YouTube (video streaming)

Accept uploads, transcode them into an adaptive bitrate ladder and stream segments to millions of concurrent viewers. Bandwidth, not requests, is the constraint: the CDN carries the bytes, and transcoding is a large batch pipeline.

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Duration 45:00

Requirements checklist

Upload a video (up to hours long).Transcode into multiple resolutions and bitrates.Stream with adaptive bitrate on any device; seek anywhere.Video metadata, view counts (eventually consistent).Playback starts in under ~2 s and does not rebuffer on a stable connection.Uploaded videos are never lost; processing can take minutes.Serve on the order of 100 Tbit/s of egress at peak.

Clarifying questions

Upload sizes and lengths?
Live streaming in scope?
Which devices — do we need DRM?
Global audience?
How fast must an upload become playable?

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requirements

Suggested time: about 6 minutes. Separates upload, processing and playback latency targets.

Notes for requirements