Build your own YouTube - for free

I’ve seen a number of social networking / user generated content website builders over the last year or so, and have blogged about Vox, Ning, and most recently Rayzz (which is REALLY smart). But, here is the best I have seen so far: Plumi.

Its absolutely free, and its based on open source technology, which means if you want to build a YouTube clone all you need is a few fat servers, a designer, and a developer, plus the means to promote what you do, and your done.

Plumi is described as a free software video sharing platform. Plumi enables you to create a sophisticated video sharing and community site out-of-the-box. And it is just that. Check out the following feature list, and you’ll see it has some really advanced stuff (mobile uploads/download, torrent maker, …):

  • Video uploading in any format (over http)
  • Server-side flash transcoding and embedded playback
  • Expanded video metadata set and classifications system
  • RSS1 and RSS2 (vodcast) feeds created automatically from taxonomy
    items - eg country, genre, member, topic, or through creating custom
    smart folders
  • Tagging
  • WYSIWYG editor
  • Extendable workflow, roles and permissions system
  • Live search and RSS feeds from search results
  • Customised workspaces for hosting files and other works, which can
    be made private or shared only with particular site members
  • Embedded Playback of Quicktime, Flash video, Real and Windows Media
    within the browser
  • Custom templates for publishing and browsing videos
  • Custom profile page for site members with their personal vodcast feed
  • Open Content Licensing including Creative Commons and GNU Free
  • Documentation License and the ability to add your own custom licenses.
  • Future features are said to include:

  • Automatic creation and seeding of BitTorrent files upon video upload
  • Mobile phone uploads and downloads
  • Transmission metadata standard: http://wiki.transmission.cc/
    index.php/Metadata_Workspace
  • Donations system for contributors and online purchasing
  • Integration with gnutella and other p2p networks

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