Youtube Automation

1---
2name: youtube-automation
3description: "Automate YouTube tasks via Rube MCP (Composio): upload videos, manage playlists, search content, get analytics, and handle comments. Always search tools first for current schemas."
4requires:
5  mcp: [rube]
6---
7 
8# YouTube Automation via Rube MCP
9 
10Automate YouTube operations through Composio's YouTube toolkit via Rube MCP.
11 
12## Prerequisites
13 
14- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
15- Active YouTube connection via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `youtube`
16- Always call `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` first to get current tool schemas
17 
18## Setup
19 
20**Get Rube MCP**: Add `https://rube.app/mcp` as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.
21 
22 
231. Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` responds
242. Call `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `youtube`
253. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Google OAuth
264. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows
27 
28## Core Workflows
29 
30### 1. Upload and Manage Videos
31 
32**When to use**: User wants to upload a video or update video metadata
33 
34**Tool sequence**:
351. `YOUTUBE_UPLOAD_VIDEO` - Upload a new video [Required]
362. `YOUTUBE_UPDATE_VIDEO` - Update title, description, tags, privacy [Optional]
373. `YOUTUBE_UPDATE_THUMBNAIL` - Set a custom thumbnail [Optional]
38 
39**Key parameters**:
40- `title`: Video title (max 100 characters)
41- `description`: Video description (max 5000 bytes)
42- `tags`: Array of keyword tags
43- `categoryId`: YouTube category ID (e.g., '22' for People & Blogs)
44- `privacyStatus`: 'public', 'private', or 'unlisted'
45- `videoFilePath`: Object with `{name, mimetype, s3key}` for the video file
46 
47**Pitfalls**:
48- UPLOAD_VIDEO consumes high quota; prefer UPDATE_VIDEO for metadata-only changes
49- videoFilePath must be an object with s3key, not a raw file path or URL
50- Tags total must not exceed 500 characters including separators
51- Angle brackets `< >` in tags are automatically stripped
52- Description limit is 5000 bytes, not characters (multibyte chars count more)
53 
54### 2. Search YouTube Content
55 
56**When to use**: User wants to find videos, channels, or playlists
57 
58**Tool sequence**:
591. `YOUTUBE_SEARCH_YOU_TUBE` - Search for content [Required]
602. `YOUTUBE_VIDEO_DETAILS` - Get full details for a specific video [Optional]
613. `YOUTUBE_GET_VIDEO_DETAILS_BATCH` - Get details for multiple videos [Optional]
62 
63**Key parameters**:
64- `q`: Search query (supports exact phrases, exclusions, channel handles)
65- `type`: 'video', 'channel', or 'playlist'
66- `maxResults`: Results per page (1-50)
67- `pageToken`: For pagination
68 
69**Pitfalls**:
70- Search endpoint only returns 'snippet' part; use VIDEO_DETAILS for statistics
71- Search results are capped at 500 total items
72- Search has higher quota cost (100 units) vs list endpoints (1 unit)
73- BATCH video details practical limit is ~50 IDs per call; chunk larger sets
74 
75### 3. Manage Playlists
76 
77**When to use**: User wants to create playlists or manage playlist contents
78 
79**Tool sequence**:
801. `YOUTUBE_LIST_USER_PLAYLISTS` - List user's existing playlists [Optional]
812. `YOUTUBE_CREATE_PLAYLIST` - Create a new playlist [Optional]
823. `YOUTUBE_ADD_VIDEO_TO_PLAYLIST` - Add a video to a playlist [Optional]
834. `YOUTUBE_LIST_PLAYLIST_ITEMS` - List videos in a playlist [Optional]
84 
85**Key parameters**:
86- `playlistId`: Playlist ID ('PL...' for user-created, 'UU...' for uploads)
87- `part`: Resource parts to include (e.g., 'snippet,contentDetails')
88- `maxResults`: Items per page (1-50)
89- `pageToken`: Pagination token from previous response
90 
91**Pitfalls**:
92- Do NOT pass channel IDs ('UC...') as playlist IDs; convert 'UC' to 'UU' for uploads
93- Large playlists require pagination via pageToken; follow nextPageToken until absent
94- items[].id is not the videoId; use items[].snippet.resourceId.videoId
95- Creating duplicate playlist names is allowed; check existing playlists first
96 
97### 4. Get Channel and Video Analytics
98 
99**When to use**: User wants to analyze channel performance or video metrics
100 
101**Tool sequence**:
1021. `YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ID_BY_HANDLE` - Resolve a handle to channel ID [Prerequisite]
1032. `YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_STATISTICS` - Get channel subscriber/view/video counts [Required]
1043. `YOUTUBE_LIST_CHANNEL_VIDEOS` - List all videos from a channel [Optional]
1054. `YOUTUBE_GET_VIDEO_DETAILS_BATCH` - Get per-video statistics [Optional]
1065. `YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ACTIVITIES` - Get recent channel activities [Optional]
107 
108**Key parameters**:
109- `channelId`: Channel ID ('UC...'), handle ('@handle'), or 'me'
110- `forHandle`: Channel handle (e.g., '@Google')
111- `id`: Comma-separated video IDs for batch details
112- `parts`: Resource parts to include (e.g., 'snippet,statistics')
113 
114**Pitfalls**:
115- Channel statistics are lifetime totals, not per-period
116- BATCH video details may return fewer items than requested for private/deleted videos
117- Response data may be nested under `data` or `data_preview`; parse defensively
118- contentDetails.duration uses ISO 8601 format (e.g., 'PT4M13S')
119 
120### 5. Manage Subscriptions and Comments
121 
122**When to use**: User wants to subscribe to channels or view video comments
123 
124**Tool sequence**:
1251. `YOUTUBE_SUBSCRIBE_CHANNEL` - Subscribe to a channel [Optional]
1262. `YOUTUBE_UNSUBSCRIBE_CHANNEL` - Unsubscribe from a channel [Optional]
1273. `YOUTUBE_LIST_USER_SUBSCRIPTIONS` - List subscriptions [Optional]
1284. `YOUTUBE_LIST_COMMENT_THREADS` - List comments on a video [Optional]
129 
130**Key parameters**:
131- `channelId`: Channel to subscribe/unsubscribe
132- `videoId`: Video ID for comment threads
133- `maxResults`: Results per page
134- `pageToken`: Pagination token
135 
136**Pitfalls**:
137- Subscribing to an already-subscribed channel may return an error
138- Comment threads return top-level comments with up to 5 replies each
139- Comments may be disabled on some videos
140- Unsubscribe requires the subscription ID, not the channel ID
141 
142## Common Patterns
143 
144### Channel ID Resolution
145 
146**Handle to Channel ID**:
147```
1481. Call YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ID_BY_HANDLE with '@handle'
1492. Extract channelId from response
1503. Use in subsequent channel operations
151```
152 
153**Uploads Playlist**:
154```
1551. Get channel ID (starts with 'UC')
1562. Replace 'UC' prefix with 'UU' to get uploads playlist ID
1573. Use with LIST_PLAYLIST_ITEMS to enumerate all videos
158```
159 
160### Pagination
161 
162- Set `maxResults` (max 50 per page)
163- Check response for `nextPageToken`
164- Pass token as `pageToken` in next request
165- Continue until `nextPageToken` is absent
166 
167### Batch Video Details
168 
169- Collect video IDs from search or playlist listings
170- Chunk into groups of ~50 IDs
171- Call GET_VIDEO_DETAILS_BATCH per chunk
172- Merge results across chunks
173 
174## Known Pitfalls
175 
176**Quota Management**:
177- YouTube API has a daily quota limit (default 10,000 units)
178- Upload = 1600 units; search = 100 units; list = 1 unit
179- Prefer list endpoints over search when possible
180- Monitor quota usage to avoid hitting daily limits
181 
182**ID Formats**:
183- Video IDs: 11-character alphanumeric strings
184- Channel IDs: Start with 'UC' followed by 22 characters
185- Playlist IDs: Start with 'PL' (user) or 'UU' (uploads)
186- Do not confuse channel IDs with playlist IDs
187 
188**Thumbnails**:
189- Custom thumbnails require channel phone verification
190- Must be JPG, PNG, or GIF; under 2MB
191- Recommended: 1280x720 resolution (16:9 aspect ratio)
192 
193**Response Parsing**:
194- Statistics values are returned as strings, not integers; cast before math
195- Duration uses ISO 8601 format (PT#H#M#S)
196- Batch responses may wrap data under different keys
197 
198## Quick Reference
199 
200| Task | Tool Slug | Key Params |
201|------|-----------|------------|
202| Upload video | YOUTUBE_UPLOAD_VIDEO | title, description, tags, categoryId, privacyStatus, videoFilePath |
203| Update video | YOUTUBE_UPDATE_VIDEO | video_id, title, description, tags |
204| Set thumbnail | YOUTUBE_UPDATE_THUMBNAIL | videoId, thumbnailUrl |
205| Search YouTube | YOUTUBE_SEARCH_YOU_TUBE | q, type, maxResults |
206| Video details | YOUTUBE_VIDEO_DETAILS | id, part |
207| Batch video details | YOUTUBE_GET_VIDEO_DETAILS_BATCH | id, parts |
208| List playlists | YOUTUBE_LIST_USER_PLAYLISTS | maxResults, pageToken |
209| Create playlist | YOUTUBE_CREATE_PLAYLIST | (check schema) |
210| Add to playlist | YOUTUBE_ADD_VIDEO_TO_PLAYLIST | (check schema) |
211| List playlist items | YOUTUBE_LIST_PLAYLIST_ITEMS | playlistId, maxResults |
212| Channel statistics | YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_STATISTICS | id/forHandle/mine |
213| List channel videos | YOUTUBE_LIST_CHANNEL_VIDEOS | channelId, maxResults |
214| Channel ID by handle | YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ID_BY_HANDLE | channel_handle |
215| Subscribe | YOUTUBE_SUBSCRIBE_CHANNEL | channelId |
216| List subscriptions | YOUTUBE_LIST_USER_SUBSCRIPTIONS | (check schema) |
217| List comments | YOUTUBE_LIST_COMMENT_THREADS | videoId |
218| Channel activities | YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ACTIVITIES | (check schema) |
219