+            if token_url:
                 tokenized_url = traverse_obj(self._download_json(
                     token_url, video_id, f'Downloading signed {format_id} manifest URL',
                     fatal=False, query={
@@ -138,7 +139,8 @@ def _extract_video(self, video_id, hostname=None):
                 fmts, subs = self._extract_m3u8_formats_and_subtitles(
                     video_url, video_id, 'mp4', m3u8_id=format_id, fatal=False)
                 for f in traverse_obj(fmts, lambda _, v: v['vcodec'] == 'none' and v.get('tbr') is None):
-                    if mobj := re.match(rf'{format_id}-[Aa]udio-\w+-(?P<bitrate>\d+)', f['format_id']):
+                    mobj = re.match(rf'{format_id}-[Aa]udio-\w+-(?P<bitrate>\d+)', f['format_id'])
+                    if mobj:
                         f.update({
                             'tbr': int_or_none(mobj.group('bitrate')),
                             'acodec': 'mp4a',
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/gbnews.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/gbnews.py
index bb1554eea429..4ea7d2e8b73b 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/gbnews.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/gbnews.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class GBNewsIE(InfoExtractor):
         'params': {'skip_download': 'm3u8'},
     }]
 
-    @functools.lru_cache
+    @functools.lru_cache()
     def _get_ss_endpoint(self, data_id, data_env):
         if not data_id:
             data_id = 'GB003'
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/godresource.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/godresource.py
index 276a6c7fe918..318713c8af71 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/godresource.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/godresource.py
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
 
         video_url = api_data['streamUrl']
         is_live = api_data.get('isLive') or False
-        if (ext := determine_ext(video_url)) == 'm3u8':
+        ext = determine_ext(video_url)
+        if ext == 'm3u8':
             formats, subtitles = self._extract_m3u8_formats_and_subtitles(
                 video_url, display_id, live=is_live)
         elif ext == 'mp4':
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/jiosaavn.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/jiosaavn.py
index 35fb3fd6b121..f94e0c5f8d41 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/jiosaavn.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/jiosaavn.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-import functools
 import math
 import re
 
+from ..compat import functools
+
 from .common import InfoExtractor
 from ..utils import (
     InAdvancePagedList,
@@ -24,7 +25,8 @@ class JioSaavnBaseIE(InfoExtractor):
     @functools.cached_property
     def requested_bitrates(self):
         requested_bitrates = self._configuration_arg('bitrate', ['128', '320'], ie_key='JioSaavn')
-        if invalid_bitrates := set(requested_bitrates) - self._VALID_BITRATES:
+        invalid_bitrates = set(requested_bitrates) - self._VALID_BITRATES
+        if invalid_bitrates:
             raise ValueError(
                 f'Invalid bitrate(s): {", ".join(invalid_bitrates)}. '
                 + f'Valid bitrates are: {", ".join(sorted(self._VALID_BITRATES, key=int))}')
@@ -65,7 +67,8 @@ def _extract_song(self, song_data, url=None):
             'artists': ('primary_artists', {lambda x: x.split(', ') if x else None}),
             'webpage_url': ('perma_url', {url_or_none}),
         })
-        if webpage_url := info.get('webpage_url') or url:
+        webpage_url = info.get('webpage_url')
+        if webpage_url or url:
             info['display_id'] = url_basename(webpage_url)
             info['_old_archive_ids'] = [make_archive_id(JioSaavnSongIE, info['display_id'])]
 
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/maariv.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/maariv.py
index 425a8b3b4a6d..89ddfc61446f 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/maariv.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/maariv.py
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
             f'https://dal.walla.co.il/media/{video_id}?origin=player.maariv.co.il', video_id)['data']
 
         formats = []
-        if hls_url := traverse_obj(data, ('video', 'url', {url_or_none})):
+
+        hls_url = traverse_obj(data, ('video', 'url', {url_or_none}))
+        if hls_url:
             formats.extend(self._extract_m3u8_formats(hls_url, video_id, m3u8_id='hls', fatal=False))
 
         for http_format in traverse_obj(data, ('video', 'stream_urls', ..., 'stream_url', {url_or_none})):
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/newgrounds.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/newgrounds.py
index 67e52efd6573..b1789558d65a 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/newgrounds.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/newgrounds.py
@@ -138,7 +138,8 @@ def _perform_login(self, username, password):
             'username': username,
             'password': password,
         }))
-        if errors := traverse_obj(result, ('errors', ..., {str})):
+        errors = traverse_obj(result, ('errors', ..., {str}))
+        if errors:
             raise ExtractorError(', '.join(errors) or 'Unknown Error', expected=True)
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/nfb.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/nfb.py
index 968c9728b087..1c1f825318fd 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/nfb.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/nfb.py
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ class NFBBaseIE(InfoExtractor):
 
     def _extract_ep_data(self, webpage, video_id, fatal=False):
         return self._search_json(
-            r'episodesData\s*:', webpage, 'episode data', video_id, fatal=fatal) or {}
+            r'const\s+episodesData\s*=', webpage, 'episode data', video_id,
+            contains_pattern=r'\[\s*{(?s:.+)}\s*\]', fatal=fatal) or []
 
     def _extract_ep_info(self, data, video_id, slug=None):
         info = traverse_obj(data, (lambda _, v: video_id in v['embed_url'], {
@@ -229,7 +230,8 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
         formats, subtitles = self._extract_m3u8_formats_and_subtitles(
             player_data['source'], video_id, 'mp4', m3u8_id='hls')
 
-        if dv_source := url_or_none(player_data.get('dvSource')):
+        dv_source = self._html_search_regex(r'dvSource:\s*\'([^\']+)', player, 'dv', default=None)
+        if dv_source:
             fmts, subs = self._extract_m3u8_formats_and_subtitles(
                 dv_source, video_id, 'mp4', m3u8_id='dv', preference=-2, fatal=False)
             for fmt in fmts:
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/nhk.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/nhk.py
index 8bb017a73210..9260edfb1210 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/nhk.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/nhk.py
@@ -417,7 +417,8 @@ def suitable(cls, url):
 
     def _extract_meta_from_class_elements(self, class_values, html):
         for class_value in class_values:
-            if value := clean_html(get_element_by_class(class_value, html)):
+            value = clean_html(get_element_by_class(class_value, html))
+            if value:
                 return value
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
@@ -427,7 +428,8 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
 
         def entries():
             for episode in episodes:
-                if episode_path := episode.get('url'):
+                episode_path = episode.get('url')
+                if episode_path:
                     yield self._extract_episode_info(urljoin(url, episode_path), episode)
 
         html = self._download_webpage(url, program_id)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/niconico.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/niconico.py
index b04ce96154b0..35ab34eb8345 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/niconico.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/niconico.py
@@ -401,7 +401,8 @@ def _yield_dmc_formats(self, api_data, video_id):
             return
 
         for audio_quality, video_quality, protocol in itertools.product(audios, videos, protocols):
-            if fmt := self._extract_format_for_quality(video_id, audio_quality, video_quality, protocol):
+            fmt = self._extract_format_for_quality(video_id, audio_quality, video_quality, protocol)
+            if fmt:
                 yield fmt
 
     def _yield_dms_formats(self, api_data, video_id):
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/nuum.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/nuum.py
index 3db663ded0dd..9e3292a5e79b 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/nuum.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/nuum.py
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ def _call_api(self, path, video_id, description, query={}):
             f'https://nuum.ru/api/v2/{path}', video_id, query=query,
             note=f'Downloading {description} metadata',
             errnote=f'Unable to download {description} metadata')
-        if error := response.get('error'):
+        error = response.get('error')
+        if error:
             raise ExtractorError(f'API returned error: {error!r}')
         return response['result']
 
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/patreon.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/patreon.py
index 6c441ff34cda..676c48b3d63b 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/patreon.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/patreon.py
@@ -294,7 +294,8 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
                 }))
 
             elif include_type == 'post_tag':
-                if post_tag := traverse_obj(include, ('attributes', 'value', {str})):
+                post_tag = traverse_obj(include, ('attributes', 'value', {str}))
+                if post_tag:
                     info.setdefault('tags', []).append(post_tag)
 
             elif include_type == 'campaign':
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/sharepoint.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/sharepoint.py
index d4d5af04f086..0c2f57b67b43 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/sharepoint.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/sharepoint.py
@@ -90,7 +90,8 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
                 base_media_url, video_id, 'mp4', m3u8_id=hls_type,
                 query={'format': hls_type}, fatal=False, quality=-2))
 
-        if video_url := traverse_obj(video_data, ('downloadUrl', {url_or_none})):
+        video_url = traverse_obj(video_data, ('downloadUrl', {url_or_none}))
+        if video_url:
             formats.append({
                 'url': video_url,
                 'ext': determine_ext(video_data.get('extension') or video_data.get('name')),
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/soundcloud.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/soundcloud.py
index 358146171f12..fb41c527df0b 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/soundcloud.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/soundcloud.py
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
-import functools
 import itertools
 import json
 import re
 
 from .common import InfoExtractor, SearchInfoExtractor
-from ..compat import compat_str
+from ..compat import compat_str, functools
 from ..networking import HEADRequest
 from ..networking.exceptions import HTTPError
 from ..utils import (
@@ -133,7 +132,8 @@ def _verify_oauth_token(self, token):
     def _real_initialize(self):
         if self._HEADERS:
             return
-        if token := try_call(lambda: self._get_cookies(self._BASE_URL)['oauth_token'].value):
+        token = try_call(lambda: self._get_cookies(self._BASE_URL)['oauth_token'].value)
+        if token:
             self._verify_oauth_token(token)
 
     def _perform_login(self, username, password):
@@ -296,7 +296,8 @@ def add_format(f, protocol, is_preview=False):
                 protocol = 'hls-aes'
 
             ext = None
-            if preset := traverse_obj(t, ('preset', {str_or_none})):
+            preset = traverse_obj(t, ('preset', {str_or_none}))
+            if preset:
                 ext = preset.split('_')[0]
             if ext not in KNOWN_EXTENSIONS:
                 ext = mimetype2ext(traverse_obj(t, ('format', 'mime_type', {str})))
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/tiktok.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/tiktok.py
index 7bcfdedbeae7..e5529862f25d 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/tiktok.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/tiktok.py
@@ -52,21 +52,7 @@ class TikTokBaseIE(InfoExtractor):
     _APP_INFO = None
     _APP_USER_AGENT = None
 
-    @functools.cached_property
-    def _KNOWN_APP_INFO(self):
-        # If we have a genuine device ID, we may not need any IID
-        default = [''] if self._KNOWN_DEVICE_ID else []
-        return self._configuration_arg('app_info', default, ie_key=TikTokIE)
-
-    @functools.cached_property
-    def _KNOWN_DEVICE_ID(self):
-        return self._configuration_arg('device_id', [None], ie_key=TikTokIE)[0]
-
-    @functools.cached_property
-    def _DEVICE_ID(self):
-        return self._KNOWN_DEVICE_ID or str(random.randint(7250000000000000000, 7351147085025500000))
-
-    @functools.cached_property
+    @property
     def _API_HOSTNAME(self):
         return self._configuration_arg(
             'api_hostname', ['api16-normal-c-useast1a.tiktokv.com'], ie_key=TikTokIE)[0]
@@ -215,24 +201,27 @@ def _extract_aweme_app(self, aweme_id):
     def _extract_web_data_and_status(self, url, video_id, fatal=True):
         webpage = self._download_webpage(url, video_id, headers={'User-Agent': 'Mozilla/5.0'}, fatal=fatal) or ''
         video_data, status = {}, None
-
-        if universal_data := self._get_universal_data(webpage, video_id):
+        universal_data = self._get_universal_data(webpage, video_id)
+        if universal_data:
             self.write_debug('Found universal data for rehydration')
             status = traverse_obj(universal_data, ('webapp.video-detail', 'statusCode', {int})) or 0
             video_data = traverse_obj(universal_data, ('webapp.video-detail', 'itemInfo', 'itemStruct', {dict}))
 
-        elif sigi_data := self._get_sigi_state(webpage, video_id):
-            self.write_debug('Found sigi state data')
-            status = traverse_obj(sigi_data, ('VideoPage', 'statusCode', {int})) or 0
-            video_data = traverse_obj(sigi_data, ('ItemModule', video_id, {dict}))
-
-        elif next_data := self._search_nextjs_data(webpage, video_id, default={}):
-            self.write_debug('Found next.js data')
-            status = traverse_obj(next_data, ('props', 'pageProps', 'statusCode', {int})) or 0
-            video_data = traverse_obj(next_data, ('props', 'pageProps', 'itemInfo', 'itemStruct', {dict}))
+        else:
+            sigi_data = self._get_sigi_state(webpage, video_id)
+            if sigi_data:
+                self.write_debug('Found sigi state data')
+                status = traverse_obj(sigi_data, ('VideoPage', 'statusCode', {int})) or 0
+                video_data = traverse_obj(sigi_data, ('ItemModule', video_id, {dict}))
 
-        elif fatal:
-            raise ExtractorError('Unable to extract webpage video data')
+            else:
+                next_data = self._search_nextjs_data(webpage, video_id, default={})
+                if next_data:
+                    self.write_debug('Found next.js data')
+                    status = traverse_obj(next_data, ('props', 'pageProps', 'statusCode', {int})) or 0
+                    video_data = traverse_obj(next_data, ('props', 'pageProps', 'itemInfo', 'itemStruct', {dict}))
+                elif fatal:
+                    raise ExtractorError('Unable to extract webpage video data')
 
         return video_data, status
 
@@ -472,7 +461,8 @@ def _extract_web_formats(self, aweme_detail):
                 'filesize': traverse_obj(bitrate_info, ('PlayAddr', 'DataSize', {int_or_none})),
             })
 
-            if dimension := (res and int(res[:-1])):
+            dimension = (res and int(res[:-1]))
+            if dimension:
                 if dimension == 540:  # '540p' is actually 576p
                     dimension = 576
                 if ratio < 1:  # portrait: res/dimension is width
@@ -860,7 +850,29 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
                 self.report_warning(f'{e}; trying with webpage')
 
         url = self._create_url(user_id, video_id)
-        video_data, status = self._extract_web_data_and_status(url, video_id)
+        webpage = self._download_webpage(url, video_id, headers={'User-Agent': 'Mozilla/5.0'})
+
+        universal_data = self._get_universal_data(webpage, video_id)
+        if universal_data:
+            next_data = sigi_data = universal_data = NotImplemented
+            self.write_debug('Found universal data for rehydration')
+            status = traverse_obj(universal_data, ('webapp.video-detail', 'statusCode', {int})) or 0
+            video_data = traverse_obj(universal_data, ('webapp.video-detail', 'itemInfo', 'itemStruct', {dict}))
+
+        else:
+            sigi_data = self._get_sigi_state(webpage, video_id)
+            if sigi_data:
+                self.write_debug('Found sigi state data')
+                status = traverse_obj(sigi_data, ('VideoPage', 'statusCode', {int})) or 0
+                video_data = traverse_obj(sigi_data, ('ItemModule', video_id, {dict}))
+            else:
+                next_data = self._search_nextjs_data(webpage, video_id, default='{}')
+                if next_data:
+                    self.write_debug('Found next.js data')
+                    status = traverse_obj(next_data, ('props', 'pageProps', 'statusCode', {int})) or 0
+                    video_data = traverse_obj(next_data, ('props', 'pageProps', 'itemInfo', 'itemStruct', {dict}))
+                else:
+                    raise ExtractorError('Unable to extract webpage video data')
 
         if video_data and status == 0:
             return self._parse_aweme_video_web(video_data, url, video_id)
@@ -980,7 +992,8 @@ def _get_sec_uid(self, user_url, user_name, msg):
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
         user_name, sec_uid = self._match_id(url), None
-        if mobj := re.fullmatch(r'MS4wLjABAAAA[\w-]{64}', user_name):
+        mobj = re.fullmatch(r'MS4wLjABAAAA[\w-]{64}', user_name)
+        if mobj:
             user_name, sec_uid = None, mobj.group(0)
         else:
             sec_uid = (self._get_sec_uid(self._UPLOADER_URL_FORMAT % user_name, user_name, 'user')
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/trtworld.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/trtworld.py
index dbb72a4fe777..c0d551e98f77 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/trtworld.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/trtworld.py
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
                     'url': media_url,
                 })
         if not formats:
-            if youtube_id := traverse_obj(nuxtjs_data, ('youtube', 'metadata', 'youtubeId')):
+            youtube_id = traverse_obj(nuxtjs_data, ('youtube', 'metadata', 'youtubeId'))
+            if youtube_id:
                 return self.url_result(youtube_id, 'Youtube')
             raise ExtractorError('No video found', expected=True)
 
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/twitter.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/twitter.py
index 1a11162a0b13..f11667a51078 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/twitter.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/twitter.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import functools
 import json
 import random
 import re
@@ -9,6 +8,7 @@
     compat_parse_qs,
     compat_urllib_parse_unquote,
     compat_urllib_parse_urlparse,
+    functools,
 )
 from ..networking.exceptions import HTTPError
 from ..utils import (
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ def _extract_variant_formats(self, variant, video_id):
                 variant_url, video_id, 'mp4', 'm3u8_native',
                 m3u8_id='hls', fatal=False)
             for f in traverse_obj(fmts, lambda _, v: v['vcodec'] == 'none' and v.get('tbr') is None):
-                if mobj := re.match(r'hls-[Aa]udio-(?P<bitrate>\d{4,})', f['format_id']):
+                mobj = re.match(r'hls-[Aa]udio-(?P<bitrate>\d{4,})', f['format_id'])
+                if mobj:
                     f['tbr'] = int_or_none(mobj.group('bitrate'), 1000)
             return fmts, subs
         else:
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/vvvvid.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/vvvvid.py
index b96112360425..5b2dfca401c1 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/vvvvid.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/vvvvid.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import functools
+from ..compat import functools
 import re
 
 from .common import InfoExtractor
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/youporn.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/youporn.py
index 0e047aa16191..69904a48e33f 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/youporn.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/youporn.py
@@ -247,7 +247,8 @@ def _entries(self, url, pl_id, html=None, page_num=None):
             if not html:
                 return
             for element in get_elements_html_by_class('video-title', html):
-                if video_url := traverse_obj(element, ({extract_attributes}, 'href', {lambda x: urljoin(url, x)})):
+                video_url = traverse_obj(element, ({extract_attributes}, 'href', {lambda x: urljoin(url, x)}))
+                if video_url:
                     yield self.url_result(video_url)
 
             if page_num is not None:
@@ -481,8 +482,8 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
             <div [^>]*\bclass\s*=\s*('|")(?:[\w$-]+\s+|\s)*?pornstar-info-wrapper(?:\s+[\w$-]+|\s)*\1[^>]*>
             (?P<info>[\s\S]+?)(?:</div>\s*){6,}
         '''
-
-        if infos := self._search_regex(INFO_ELEMENT_RE, html, 'infos', group='info', default=''):
+        infos = self._search_regex(INFO_ELEMENT_RE, html, 'infos', group='info', default='')
+        if infos:
             infos = re.sub(
                 r'(?:\s*nl=nl)+\s*', ' ',
                 re.sub(r'(?u)\s+', ' ', clean_html(re.sub('\n', 'nl=nl', infos)))).replace('ribe Subsc', '')
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
index 54da4e3622b6..1b6a301b8dcb 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 import os.path
 import random
 import re
-import shlex
 import sys
 import threading
 import time
@@ -20,7 +19,7 @@
 
 from .common import InfoExtractor, SearchInfoExtractor
 from .openload import PhantomJSwrapper
-from ..compat import functools
+from ..compat import functools, shlex
 from ..jsinterp import JSInterpreter
 from ..networking.exceptions import HTTPError, network_exceptions
 from ..utils import (
@@ -3316,7 +3315,8 @@ def _extract_heatmap(self, data):
 
     def _extract_comment(self, entities, parent=None):
         comment_entity_payload = get_first(entities, ('payload', 'commentEntityPayload', {dict}))
-        if not (comment_id := traverse_obj(comment_entity_payload, ('properties', 'commentId', {str}))):
+        comment_id = traverse_obj(comment_entity_payload, ('properties', 'commentId', {str}))
+        if not comment_id:
             return
 
         toolbar_entity_payload = get_first(entities, ('payload', 'engagementToolbarStateEntityPayload', {dict}))
@@ -3704,7 +3704,8 @@ def _get_requested_clients(self, url, smuggled_data):
     def _invalid_player_response(self, pr, video_id):
         # YouTube may return a different video player response than expected.
         # See: https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe/issues/8713
-        if (pr_id := traverse_obj(pr, ('videoDetails', 'videoId'))) != video_id:
+        pr_id = traverse_obj(pr, ('videoDetails', 'videoId'))
+        if pr_id != video_id:
             return pr_id
 
     def _extract_player_responses(self, clients, video_id, webpage, master_ytcfg, smuggled_data):
@@ -3760,7 +3761,8 @@ def append_client(*client_names):
                 self.report_warning(e)
                 continue
 
-            if pr_id := self._invalid_player_response(pr, video_id):
+            pr_id = self._invalid_player_response(pr, video_id)
+            if pr_id:
                 skipped_clients[client] = pr_id
             elif pr:
                 # Save client name for introspection later
@@ -4457,10 +4459,14 @@ def process_language(container, base_url, lang_code, sub_name, query):
                     release_date = release_date.replace('-', '')
                     if not release_year:
                         release_year = release_date[:4]
+                artists = mobj.group('clean_artist')
+                if artists:
+                    artists = [artists]
+                else:
+                    artists = [a.strip() for a in mobj.group('artist').split('·')]
                 info.update({
                     'album': mobj.group('album'.strip()),
-                    'artists': ([a] if (a := mobj.group('clean_artist'))
-                                else [a.strip() for a in mobj.group('artist').split('·')]),
+                    'artists': artists,
                     'track': mobj.group('track').strip(),
                     'release_date': release_date,
                     'release_year': int_or_none(release_year),
diff --git a/yt_dlp/networking/_requests.py b/yt_dlp/networking/_requests.py
index 6397a2c0ca92..66b279a1d1df 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/networking/_requests.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/networking/_requests.py
@@ -195,7 +195,8 @@ def get_connection_with_tls_context(self, request, verify, proxies=None, cert=No
         url = urllib3.util.parse_url(request.url).url
 
         manager = self.poolmanager
-        if proxy := select_proxy(url, proxies):
+        proxy = select_proxy(url, proxies)
+        if proxy:
             manager = self.proxy_manager_for(proxy)
 
         return manager.connection_from_url(url)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/options.py b/yt_dlp/options.py
index 997b575cd46a..906926115ccb 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/options.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/options.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import optparse
 import os.path
 import re
-import shlex
+from .compat import shlex
 import shutil
 import string
 import sys
diff --git a/yt_dlp/postprocessor/sponskrub.py b/yt_dlp/postprocessor/sponskrub.py
index ff50d5b4fda7..f8a4e075f688 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/postprocessor/sponskrub.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/postprocessor/sponskrub.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import os
-import shlex
+from ..compat import shlex
 import subprocess
 
 from .common import PostProcessor
diff --git a/yt_dlp/update.py b/yt_dlp/update.py
index ca70f69a7e9e..44c7bb6613b9 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/update.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/update.py
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ def _get_variant_and_executable_path():
                 machine = '_x86' if platform.architecture()[0][:2] == '32' else ''
             # sys.executable returns a /tmp/ path for staticx builds (linux_static)
             # Ref: https://staticx.readthedocs.io/en/latest/usage.html#run-time-information
-            if static_exe_path := os.getenv('STATICX_PROG_PATH'):
+            static_exe_path = os.getenv('STATICX_PROG_PATH')
+            if static_exe_path:
                 path = static_exe_path
         return f'{remove_end(sys.platform, "32")}{machine}_exe', path
 
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ def _get_binary_name():
 
 
 def _get_system_deprecation():
-    MIN_SUPPORTED, MIN_RECOMMENDED = (3, 8), (3, 8)
+    MIN_SUPPORTED, MIN_RECOMMENDED = (3, 7), (3, 7)
 
     if sys.version_info > MIN_RECOMMENDED:
         return None
diff --git a/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py b/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py
index 42803bb6dfec..e1aaa9c79f4e 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 import platform
 import random
 import re
-import shlex
 import socket
 import ssl
 import struct
@@ -45,6 +44,7 @@
 from . import traversal
 
 from ..compat import functools  # isort: split
+from ..compat import shlex  # isort: split
 from ..compat import (
     compat_etree_fromstring,
     compat_expanduser,