I Turned YouTube Playlists into eBooks with This Self-Hosted App

As a self-proclaimed YouTube addict, I've spent countless hours binge-watching history videos during the night. One of my favorite YouTube playlists is for in-depth tutorials on topics like Python, design thinking, creative writing, and photography. The 30-part explainers are neatly nested into a playlist that I can queue up and review without distractions. However, when I needed to actually study the content, make notes, or review everything without interruptions, I realized how limiting YouTube really was.

The platform's inability to extract the content, structure it, and turn it into something readable offline was a major drawback. That's until I discovered an incredible GitHub project that lets you take a YouTube playlist and spit out a clean, formatted document that you can turn into an eBook, a PDF study guide, or even a blog post.

The tool is available on GitHub and runs using Python. Installation was straightforward for me. I cloned the repository to my Mac using Git, made sure I had Python 3 and pip installed, then created a virtual environment to keep things clean. From there, I installed the required packages with pip and added my Google API key to a simple .env file.

Running the app was as easy as typing a basic Python command, which is well-documented on the tool's GitHub page. It prompted me to paste a YouTube playlist URL, and within seconds, I had a structured text file with the full list of videos, timestamps, and any available descriptions. The app even handled longer playlists without any hiccups.

The magic lies in its simplicity. You drop in a playlist URL, run the script, and out comes a text file that has been perfectly tweaked to your use case. From there, you can convert it to markdown, a PDF, or use an eBook converter like Calibre to take it further. For learners, it means better retention. For creators, it means another way to repurpose long-form content. And for the curious like me, it's an entirely new way to archive knowledge that lives inside YouTube.

From binge-watching to better learning, this tool gives YouTube playlists a second life in a world overflowing with information, tools like this YouTube video to text converter bring much-needed intentionality. They let us reclaim control over how we learn, turning distraction-heavy video playlists into focused, readable resources we can study, share, or archive. Whether you're a student, a creator, or just a lifelong learner, this project transforms passive watching into active understanding.

The Power of Python-Based Tools

What's truly magical about this tool is its potential as a Python-based framework for other tools and applications. The simplicity and flexibility of the codebase make it an ideal starting point for developers looking to create their own productivity-boosting apps.

With Gemini, a powerful AI-powered text analysis tool, this project enables users to perform deeper analysis on their YouTube playlists. Users can choose from various versions of Gemini to suit their needs, including Gemini Flash for straightforward transcription and output, or Gemini 2.5 for more in-depth analysis.

The app also allows users to tweak the output based on their preferred writing style. This flexibility makes it easy to adapt the tool to different use cases, from educational content to fiction writing.

A New Way to Archive Knowledge

This YouTube video to text converter has the potential to revolutionize how we learn and consume information online. By turning distraction-heavy video playlists into focused, readable resources, it enables us to reclaim control over our learning experience.

Whether you're a student looking for better retention, a creator seeking to repurpose long-form content, or simply someone who wants to explore new ways of archiving knowledge, this tool is an absolute game-changer. And the best part? It's available on GitHub, ready to be adapted and customized by anyone with a bit of Python knowledge.

A Weekend Project for Productivity

For those looking to boost their productivity, this project offers a unique opportunity to create something from scratch using Python and Gemini. With its open-source nature and small codebase, it's an ideal weekend project for anyone interested in exploring the potential of self-hosted apps.

So why not give it a try? Drop in a YouTube playlist URL, run the script, and see what magic happens. Who knows what new ways of learning or creating you'll discover?