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.
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 details
parts: 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/unsubscribe
videoId: Video ID for comment threads
maxResults: Results per page
pageToken: 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)