| name | youtube-automation |
| description | ALWAYS use this when the request matches Youtube Automation: Automate YouTube tasks via Rube MCP (Composio): upload videos, manage playlists, search content, get analytics, and handle comments. |
YouTube Automation via Rube MCP
Selective Reading Rule
Start with:
references/senior-master-standard.mdreferences/usage-routing.mdreferences/quality-checklist.md
Then load only the inherited docs, scripts, assets, or examples that match the user's actual task.
Automate YouTube operations through Composio's YouTube toolkit via Rube MCP.
Prerequisites
- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
- Active YouTube connection via
RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS with toolkit youtube
- Always call
RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS first to get current tool schemas
Setup
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.
- Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming
RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS responds
- Call
RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS with toolkit youtube
- If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Google OAuth
- Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows
Core Workflows
1. Upload and Manage Videos
When to use: User wants to upload a video or update video metadata
Tool sequence:
YOUTUBE_UPLOAD_VIDEO - Upload a new video [Required]YOUTUBE_UPDATE_VIDEO - Update title, description, tags, privacy [Optional]YOUTUBE_UPDATE_THUMBNAIL - Set a custom thumbnail [Optional]
Key parameters:
title: Video title (max 100 characters)description: Video description (max 5000 bytes)tags: Array of keyword tagscategoryId: YouTube category ID (e.g., '22' for People & Blogs)privacyStatus: 'public', 'private', or 'unlisted'videoFilePath: Object with {name, mimetype, s3key} for the video file
Pitfalls:
- UPLOAD_VIDEO consumes high quota; prefer UPDATE_VIDEO for metadata-only changes
- videoFilePath must be an object with s3key, not a raw file path or URL
- Tags total must not exceed 500 characters including separators
- Angle brackets
< > in tags are automatically stripped
- Description limit is 5000 bytes, not characters (multibyte chars count more)
2. Search YouTube Content
When to use: User wants to find videos, channels, or playlists
Tool sequence:
YOUTUBE_SEARCH_YOU_TUBE - Search for content [Required]YOUTUBE_VIDEO_DETAILS - Get full details for a specific video [Optional]YOUTUBE_GET_VIDEO_DETAILS_BATCH - Get details for multiple videos [Optional]
Key parameters:
q: Search query (supports exact phrases, exclusions, channel handles)type: 'video', 'channel', or 'playlist'maxResults: Results per page (1-50)pageToken: For pagination
Pitfalls:
- Search endpoint only returns 'snippet' part; use VIDEO_DETAILS for statistics
- Search results are capped at 500 total items
- Search has higher quota cost (100 units) vs list endpoints (1 unit)
- BATCH video details practical limit is ~50 IDs per call; chunk larger sets
3. Manage Playlists
When to use: User wants to create playlists or manage playlist contents
Tool sequence:
YOUTUBE_LIST_USER_PLAYLISTS - List user's existing playlists [Optional]YOUTUBE_CREATE_PLAYLIST - Create a new playlist [Optional]YOUTUBE_ADD_VIDEO_TO_PLAYLIST - Add a video to a playlist [Optional]YOUTUBE_LIST_PLAYLIST_ITEMS - List videos in a playlist [Optional]
Key parameters:
playlistId: Playlist ID ('PL...' for user-created, 'UU...' for uploads)part: Resource parts to include (e.g., 'snippet,contentDetails')maxResults: Items per page (1-50)pageToken: Pagination token from previous response
Pitfalls:
- Do NOT pass channel IDs ('UC...') as playlist IDs; convert 'UC' to 'UU' for uploads
- Large playlists require pagination via pageToken; follow nextPageToken until absent
- items[].id is not the videoId; use items[].snippet.resourceId.videoId
- Creating duplicate playlist names is allowed; check existing playlists first
4. Get Channel and Video Analytics
When to use: User wants to analyze channel performance or video metrics
Tool sequence:
YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ID_BY_HANDLE - Resolve a handle to channel ID [Prerequisite]YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_STATISTICS - Get channel subscriber/view/video counts [Required]YOUTUBE_LIST_CHANNEL_VIDEOS - List all videos from a channel [Optional]YOUTUBE_GET_VIDEO_DETAILS_BATCH - Get per-video statistics [Optional]YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ACTIVITIES - Get recent channel activities [Optional]
Key parameters:
channelId: Channel ID ('UC...'), handle ('@handle'), or 'me'forHandle: Channel handle (e.g., '@Google')id: Comma-separated video IDs for batch detailsparts: Resource parts to include (e.g., 'snippet,statistics')
Pitfalls:
- Channel statistics are lifetime totals, not per-period
- BATCH video details may return fewer items than requested for private/deleted videos
- Response data may be nested under
data or data_preview; parse defensively
- contentDetails.duration uses ISO 8601 format (e.g., 'PT4M13S')
5. Manage Subscriptions and Comments
When to use: User wants to subscribe to channels or view video comments
Tool sequence:
YOUTUBE_SUBSCRIBE_CHANNEL - Subscribe to a channel [Optional]YOUTUBE_UNSUBSCRIBE_CHANNEL - Unsubscribe from a channel [Optional]YOUTUBE_LIST_USER_SUBSCRIPTIONS - List subscriptions [Optional]YOUTUBE_LIST_COMMENT_THREADS - List comments on a video [Optional]
Key parameters:
channelId: Channel to subscribe/unsubscribevideoId: Video ID for comment threadsmaxResults: Results per pagepageToken: Pagination token
Pitfalls:
- Subscribing to an already-subscribed channel may return an error
- Comment threads return top-level comments with up to 5 replies each
- Comments may be disabled on some videos
- Unsubscribe requires the subscription ID, not the channel ID
Common Patterns
Channel ID Resolution
Handle to Channel ID:
1. Call YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ID_BY_HANDLE with '@handle'
2. Extract channelId from response
3. Use in subsequent channel operations
Uploads Playlist:
1. Get channel ID (starts with 'UC')
2. Replace 'UC' prefix with 'UU' to get uploads playlist ID
3. Use with LIST_PLAYLIST_ITEMS to enumerate all videos
Pagination
- Set
maxResults (max 50 per page)
- Check response for
nextPageToken
- Pass token as
pageToken in next request
- Continue until
nextPageToken is absent
Batch Video Details
- Collect video IDs from search or playlist listings
- Chunk into groups of ~50 IDs
- Call GET_VIDEO_DETAILS_BATCH per chunk
- Merge results across chunks
Known Pitfalls
Quota Management:
- YouTube API has a daily quota limit (default 10,000 units)
- Upload = 1600 units; search = 100 units; list = 1 unit
- Prefer list endpoints over search when possible
- Monitor quota usage to avoid hitting daily limits
ID Formats:
- Video IDs: 11-character alphanumeric strings
- Channel IDs: Start with 'UC' followed by 22 characters
- Playlist IDs: Start with 'PL' (user) or 'UU' (uploads)
- Do not confuse channel IDs with playlist IDs
Thumbnails:
- Custom thumbnails require channel phone verification
- Must be JPG, PNG, or GIF; under 2MB
- Recommended: 1280x720 resolution (16:9 aspect ratio)
Response Parsing:
- Statistics values are returned as strings, not integers; cast before math
- Duration uses ISO 8601 format (PT#H#M#S)
- Batch responses may wrap data under different keys
Quick Reference
| Task | Tool Slug | Key Params |
|---|
| Upload video | YOUTUBE_UPLOAD_VIDEO | title, description, tags, categoryId, privacyStatus, videoFilePath |
| Update video | YOUTUBE_UPDATE_VIDEO | video_id, title, description, tags |
| Set thumbnail | YOUTUBE_UPDATE_THUMBNAIL | videoId, thumbnailUrl |
| Search YouTube | YOUTUBE_SEARCH_YOU_TUBE | q, type, maxResults |
| Video details | YOUTUBE_VIDEO_DETAILS | id, part |
| Batch video details | YOUTUBE_GET_VIDEO_DETAILS_BATCH | id, parts |
| List playlists | YOUTUBE_LIST_USER_PLAYLISTS | maxResults, pageToken |
| Create playlist | YOUTUBE_CREATE_PLAYLIST | (check schema) |
| Add to playlist | YOUTUBE_ADD_VIDEO_TO_PLAYLIST | (check schema) |
| List playlist items | YOUTUBE_LIST_PLAYLIST_ITEMS | playlistId, maxResults |
| Channel statistics | YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_STATISTICS | id/forHandle/mine |
| List channel videos | YOUTUBE_LIST_CHANNEL_VIDEOS | channelId, maxResults |
| Channel ID by handle | YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ID_BY_HANDLE | channel_handle |
| Subscribe | YOUTUBE_SUBSCRIBE_CHANNEL | channelId |
| List subscriptions | YOUTUBE_LIST_USER_SUBSCRIPTIONS | (check schema) |
| List comments | YOUTUBE_LIST_COMMENT_THREADS | videoId |
| Channel activities | YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ACTIVITIES | (check schema) |
When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.
Limitations
- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
- Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
- Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.
