this post was submitted on 06 Feb 2026
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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:

  • Home feed
  • Video player with adaptive streaming
  • Playlists
  • Interactions (likes, comments, subscriptions)
  • Creator Studio (dashboard, content management, channel customization)

Tech stack: 

  • Next.js 16
  • Tailwind CSS v4
  • Drizzle ORM (PostgreSQL)
  • FFmpeg
  • HLS.js
  • Zustand
  • Docker

GitHub: https://github.com/openwatch-app/openwatch

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

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[–] 5PACEBAR@piefed.ca 49 points 2 days ago (3 children)
[–] Auli@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago (3 children)

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.

[–] boogiebored@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

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.

🤔💭

[–] ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club -3 points 1 day ago

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.

I never said it's a YouTube replacement :)

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

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.

[–] ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club 4 points 1 day ago

I'm working on this

[–] squirrel@piefed.kobel.fyi 110 points 2 days ago (2 children)

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 34 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Thanks for the feedback :)

[–] Fmstrat@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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 2 points 1 day ago

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

[–] hornedfiend@piefed.social 11 points 2 days ago

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

[–] fum@lemmy.world 60 points 2 days ago (3 children)

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.

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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

[–] fum@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

They changed the licence to MIT after my post. So good on them. The original licence was non FOSS. You can see it in the git history if you're interested.

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 3 points 21 hours ago

Ah fair enough

[–] mike_wooskey@lemmy.thewooskeys.com 8 points 2 days ago (2 children)

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?

[–] ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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.

[–] WarnikOdinson@lemmy.today 5 points 2 days ago

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

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[–] PM_ME_VINTAGE_30S@lemmy.sdf.org 45 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So what is the difference between this and PeerTube?

[–] ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club 27 points 2 days ago (2 children)

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 41 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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 23 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

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

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[–] jlow@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 2 days ago

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).

[–] ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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 16 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

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

[–] ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club 3 points 1 day ago

Thanks for the feedback

[–] bisserkr@lemmy.world 25 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That repo looks like someone vibe coded a YouTube clone

[–] ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

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

[–] Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone 27 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Thank you for the warning.

[–] ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club 5 points 2 days ago

You're welcome :)

[–] ozoned@piefed.social 19 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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 1 points 1 day ago

Thanks for the feedback :)

[–] mike_wooskey@lemmy.thewooskeys.com 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

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

Thanks for the feedback, it was already changed it

[–] SinningStromgald@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Okay, why this over peertube?

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[–] thoralf@discuss.familie-will.at 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club 1 points 1 day ago

Thanks. It's already on the list.

[–] pfr@piefed.social 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

This looks cool. Good luck with it

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[–] Ash@piefed.social 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club 4 points 2 days ago
[–] msokiovt@feddit.online 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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

[–] ge0rg3e@thelemmy.club 1 points 1 day ago

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

Thank you very much

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