Documentation - YouTube Dashboard & Channel Manager

# 📺 YouTube Dashboard & Channel Manager

Author: Frank Belin | Date: August 13, 2026 | Bluesky: @lostautisoul.bsky.social

A lightweight, blazing-fast, and future-proof dashboard designed to organize and explore your favorite YouTube channels. This project pairs a clean, static, zero-dependency web interface with an intuitive desktop management app compiled for both Windows and Linux.

## 🎯 About the Project

Many dashboard solutions rely on heavy frameworks, relational databases, or complex external APIs. This project intentionally chooses a lean, resilient, and platform-agnostic architecture:

- Zero Databases or Backend Servers Required: All data is stored in a clean, local, human-readable data file (`data.js`).
- Ultra-Lightweight & Fast: No bloated frameworks, no third-party tracking, and zero ads — built purely with semantic HTML, modern CSS, and vanilla JavaScript.
- 100% Offline & Online Compatible: Runs seamlessly from a local drive/USB stick as well as hosted on any web server (e.g. Hostinger).
- 3-Tier Hierarchy: Neatly organize channels into Main Groups, Categories, and Subcategories.

## 🛠️ The Editor (Python Desktop App)

To effortlessly manage the content of `data.js` without touching raw code, a dedicated desktop utility is included: `editor`.

### Key Features of the Editor:

- Add Channels: Easily insert new channels, custom descriptions, and direct URLs.
- Edit & Refine: Update channel names, URLs, or descriptions with a single click.
- Reorder / Rank: Move items up or down instantly to keep favorite channels at the top.
- One-Click Sorting: Automatically sort groups, categories, and channels alphabetically (A-Z).
- Instant Sync: Writes formatted changes straight to `data.js`.

## 📂 Directory Structure & Important Operation Details

    TOP/
    │
    ├── index.html         # Main interactive web dashboard
    ├── style.css          # Visual styles and responsive layout
    ├── data.js            # Central data source containing all categories & channels
    ├── YTeditor.exe         # Standalone Windows executable (operates directly on data.js)
    │
    ├── windows/           # Windows distribution & backup
    │   └── YTeditor.exe     # Standalone binary for Windows
    │
    └── linux/             # Linux distribution
        └── YTeditor         # Standalone binary for Linux (e.g. Mint, Ubuntu, MX Linux)

⚠️ Important Note on Running the Editor:
The `YTeditor` application only operates when placed directly in the same root folder as `data.js`.

- For Windows users: `YTeditor.exe` is already placed in the root directory and ready to run.
- For Linux users: Copy the `YTeditor` binary from the `linux/` folder into the root directory (replacing the Windows `.exe` file) before running it.

## 🚀 Getting Started

### 1. Viewing the Dashboard

- Locally: Double-click `index.html` to open the dashboard immediately in any modern web browser.
- Online: Upload `index.html`, `style.css`, and `data.js` to your web host (e.g., Hostinger).

### 2. Managing Channels via the Editor

- On Windows: Launch `YTeditor.exe` from the root folder.
- On Linux: Ensure `YTeditor` is placed in the root folder and execute it (or launch via terminal with `./YTeditor`).

Add your channels, adjust your order, and hit save. Your dashboard updates immediately!