npm package: @iflow-mcp/mcp-youtube
Description: YouTube MCP server for token-optimized, structured data using the YouTube Data API v3.
Author: Kiryl Bahdanau
Latest version: 0.2.7

# YouTube Data MCP Server (@kirbah/mcp-youtube)

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**High-efficiency YouTube MCP server: Get token-optimized, structured data for your LLMs using the YouTube Data API v3.**

This Model Context Protocol (MCP) server empowers AI language models to seamlessly interact with YouTube. It's engineered to return **lean, structured data**, significantly **reducing token consumption** and making it ideal for cost-effective and performant LLM applications. Access a comprehensive suite of tools for video search, detail retrieval, transcript fetching, channel analysis, and trend discovery—all optimized for AI.

## Quick Start: Adding to an MCP Client

The easiest way to use `@kirbah/mcp-youtube` is with an MCP-compatible client application (like Claude Desktop or a custom client).

1.  **Ensure you have a YouTube Data API v3 Key.**
    - If you don't have one, follow the [YouTube API Setup](#youtube-api-setup) instructions below.

2.  **MongoDB Connection String (Optional):** This server can use MongoDB to cache API responses and store analysis data, which significantly improves performance and reduces API quota usage. If you don't provide a connection string, the server will run without a database, but performance will be degraded, and you may hit API quota limits faster. You can get a free MongoDB Atlas cluster to obtain a connection string.

    **Important:** If you use MongoDB, the server is hardcoded to use the database name `youtube_niche_analysis`. Your connection string must point to this database, and your user must have read/write permissions for it.

3.  **Configure your MCP client:**
    Add the following JSON configuration to your client, replacing `"YOUR_YOUTUBE_API_KEY_HERE"` with your actual API key.

    ```json
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "youtube": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@kirbah/mcp-youtube"],
          "env": {
            "YOUTUBE_API_KEY": "YOUR_YOUTUBE_API_KEY_HERE",
            "MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING": "mongodb+srv://user:pass@cluster0.abc.mongodb.net/youtube_niche_analysis"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    - **Windows PowerShell Users:** `npx` can sometimes cause issues directly. If you encounter problems, try modifying the command as follows:
      ```json
        "command": "cmd",
        "args": ["/k", "npx", "-y", "@kirbah/mcp-youtube"],
      ```

That's it! Your MCP client should now be able to leverage the YouTube tools provided by this server.

## Why `@kirbah/mcp-youtube`?

In the world of Large Language Models, every token counts. `@kirbah/mcp-youtube` is designed from the ground up with this principle in mind:

- 🚀 **Token Efficiency:** Get just the data you need, precisely structured to minimize overhead for your LLM prompts and responses.
- 🧠 **LLM-Centric Design:** Tools and data formats are tailored for easy integration and consumption by AI models.
- 📊 **Comprehensive YouTube Toolkit:** Access a wide array of YouTube functionalities, from video details and transcripts to channel statistics and trending content.
- 🛡️ **Robust & Reliable:** Built with strong input validation (Zod) and clear error handling.

## Key Features

- **Optimized Video Information:** Search videos with advanced filters. Retrieve detailed metadata, statistics (views, likes, etc.), and content details, all structured for minimal token footprint.
- **Efficient Transcript Management:** Fetch video captions/subtitles with multi-language support, perfect for content analysis by LLMs.
- **Insightful Channel Analysis:** Get concise channel statistics (subscribers, views, video count) and discover a channel's top-performing videos without data bloat.
- **Lean Trend Discovery:** Find trending videos by region and category, and get lists of available video categories, optimized for quick AI processing.
- **Structured for AI:** All responses are designed to be easily parsable and immediately useful for language models.
- **Efficient Comment Retrieval:** Fetch video comments with fine-grained control over the number of results and replies, optimized for sentiment analysis and feedback extraction.

## Available Tools

The server provides the following MCP tools, each designed to return token-optimized data:

| Tool Name                       | Description                                                                                                                                  | Parameters (see details in tool schema)                                                                                                                   |
| ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `getVideoDetails`               | Retrieves detailed, **lean** information for multiple YouTube videos including metadata, statistics, engagement ratios, and content details. | `videoIds` (array of strings)                                                                                                                             |
| `searchVideos`                  | Searches for videos or channels based on a query string with various filtering options, returning **concise** results.                       | `query` (string), `maxResults` (optional number), `order` (optional), `type` (optional), `channelId` (optional), etc.                                     |
| `getTranscripts`                | Retrieves **token-efficient** transcripts (captions) for multiple videos, with options for full text or key segments (intro/outro).          | `videoIds` (array of strings), `lang` (optional string for language code), `format` (optional enum: 'full_text', 'key_segments' - default 'key_segments') |
| `getChannelStatistics`          | Retrieves **lean** statistics for multiple channels (subscriber count, view count, video count, creation date).                              | `channelIds` (array of strings)                                                                                                                           |
| `getChannelTopVideos`           | Retrieves a list of a channel's top-performing videos with **lean** details and engagement ratios.                                           | `channelId` (string), `maxResults` (optional number)                                                                                                      |
| `getTrendingVideos`             | Retrieves a list of trending videos for a given region and optional category, with **lean** details and engagement ratios.                   | `regionCode` (optional string), `categoryId` (optional string), `maxResults` (optional number)                                                            |
| `getVideoCategories`            | Retrieves available YouTube video categories (ID and title) for a specific region, providing **essential data only**.                        | `regionCode` (optional string)                                                                                                                            |
| `getVideoComments`              | Retrieves comments for a YouTube video. Allows sorting, limiting results, and fetching a small number of replies per comment.                | `videoId` (string), `maxResults` (optional number), `order` (optional), `maxReplies` (optional number), `commentDetail` (optional string)                 |
| `findConsistentOutlierChannels` | Identifies channels that consistently perform as outliers within a specific niche. **Requires a MongoDB connection.**                        | `niche` (string), `minVideos` (optional number), `maxChannels` (optional number)                                                                          |

_For detailed input parameters and their descriptions, please refer to the `inputSchema` within each tool's configuration file in the `src/tools/` directory (e.g., `src/tools/video/getVideoDetails.ts`)._

> _**Note on API Quota Costs:** Most tools are highly efficient. `getVideoDetails`, `getChannelStatistics`, and `getTrendingVideos` cost only **1 unit** per call. The `getTranscripts` tool has **0** API cost. The new `getVideoComments` tool has a variable cost: the base call is **1 unit**, but if you request replies (by setting `maxReplies > 0`), it costs an **additional 1 unit for each top-level comment** it fetches replies for. The search-based tools are the most expensive: `searchVideos` costs **100 units** and `getChannelTopVideos` costs **101 units**._

## Advanced Usage & Local Development

If you wish to contribute, modify the server, or run it locally outside of an MCP client's managed environment:

### Prerequisites

- Node.js (version specified in `package.json` engines field - currently `>=20.0.0`)
- npm (usually comes with Node.js)
- A YouTube Data API v3 Key (see [YouTube API Setup](#youtube-api-setup))

### Local Setup

1.  **Clone the repository:**

    ```bash
    git clone https://github.com/kirbah/mcp-youtube.git
    cd mcp-youtube
    ```

2.  **Install dependencies:**

    ```bash
    npm ci
    ```

3.  **Configure Environment:**
    Create a `.env` file in the root by copying `.env.example`:
    ```bash
    cp .env.example .env
    ```
    Then, edit `.env` to add your `YOUTUBE_API_KEY`:
    ```
    YOUTUBE_API_KEY=your_youtube_api_key_here
    MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING=your_mongodb_connection_string_here
    ```

### Development Scripts

```bash
# Run in development mode with live reloading
npm run dev

# Build for production
npm run build

# Run the production build (after npm run build)
npm start

# Lint files
npm run lint

# Run tests
npm run test
npm run test -- --coverage # To generate coverage reports

# Inspect MCP server using the Model Context Protocol Inspector
npm run inspector
```

### Local Development with an MCP Client

To have an MCP client run your _local development version_ (instead of the published NPM package):

1.  Ensure you have a script in `package.json` for a non-watching start, e.g.:

    ```json
    "scripts": {
      "start:client": "tsx ./src/index.ts"
    }
    ```

2.  Configure your MCP client to spawn this local script:
    ```json
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "youtube_local_dev": {
          "command": "npm",
          "args": ["run", "start:client"],
          "working_directory": "/absolute/path/to/your/cloned/mcp-youtube",
          "env": {
            "YOUTUBE_API_KEY": "YOUR_LOCAL_DEV_API_KEY_HERE"
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```
    _Note on the env block above: Setting YOUTUBE_API_KEY directly in the env block for the client configuration is one way to provide the API key. Alternatively, if your server correctly loads its .env file based on the working_directory, you might not need to specify it in the client's env block, as long as your local .env file in the project root contains the YOUTUBE_API_KEY. The working_directory path must be absolute and correct for the server to find its .env file._

## YouTube API Setup

1.  Go to the [Google Cloud Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/).
2.  Create a new project or select an existing one.
3.  In the navigation menu, go to "APIs & Services" > "Library".
4.  Search for "YouTube Data API v3" and **Enable** it for your project.
5.  Go to "APIs & Services" > "Credentials".
6.  Click "+ CREATE CREDENTIALS" and choose "API key".
7.  Copy the generated API key. This is your `YOUTUBE_API_KEY`.
8.  **Important Security Step:** Restrict your API key to prevent unauthorized use. Click on the API key name, and under "API restrictions," select "Restrict key" and choose "YouTube Data API v3." You can also add "Application restrictions" (e.g., IP addresses) if applicable.

## How it Works

This server supports two execution modes:

1.  **HTTP Server Mode (for Smithery.ai):** When deployed on [Smithery.ai](https://smithery.ai/), the server runs as an HTTP server. The `smithery.yaml` configuration file defines this runtime behavior. The `@smithery/cli` tool is used to build and run the server in this mode, as seen in the `build:http` and `start:http` scripts in `package.json`.

2.  **Stdio Mode (for local MCP clients):** For local development or use with other MCP clients, the server communicates via **Standard Input/Output (stdio)**. In this mode, it does not listen on a network port. An MCP client application spawns the server script as a child process and interacts with it through `stdin` and `stdout`. The `build:stdio` and `start:stdio` scripts in `package.json` are used for this mode.

## System Requirements

- Node.js: `>=20.0.0` (as specified in `package.json`)
- npm (for managing dependencies and running scripts)

## Deep Dive: `findConsistentOutlierChannels` Tool

The `findConsistentOutlierChannels` tool is designed to identify emerging or established YouTube channels that consistently outperform their size within a specific niche. This tool is particularly useful for content creators, marketers, and analysts looking for high-potential channels.

**Important Note:** This tool **requires a MongoDB connection** to store and analyze channel data. Without `MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING` configured, this tool will not be available.

### Internal Logic Overview

The tool operates through a multi-phase analysis process, leveraging both YouTube Data API and a MongoDB database:

1.  **Candidate Search (Phase 1):**
    - Uses the provided `query` to search for relevant videos and channels on YouTube.
    - Filters initial results based on `videoCategoryId` and `regionCode` if specified.
    - Collects a broad set of potential channels for deeper analysis.

2.  **Channel Filtering (Phase 2):**
    - Retrieves detailed statistics for candidate channels (subscribers, total views, video count).
    - Filters channels based on `channelAge` (e.g., 'NEW' for channels under 6 months, 'ESTABLISHED' for 6-24 months).
    - Ensures channels meet a minimum video count to be considered for consistency.

3.  **Deep Analysis (Phase 3):**
    - For each filtered channel, fetches their recent top-performing videos.
    - Calculates a "viral factor" for each video (e.g., views relative to subscriber count).
    - Assesses the `consistencyLevel` (e.g., 'MODERATE' for ~30% of videos showing outlier performance, 'HIGH' for ~50%).
    - Determines `outlierMagnitude` (e.g., 'STANDARD' for views > subscribers, 'STRONG' for views > 3x subscribers).

4.  **Ranking & Formatting (Phase 4):**
    - Ranks channels based on their consistency, outlier magnitude, and overall performance within the niche.
    - Formats the results into a token-optimized structure suitable for LLMs, including key channel metrics and examples of outlier videos.

### Key Parameters Controlling the Flow

The behavior of this tool is primarily controlled by the following parameters:

- `query` (string, required): The central topic or niche to analyze (e.g., "DIY home repair", "quantum computing explained").
- `channelAge` (enum: "NEW", "ESTABLISHED", default: "NEW"): Focuses the search on emerging or more mature channels.
- `consistencyLevel` (enum: "MODERATE", "HIGH", default: "MODERATE"): Sets the threshold for how consistently a channel's videos must perform as outliers.
- `outlierMagnitude` (enum: "STANDARD", "STRONG", default: "STANDARD"): Defines how significantly a video's performance must exceed typical expectations (e.g., views vs. subscribers) to be considered an "outlier."
- `videoCategoryId` (string, optional): Narrows the search to a specific YouTube category ID.
- `regionCode` (string, optional): Targets channels relevant to a particular geographical region.
- `maxResults` (number, default: 10): Limits the number of top outlier channels returned.

## Security Considerations

- **API Key Security:** Your `YOUTUBE_API_KEY` is sensitive. Never commit it directly to your repository. Use environment variables (e.g., via a `.env` file which should be listed in `.gitignore`).
- **API Quotas:** The YouTube Data API has a daily usage quota (default is 10,000 units). All tool calls deduct from this quota. Monitor your usage in the Google Cloud Console and be mindful of the cost of each tool. For a detailed breakdown of costs per API method, see the [official documentation](https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3/determine_quota_cost).
- **Input Validation:** The server uses Zod for robust input validation for all tool parameters, enhancing security and reliability.

## License

This project is licensed under the **MIT License**. See the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.