Fun with the YouTube API: How Active are My Subscribers?

[beastlycat]

Are there any free apps like this available on the Internet? I'm not a programmer.

[stschmalhaus]

@beastlycat I don't think so. Also, my little app doesn't work any more since YouTube's latest layout change.

[69Phuket]

I was going to sub....But err, i'm not a number.

[stschmalhaus]

@69Phuket ???

[69Phuket]

@stschmalhaus Ok, guess it's harmless. I like knives!!! I'll sub.

[stschmalhaus]

@69Phuket I guess that's British humour. ;-)

[69Phuket]

@stschmalhaus Yes! Ever see 'The prisoner' Patrick McGoohan in Germany...? YT surely has the trailer at least. ;)

[SharpAirsoft]

I guess we have a different idea of fun.. Lol

[ViralMusicVideos]

This is so exciting! I'd love to try your app.

[brynsannan]

Hi Stefan, Nice video, May I ask? which scripting language do you use use? is it PHP or ASp or even something old like CGI or Perl?

Personally I like PHP, older versions like php4 rather than the newer stuff.

What database you use? May I assume MySQL ??? or are you using something my different like Msql or Postgre? :((

For someone who likes Maxpedition as well as variables & querys, another name for (hook & loop) inserts, good luck & well done my friend!

Best regards, Toby. North Wales, U.K

[stschmalhaus]

@brynsannan I prefer PHP for server-side programming. My little app is based on the Zend Framework because the PHP-based YouTube API is a part of this framework. Yes, the database is MySQL, and jQuery is used for the Ajax and JSON logic on the frontend.

[CaptainFur]

I hope you make a Mac version, that's very useful!

[stschmalhaus]

@CaptainFur My app is platform-independent, everything you see in the video happens in a web browser.

[CaptainFur]

@stschmalhaus Well done Sir! It would be helpful when collecting names for drawings and contests for one.

[kowboy520]

You made an excellent job my friend...i plan to do a similar system to manage my account, but i haven't enough time lately..

[stschmalhaus]

@kowboy520 Thank you! It's always nice to get a compliment from a fellow developer.

[knivesNstuff45]

I wish i had skills to do stuff like this! Very cool man!

[mrmonkeyman50]

Very sweet tutorial. You have a very logical mind and it's not just limited to gear reviews! How did you get the YT database to begin with? Great API... the great beginning of a nice tool!

[stschmalhaus]

@mrmonkeyman50 I created the database scheme myself. Basically it's a single table that holds the properties of the user profiles (username, avatar link, upload count, subscriber count, etc.). You can think of it as an Excel sheet.

[mrmonkeyman50]

@stschmalhaus Very nice, I figured that. I guess I meant how did you get the dump from YT to populate the database? I know you didn't hand enter the data. LOL!

[stschmalhaus]

@mrmonkeyman50 Err.... that's what my video is all about: Since the YouTube API doesn't give me access to my subscriber list, I wrote a parser script that extracts the usernames from the HTML pages. The usernames get stored in the database, and then another script loops over the usernames and retrieves the user profiles via the YouTube API. Finally the user profile properties are added to the usernames in the database.

[mrmonkeyman50]

@stschmalhaus Ok, I was confused. I thought there was some very simple API from YT you accessed. Now I understand that all you accessed was the graphical info on the channel page (in HTML of course!) Thanks! I hope you do more of these vids in addition to the gear ones. Very informative!

[wolvee123]

I saw my Avatar in your video!!! I'm famous.. :0) Thanks stshmalhaus

[stschmalhaus]

@wolvee123 LOL