How do I create a web application for streaming video?

Question

I want the user to be able to create an account and upload the video to the site.

How should I structure this web application, how do I start thinking about a project, how do I store videos, and what stack would you recommend for this project? How do I think about the interface, server, and database?

The more details, the better! In addition, any code that people could give me or point me to would be appreciated. I am looking for code for the following:

user accounts uploading videos storing videos categorizing videos when downloading displaying videos in miniature I probably don’t think about some things, so let me know all that I forget! And remember, the more details, the better!

Answer 1

I would start by breaking up into more manageable pieces.

• Python web infrastructure to work in:
  • Django
  • Pylons
  • Google App Engine ( webapp )
• Video Storage Solution:
  • Amazon s3
  • Amazon CloudFront (for proper H.264 streaming instead of progressive download)
  • Google storage
  • Cachefly
  • Etc.
• Video metadata and thumbnails:
  • Ffmpeg
• Data Storage Solution:
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • MongoDB (when using Pylons)

You asked for code samples of things like user accounts, but the listed frameworks provide useful guides ( Django , Pylons , App Engine ) for the basics. If you cannot adapt the concepts in your textbooks from your respective examples to a system for managing user accounts, I would suggest that you first study the structure and architecture of the database.

As for how you should think about the interface, database, etc., this again tends to rely on the web structure that you decide to go to. They all have their own agreements that you will benefit from by adhering to.

My general suggestion was to select a web framework and then browse through its various guides and user guides. You will learn a lot about how a structure structures its files, how it prefers (or forces) its databases to be structured, etc. In this case, you will learn about a lot of what you asked for, examples - video classification, linking images to video, etc.

Since you have so many different options, it is very difficult to just provide some code examples that do some of the things you asked for. The code should have a list of prerequisites and would diminish your ability to evaluate different options and choose the one that you think will work best for you.