The server provides the HLS (live streaming) link for a YouTube channel or video. Any video or IPTV player can play a YouTube live video using this link.

How to get it?#

  1. An executable of the server is available for purchase at buymeacoffee.com.
  2. You will receive an email with a link to download.
  3. Extract the downloaded zip file.

Before you buy?#

  1. The video player and the server must have the same public IP address to stream the live feed.
  2. The executable supports Linux machines with amd64 architecture only. Please reach out to me if you need support for other architecture.
  3. The server connects to youtube.com for each request. If you send many requests in a short time, YouTube will impose a rate limit on your server. Requests over the rate limit will fail with the 429 Too Many Requests error status code. To avoid this, consider adding a cache before the server. If you are planning to use the server for you and your family, there is a low chance of hitting the rate limit.

How to use it?#

  • Download the executable to your machine
  • Assign the executable the permission to run
chmod +x ./youtube-hls-server
  • Start the server
./youtube-hls-server

# output
server listening on port: 3333
  • Open the URL on the browser
$server/

# IP with port
<ip>:3333/

# Domain without port
<domain>/
  • (optional) Change the port of the server
PORT=8080 ./youtube-hls-server

# output
server listening on port: 8080

Server#

The link has a .m3u8 extension, a popular extension for a live stream. Most IPTV players are compatible with this format. It redirects to the HLS streaming feed of the YouTube video. When successful, it responds with a 302 Found status code.

Youtube Channel#

It picks up the live feed of a YouTube channel. It works when a YouTube channel has a single live feed or goes live frequently. It might not work when a channel has multiple live feeds simultaneously. Please use the video link for this case.

# format of the link
$server/channel/$youtube_channel_id.m3u8

# example
$server/channel/UCt4t-jeY85JegMlZ-E5UWtA.m3u8

Youtube Video#

It picks up the live feed of a YouTube video. It works when the video is live.

# format of the link
$server/video/$youtube_video_id.m3u8

# example
$server/video/Nq2wYlWFucg.m3u8

JSON Metadata#

The API provides information about the YouTube channel or video in JSON format.

Youtube Channel# 

# format of the link
$server/channel/$youtube_channel_id.json

# example
$server/channel/UCt4t-jeY85JegMlZ-E5UWtA.json

# response
{
  "name": "<string>", # name of youtube channel
  "logo": "<url>", # logo of youtube channel
  "stream": "<url>/index.m3u8", # hls of youtube video
  "status":  <http_code> # response code from youtube
}

Youtube Video# 

# format of the link
$server/video/$youtube_video_id.json

# example
$server/video/Nq2wYlWFucg.json

# response
{
  "name": "<string>", # name of youtube channel
  "logo": "<url>", # logo of youtube channel
  "stream": "<url>/index.m3u8", # hls of youtube video
  "status":  <http_code> # response code from youtube
}