YouTube POD Watch

What it does

With the owner's explicit Google authorization, the tool reads the current YouTube subscription list using read-only access. Once a day at 18:00 Europe/Helsinki, it checks subscribed channels for new video uploads, including Shorts. A first-run baseline excludes older uploads.

New video pages are clipped into the owner's local Obsidian RAW folder using the installed Web Clipper when available. If that does not work, the tool writes a local Markdown note with the video's metadata and public URL. It does not download video files. Community posts are added by manually using the Obsidian Web Clipper.

Gemini receives the public video URL and the page title and description to prepare a Finnish source note that separates the creator's claims, reusable ideas, action tips, relevance, and evidence limits. Text from manually clipped Community posts is sent for the same analysis. Source notes and originals are kept in the owner's local Obsidian vault after successful processing.

What Google data it accesses

The program uses only the YouTube Data API read-only scope. It reads the author's own subscription list and public upload metadata needed to find new videos. It does not read private messages or modify the account. Subscription and video metadata are kept locally to support the daily check and are refreshed at least every 29 days while the video remains available through the API. If a tracked video can no longer be refreshed, its stored source files and note are removed from the local tool.

Local storage and deletion

The OAuth refresh token, Gemini key, tracking state, and logs stay in the owner's macOS Application Support folder. The local Obsidian vault contains the captured source pages and generated notes. These files are not sent to Northveil's web server.

The owner can remove the tool's stored data with the local youtube_pod_watch.py delete-data --confirm command. It removes the tool's tracked source clips and notes from RAW, Archive, and Knowledge/Sources, deletes local account state and API tokens, and removes the daily schedule. This does not delete or change information held by YouTube or Google. To revoke the app's Google access, use Google Account security settings.

Contact and privacy

This tool is designed for Northveil's shop owner and is not offered as a service to other users. Read the Northveil privacy policy for details about local storage, Gemini processing, deletion, and contact information.