# Distribution Guide
This guide explains how to share and distribute the YouTube MCP Server.
## Repository Structure
Your repository is now ready for public distribution with:
```
youtube_mcp/
├── src/ # Source code
│ ├── server.ts
│ ├── youtube-api.ts
│ ├── transcript.ts
│ └── types.ts
├── dist/ # Compiled output (gitignored)
├── LICENSE # MIT License
├── README.md # Main documentation
├── CONTRIBUTING.md # Contribution guidelines
├── SECURITY.md # Security best practices
├── SETUP_GUIDE.md # Step-by-step setup instructions
├── package.json # npm package configuration
├── tsconfig.json # TypeScript configuration
├── .env.example # API key template
└── .gitignore # Git ignore rules
```
## Option 1: Share via GitHub
### Step 1: Create a GitHub Repository
1. Go to https://github.com/new
2. Repository name: `youtube_mcp`
3. Description: `MCP server for YouTube content browsing and summarization`
4. Choose "Public" for open source
5. Don't initialize with README (we already have one)
6. Click "Create repository"
### Step 2: Initialize Git and Push
```bash
cd youtube_mcp
# Initialize git repository
git init
# Add all files
git add .
# Create initial commit
git commit -m "Initial commit: YouTube MCP Server v1.0.0"
# Add remote repository (replace anirudhyadavMS)
git remote add origin https://github.com/anirudhyadavMS/youtube_mcp.git
# Push to GitHub
git branch -M main
git push -u origin main
```
### Step 3: Configure GitHub Repository
1. **Add Topics:**
- Go to your repo → Settings → Topics
- Add: `mcp`, `youtube`, `typescript`, `claude`, `ai`, `mcp-server`
2. **Update URLs in package.json:**
- Replace `anirudhyadavMS` with your actual GitHub username
- Commit and push changes
3. **Create Release:**
- Go to Releases → "Create a new release"
- Tag: `v1.0.0`
- Title: `YouTube MCP Server v1.0.0`
- Description: Copy features from README
- Publish release
### Step 4: Share Your Repository
Share the link: `https://github.com/anirudhyadavMS/youtube_mcp`
Users can then:
```bash
git clone https://github.com/anirudhyadavMS/youtube_mcp.git
cd youtube_mcp
npm install
npm run build
```
## Option 2: Publish to npm
### Prerequisites
1. Create npm account: https://www.npmjs.com/signup
2. Login to npm:
```bash
npm login
```
### Step 1: Check Package Name Availability
```bash
npm search youtube_mcp
```
If taken, change the name in `package.json` to something unique like:
- `@your-username/youtube_mcp`
- `youtube-mcp`
- `yt-mcp-server`
### Step 2: Update package.json
Ensure these fields are correct:
- `name` - Your package name
- `version` - Start with `1.0.0`
- `description` - Clear description
- `author` - Your name or username
- `repository` - Your GitHub URL
- `keywords` - Relevant search terms
### Step 3: Build and Publish
```bash
# Build the project
npm run build
# Test the package locally
npm pack
# Publish to npm
npm publish
```
For scoped packages:
```bash
npm publish --access public
```
### Step 4: Users Can Install
```bash
npm install -g youtube_mcp
```
Then configure in MCP with:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"youtube": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "youtube_mcp",
"env": {
"YOUTUBE_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
```
## Option 3: Share as Zip File
For quick sharing without Git/npm:
### Create a Distributable Zip
**Windows:**
```bash
cd youtube_mcp
npm run build
# Create zip excluding node_modules and .git
```
**macOS/Linux:**
```bash
cd youtube_mcp
npm run build
tar -czf youtube_mcp.tar.gz --exclude='node_modules' --exclude='.git' .
```
### Users Install From Zip
1. Extract the zip file
2. Open terminal in the extracted folder
3. Run:
```bash
npm install
npm run build
```
4. Configure MCP with full path to `dist/server.js`
## Option 4: Submit to MCP Servers Repository
Add your server to the official MCP servers list:
1. Fork: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers
2. Add your server to the README
3. Create a pull request
This gives your server official visibility in the MCP ecosystem.
## Marketing Your Server
### Write a Blog Post
Share on:
- Dev.to
- Medium
- Hashnode
Include:
- What it does
- Why you built it
- How to use it
- Example use cases
### Share on Social Media
- Twitter/X with hashtags: #MCP #AI #YouTube #Claude
- Reddit: r/ClaudeAI, r/LocalLLaMA, r/MachineLearning
- Hacker News
- LinkedIn
### Create Demo Video
Record a short video showing:
1. Installation
2. Configuration
3. Example queries
4. Cool use cases
Upload to YouTube and link in README.
## Documentation Best Practices
### Keep README Updated
- Add badges for build status, npm version, downloads
- Include screenshots or GIFs of usage
- Keep examples current
- Update roadmap as features are added
### Version Your Releases
Follow semantic versioning:
- `1.0.0` - Initial release
- `1.0.1` - Bug fixes
- `1.1.0` - New features
- `2.0.0` - Breaking changes
### Maintain Changelog
Create `CHANGELOG.md`:
```markdown
# Changelog
## [1.0.0] - 2026-01-24
### Added
- Initial release
- 7 YouTube tools
- Transcript support
- Full documentation
```
## Support & Community
### Set Up Issue Templates
Create `.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/`:
- Bug report template
- Feature request template
- Question template
### Enable Discussions
On GitHub: Settings → Features → Enable Discussions
Use for:
- Q&A
- Ideas
- Show and tell
- General discussions
### Set Up CI/CD
Consider adding:
- GitHub Actions for automated testing
- Automatic npm publishing on release
- Code quality checks
## License Reminder
Your project uses the MIT License:
- ✅ Commercial use allowed
- ✅ Modification allowed
- ✅ Distribution allowed
- ✅ Private use allowed
- ⚠️ Must include license and copyright notice
- ⚠️ No warranty provided
Users can freely use, modify, and distribute your code.
## Update URLs
Before publishing, replace these placeholders:
- `anirudhyadavMS` in package.json
- `anirudhyadavMS` in README.md
- `YOUR_API_KEY_HERE` in examples (keep as placeholder)
## Next Steps After Distribution
1. **Monitor Issues** - Respond to user issues and questions
2. **Review PRs** - Accept community contributions
3. **Update Dependencies** - Keep packages current
4. **Add Features** - Build from roadmap and user requests
5. **Engage Community** - Be active in discussions
## Success Metrics
Track your project's impact:
- ⭐ GitHub stars
- 📥 npm downloads
- 🐛 Issues resolved
- 🤝 Contributors
- 💬 Community engagement
---
Congratulations on creating a shareable MCP server! 🎉
The MCP community will benefit from your contribution.
