- Updated: February 14, 2026
- 6 min read
Introducing yt‑media‑storage: Encode Files into Lossless YouTube Videos
yt‑media‑storage is an open‑source tool that encodes any file into a lossless YouTube video, stores it on the platform, and later decodes it back to the original file, offering a novel video‑based storage solution for developers.
What Is yt‑media‑storage?
The yt‑media‑storage repository introduces a fresh take on open source data archiving by leveraging YouTube’s massive, globally distributed CDN. Instead of traditional cloud buckets, the tool converts files into a lossless YouTube video (FFV1 codec in an MKV container) and uploads them to a private or unlisted YouTube channel. When retrieval is needed, the video is downloaded, decoded, and the original data is reconstructed. This approach opens a new frontier for developers seeking resilient, cost‑effective, and censorship‑resistant storage.
Core Features of yt‑media‑storage
The project packs a suite of capabilities that make it a compelling video based storage platform:
- Lossless Encoding & Decoding: Files are chunked, encoded with Wirehair fountain codes, and embedded into 4K (3840×2160) video frames using the FFV1 codec. Decoding extracts packets from the frames and perfectly reconstructs the original file.
- Fountain Codes for Redundancy: The use of fountain codes provides built‑in error correction, allowing recovery even if parts of the video become corrupted or partially unavailable.
- Optional Encryption: With libsodium’s XChaCha20‑Poly1305, users can protect their data with a password before it ever touches YouTube’s servers.
- Batch Processing: Both the CLI and GUI support queuing multiple files for simultaneous encoding, dramatically speeding up large‑scale archiving tasks.
- Cross‑Platform GUI: A Qt6‑based graphical interface offers real‑time progress bars, status logs, and a responsive experience on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Command‑Line Interface (CLI): Power users can script operations, integrate the tool into CI/CD pipelines, or automate nightly backups.
Technical Requirements & Installation Steps
yt‑media‑storage is built with modern C++23 standards and depends on a handful of well‑known libraries. Below is a MECE‑structured guide for each major OS.
Common Prerequisites
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CMake ≥ 3.22 | Build system generator |
| C++23‑compatible compiler | Compiles the source code |
| FFmpeg | Handles video encoding/decoding (FFV1) |
| libsodium | Provides encryption primitives |
| OpenMP | Parallel processing for faster encoding |
| Qt6 (Core & Widgets) | GUI framework |
Ubuntu / Debian
sudo apt update
sudo apt install cmake build-essential qt6-base-dev \
libavcodec-dev libavformat-dev libavutil-dev libswscale-dev libswresample-dev \
libsodium-dev libomp-dev
Fedora / CentOS
sudo dnf install cmake gcc-c++ qt6-qtbase-devel ffmpeg-devel libsodium-devel libgomp
Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S cmake qt6-base ffmpeg libsodium openmp
macOS (Homebrew)
brew install cmake qt@6 ffmpeg libsodium libomp
Windows (vcpkg)
vcpkg install ffmpeg libsodium openmp qt6
Alternatively, install Qt6 via the official Web app editor on UBOS and pull FFmpeg/libsodium from open‑source tools.
Building the Project
mkdir build && cd build
cmake -B . -S ..
cmake --build .
Two executables appear in the build folder:
media_storage– the command‑line interface.media_storage_gui– the graphical user interface.
Use Cases and Benefits for Developers
yt‑media‑storage shines in scenarios where traditional storage either falls short or becomes prohibitively expensive.
Long‑Term Archival of Large Datasets
Researchers can archive terabytes of raw data as a series of lossless videos, taking advantage of YouTube’s 100 % uptime and global CDN. The fountain‑code redundancy ensures that even if a few frames are lost, the original dataset can be perfectly reconstructed.
Secure Backup for Sensitive Files
By enabling encryption for video storage, teams can store confidential documents without exposing raw bytes to the internet. Only users with the correct password can decode the video.
Distribution of Software Packages
Open‑source maintainers can bundle binaries into a single YouTube video and share the link publicly. End‑users download the video, run the decoder, and obtain the original installer—no need for separate hosting services.
Batch Media Processing Pipelines
CI/CD pipelines can invoke the CLI to automatically archive build artifacts after each successful run. The UBOS partner program even offers pre‑built Docker images that include yt‑media‑storage, simplifying integration.
Cost‑Effective Redundancy
YouTube’s free storage eliminates recurring cloud‑bucket fees. When combined with fountain codes, the solution provides multi‑layer redundancy without additional cost.
yt‑media‑storage vs. Traditional Storage Methods
| Aspect | Traditional Cloud (S3, GCS) | yt‑media‑storage (YouTube) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Pay‑per‑GB storage & egress | Free (subject to YouTube’s upload limits) |
| Redundancy | Built‑in multi‑AZ replication | Fountain‑code redundancy + YouTube CDN |
| Access Latency | Low latency within cloud region | Depends on YouTube CDN edge; generally high for popular regions |
| Security | IAM policies, encryption at rest | Optional libsodium encryption + YouTube’s private/unlisted settings |
| Compliance | SOC2, ISO, GDPR certifications | No formal certifications; best for non‑regulated data |
While yt‑media‑storage is not a replacement for mission‑critical, regulated data stores, it offers a compelling niche for developers who need a zero‑cost, globally reachable archive with built‑in error correction.
Get Started with yt‑media‑storage Today
If you’re a tech‑savvy professional looking to experiment with video‑based storage, the yt‑media‑storage GitHub repository provides ready‑to‑run binaries, detailed build instructions, and a CI/CD pipeline you can test as a guest.
To accelerate your adoption, consider pairing yt‑media‑storage with UBOS’s ecosystem:
- Explore the UBOS homepage for a unified AI‑driven platform.
- Read the About UBOS page to understand the team behind the integration tools.
- Leverage the UBOS platform overview to orchestrate automated workflows that trigger video uploads after each build.
- Use the Workflow automation studio to schedule nightly backups to YouTube via yt‑media‑storage.
- Check out the UBOS pricing plans for affordable tiers that include API access to storage‑related services.
- For startups, the UBOS for startups program offers credits that can cover any ancillary compute you need.
- SMBs can benefit from UBOS solutions for SMBs, which bundle storage, AI, and analytics.
- Enterprises may explore the Enterprise AI platform by UBOS for large‑scale, policy‑driven data pipelines.
- Kick‑start a prototype with the UBOS templates for quick start, such as the “AI SEO Analyzer” or the “AI Video Generator”.
- Showcase your implementation in the UBOS portfolio examples to attract partners.
- Join the UBOS partner program to co‑market your video‑storage solution.
Ready to experiment? Download the latest build from the repository’s CI/CD artifacts, encode a test file, and watch your data live on YouTube—then decode it back with a single command. The future of affordable, resilient storage is just a video away.
“Storing data as lossless video on a platform that already serves billions of viewers turns a ubiquitous service into a powerful, decentralized archive.” – PulseBeat02, Project Lead
Andrii Bidochko
CTO UBOS
Andrii Bidochko is an AI entrepreneur and researcher focused on AI agents, reinforcement learning, and autonomous systems. He writes about the technologies shaping the future of machine intelligence, from frontier models and agent architectures to real-world AI applications.