Building OpenWatch: an open-source alternative to YouTube (github.com)
from ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club to selfhosted@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 16:43
https://thelemmy.club/post/43839383

I’m building OpenWatch, an open-source self-hosted video platform as an alternative to YouTube. It’s designed for content creators who want to back up their content on their own infrastructure (in case of strikes) or for anyone who wants a personal video hosting solution.

The project is in early stages, but I’ve built out some core features:

Tech stack: 

GitHub: github.com/openwatch-app/openwatch

Feedback would be helpful, especially around self-hosting considerations and features you’d find useful.

#selfhosted

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PM_ME_VINTAGE_30S@lemmy.sdf.org on 06 Feb 16:54 next collapse

So what is the difference between this and PeerTube?

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 06 Feb 17:00 collapse

Hey, thanks for the question. I want to build an experience much more similar to YouTube, with a more similar design and flow.

PM_ME_VINTAGE_30S@lemmy.sdf.org on 06 Feb 17:06 next collapse

Do you think you could work towards ActivityPub integration so it would be able to talk to PeerTube instances? IMO diversity is strength but cooperation is a factor in success. Hope this project goes well and is fun 😁

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 06 Feb 17:10 collapse

Do you think you could work towards ActivityPub integration so it would be able to talk to PeerTube instances? IMO diversity is strength but cooperation is a factor in success. Hope this project goes well and is fun 😁

Sure, I’ll add that to the list. Thanks for the feedback :)

mesamunefire@piefed.social on 06 Feb 18:53 collapse

It would be a killer feature for us in the fedi. :)

Peertube is awesome, but more alternatives in the space would be welcome.

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 06 Feb 19:12 collapse

Thanks for the feedback :)

jlow@discuss.tchncs.de on 06 Feb 21:29 collapse

How is the design and flow of Peertube different from YT, can you give e few examples? For me they are super similar (there’s a video feed, I click on one, I get a page with videos that has comments and related videos).

SinningStromgald@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 16:57 next collapse

Okay, why this over peertube?

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 06 Feb 17:12 collapse

Okay, why this over peertube?

I’d say because it feels more like YouTube. But everyone uses what they like :)

squirrel@piefed.kobel.fyi on 06 Feb 17:01 next collapse

put ActivityPub in it :)

But seriously, a PeerTube compatible software with a different approach than PeerTube could be good for the federated video ecosystem.

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 06 Feb 17:04 next collapse

Thanks for the feedback :)

Fmstrat@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 16:28 collapse

While many in fedi will say the above, a simple federated search model could increase adoption. I.E. don’t bother going crazy with it, just add a discovery platform where you can search “your own” or “the network”.

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 07 Feb 18:17 collapse

I’m already working on this, thank you very much for the feedback

hornedfiend@piefed.social on 06 Feb 20:09 collapse

For sure, an ActivityPub video platform that is not TikTok like (i.e Loops) would be amazing.

Ash@piefed.social on 06 Feb 17:05 next collapse

Very cool.

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 06 Feb 17:07 collapse

Thanks :)

bisserkr@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 17:32 next collapse

That repo looks like someone vibe coded a YouTube clone

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 06 Feb 17:42 collapse

I use AI but not entirely. Thanks for the feedback though, I’ll try to improve

Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone on 06 Feb 17:44 collapse

Thank you for the warning.

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 06 Feb 17:46 collapse

You’re welcome :)

ozoned@piefed.social on 06 Feb 19:34 next collapse

Absolute best of luck to you! :) We need more diversity in software!

I hope AcitivityPub or some federation mechanism is being supported. :)

If you ever want to come on a podcast, Fireside Fedi, let me know. :)

Also if/when you’re ever needing someone to test the software I’m starting another show called Works On My Machine Live where I install the software and talk to the dev during it.

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 07 Feb 07:47 collapse

Thanks for the feedback :)

msokiovt@feddit.online on 06 Feb 19:47 next collapse

I wonder if you have plans to implement YouTube mirroring like with Odysee. I’m sure my producer, Neigsendoig, would love that.

This is being done on a service using the Nostr protocol from what I’ve heard.

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 07 Feb 07:42 collapse

I wonder if you have plans to implement YouTube mirroring like with Odysee. I’m sure my producer, Neigsendoig, would love that.

Sure, I’ll put that on the list.

msokiovt@feddit.online on 07 Feb 18:05 collapse

Fantastic. Please, feel free to take your time on that, but we do appreciate that regardless.

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 07 Feb 18:18 collapse

Fantastic. Please, feel free to take your time on that, but we do appreciate that regardless.

Thank you very much

mike_wooskey@lemmy.thewooskeys.com on 06 Feb 20:09 next collapse

I agree that more options is a good thing, and that activitypub would be a plus. But FYI, I wont be using it because of the license. I use only FOSS whenevr possible.

klangcola@reddthat.com on 07 Feb 01:03 collapse

Good catch, that licence does not look very Libre =\

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 07 Feb 07:46 collapse

Good catch, that licence does not look very Libre =\

Thanks for the feedback, it was already changed it

fum@lemmy.world on 06 Feb 21:24 next collapse

Why would anyone use this non FOSS vibe coded thing instead of PeerTube? Copying YouTube’s UX is not a good enough reason when better FOSS alternatives already exist.

mike_wooskey@lemmy.thewooskeys.com on 07 Feb 01:19 next collapse

I don’t care if AI was used in its creation. I do care if it’s FOSS/libre.

And also, it’s a bit weird to me that copying YouTube’s UI is considered good. I havent used YouTube in a long time, but I recall there being some good aspects and some bad. Why not create your own vesion of a UI?

WarnikOdinson@lemmy.today on 07 Feb 02:58 next collapse

Makes it easier for people to move over, and more willing to.

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 07 Feb 07:37 collapse

And also, it’s a bit weird to me that copying YouTube’s UI is considered good. I havent used YouTube in a long time, but I recall there being some good aspects and some bad. Why not create your own vesion of a UI?

I completely understand your point of view. But I want to make something that’s easier for YouTube users to migrate to.

mike_wooskey@lemmy.thewooskeys.com on 07 Feb 11:01 collapse

Ah.

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 07 Feb 07:35 next collapse

Why would anyone use this non FOSS vibe coded thing instead of PeerTube? Copying YouTube’s UX is not a good enough reason when better FOSS alternatives already exist.

It’s an open source world bro, you can choose what you want, chill :))

boonhet@sopuli.xyz on 07 Feb 20:44 collapse

Wdym non FOSS? It’s MIT. That’s still FOSS even if it’s not the flavor of FOSS you prefer

thoralf@discuss.familie-will.at on 06 Feb 22:14 next collapse

An alternative approach to PeerTube would be very welcome. ActivityPub-integration is a must for me, though.

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 07 Feb 07:38 collapse

Thanks. It’s already on the list.

pfr@piefed.social on 06 Feb 23:27 next collapse

This looks cool. Good luck with it

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 07 Feb 07:38 collapse

Thanks :)

5PACEBAR@piefed.ca on 06 Feb 23:59 next collapse

<img alt="" src="https://media.piefed.ca/posts/Hg/Ss/HgSsKmH4yGu3kfK.webp">

[deleted] on 07 Feb 01:49 next collapse
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5PACEBAR@piefed.ca on 07 Feb 05:21 collapse

It’s not. Have you red the project description?

ohshit604@sh.itjust.works on 07 Feb 05:24 collapse

I stand corrected, apologies.

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 07 Feb 18:19 next collapse

I’m working on this

Auli@lemmy.ca on 07 Feb 20:13 collapse

Doesn’t matter there we’ll never be a replacement for YouTube the cost is to great. Think of the storage they barely remove videos they just stay up there.

boonhet@sopuli.xyz on 07 Feb 20:42 next collapse

Yea someone argued that “it’s not impossible to replace YouTube, [x] also stores massive amounts of videos” where I don’t remember what x was, but I’m fairly sure their massive amounts of videos is less than what gets uploaded to YouTube in a day, maybe an hour.

boogiebored@lemmy.world on 07 Feb 20:48 collapse

Decentralized video streaming? Like torrenting but encrypted traffic from disparate nodes like Storj? Not that tech, but something in that vein.

Also how Tor works but that would be slow af.

🤔💭

Liketearsinrain@lemmy.ml on 07 Feb 21:03 collapse

That’s how peertube works for streaming (not storage), with P2P

ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club on 07 Feb 20:07 next collapse

Update 02/07:

  • Changed license to MIT
  • Made first steps for implementing Federation, now you can search and view videos and channels from other platforms, more features in this direction coming in the future

Thank you for all the feedback received!

zer0squar3d@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 07 Feb 20:26 collapse

Mit license allows the use for commercial purposes without funding, which if it becomes popular and adopted you would have to support it without any kick backs. Please look into GPLv3

Liketearsinrain@lemmy.ml on 07 Feb 21:02 collapse

Not federated, seemingly vibecoded, MIT. Peertube exists, not sure this makes a ton of sense as an alternative but good luck otherwise.