Guides by platform
YouTube guides
How YouTube works, how it earns, what it takes to launch a platform like it, and how it compares.
The guides
What Is Video Transcoding and Adaptive Bitrate Streaming?
Video transcoding converts an uploaded file into several smaller versions, called renditions, at different resolutions and bitrates. Adaptive bitrate streaming, delivered through HLS or DASH, cuts each rendition into short segments so the player can switch quality mid-playback as the connection changes. The result is video that starts fast and rarely stalls.
12 min read YouTubeRunning costs and infrastructureVideo Hosting Cost for a Video Sharing Site, Item by Item
Video hosting cost for a video sharing website as formulas: storage GB-months, delivery GB, transcode minutes and live. Fill them with your own quotes.
11 min read InstagramBrand versus brandTikTok vs Instagram Reels vs YouTube Shorts Compared
TikTok vs Instagram Reels vs YouTube Shorts compared as products: discovery, monetization, who owns the audience, and what a standalone app can do instead.
13 min read YouTubeBuild, rent or buyOpen-Source Video Sharing Script vs a Paid Script: Which Fits
Open source video sharing script or a paid one? Compare licences, upkeep, transcoding, moderation and payout gaps, with a checklist to test any project.
12 min read YouTubeCommission and creator payoutsHow Video Platforms Pay Creators: Revenue Share Models
How does YouTube pay creators? See its eligibility rules, the Shorts pool, memberships and Super Chat, then compare four payout models a new platform can run.
12 min read YouTubeContent rights and licensingCopyright and DMCA for a Video Sharing Site: Plain Guide
DMCA for a video sharing website, in plain terms: the notice and takedown steps, counter-notices, repeat infringers, agent registration and what to set up.
12 min read