I make a lot of OC videos to post here on Lemmy. I’m on Nobara, which is currently on Fedora 39. I’m like an intermediate Linux user and mostly have experience with Debian. All of that being said, I’m up at odd hours.

If someone can help me figure out how to make a script to post a video to Lemmy when people are actually awake, that would be fantastic. It could be a lot, I know. I have no idea how to start here. It’d likely need a giant script, and API access along with possible sudo permissions.

I haven’t been a developer since ~2002 and even then it was only Java web stuff. So, while I might understand things with some guidance I can no longer really get things like this running by myself.

If anyone has info or guidance on how to get this done, I would greatly appreciate it. I’m trying to get automatic uploads to at least catbox.moe, and if possible YouTube (though I know that is unlikely).

I know this is an odd one, but I know you all (if anyone) have the technical set to help me out here. I’ll answer any questions I can!

  • @BaumGeist@lemmy.mlEnglish
    4•9 months ago

    sounds like a fun challenge. My thought process is the control flow. To that end:

    1. script runs

    handled by cron

    1. Script selects files to upload, community to upload to and titles for them.

    These are the hardest parts, because it will be the only variable parts. It basically requires user input. I’m thinking perhaps parsing a text file where you input the file name, the community, and the title.

    1. Script authenticates with lemmy API

    I found this really handy “unofficial” API documentation, which includes examples in many different languages, through the official docs.

    Unfortunately, it looks like it’s going to require a hardcoded password to get the appropriate authorization token.

    1. script posts to lemmy

    We can use the api documentation above to figure out this part too

    For other sites like youtube, you can expand on this script and have parts for youtube as well, but you’re basically doubling its size and complexity. Personally, I would go for the KISS method instead and just have a separate script & info file.

    After work today, I’ll see if I can slam out a quick proof of concept in Python

    • @BaumGeist@lemmy.mlEnglish
      2•9 months ago

      @jawa21@lemmy.sdf.org

      here’s the script

      I wasn’t able to implement catbox nor youtube uploads for a few reasons:

      1. neither are FOSS services, and I sneer at those in my moral superiority (disregard the above usage of github)
      2. I’m lazy
      3. This script isn’t for me and I will likely never use it
      4. I’ve already spent over 2 hours on this
      5. catbox.moe is a small site, with little-to-no API documentation. I didn’t want to hammer them with 100 API POST requests with blank files while I test the script and figure out their API through trial and error
      6. youtube requires an API key via oauth… I really don’t have time to work that fustercluck out

      I left in some helpful comments anyway.

      All in all a fun exercise that brought me and lemmy closer together, and that’s what really matters. Turns out the real API docs were the friends we made along the way

      • jawa21OPEnglish
        2•9 months ago

        I got this script to work! Yeah, I apologize for the lack of FOSS hosting for videos specifically, but there really aren’t great options out there unless I run and maintain my own PeerTube instance, which I’m not prepared to do technically or financially. I managed to get it working, so I really thank you for the hours of work you put in! I was able to do two test posts that worked well once I had oauth stuff sorted.

        • @BaumGeist@lemmy.mlEnglish
          1•9 months ago

          That’s great news! I hope my contributions didn’t require major overhauls on your part, and I’d love to see the end result (scrubbed of any private info of course) if you care to share.

          No worries about the FOSS stuff, I was just fishing for excuses to absolve myself of guilt for not finishing it 😬

      • jawa21OPEnglish
        2•9 months ago

        I really do appreciate the effort! I will take a look at this when I’m next able.