Progress Was Made

Quick, honest Shorts about starting a YouTube channel from zero.
No fancy setup. No big productions. Just real progress, real mistakes, and real lessons, one short at a time.
If you’re a brand-new creator or you’re thinking of starting your own channel, follow along as I document:
• What I learn each step of the way
• Tips for new creators
• Small wins and big questions
• Behind-the-scenes thoughts on growing from scratch
This is the YouTube Noob journey. Short. Real. Unpolished.
New Shorts every week as I build this channel from the ground up.

You’re building something.
Maybe you can’t see it yet — but you feel it.
This channel is for the quiet workers.
The people learning in public.
The ones who keep showing up even when the numbers don’t move.
I share the lessons I’m learning as I grow,
one day at a time,
one thought at a time,
one step at a time.
If you’re trying to build something of your own…
you’re in good company.
Progress was made.
Keep going.


Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-06-04T16:10:29Z`
Route: `/channel/UC_B9TFeBCleo0Aw6wZvuQQg`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-06-04T16:10:29Z`
Route: `/channel/UC_B9TFeBCleo0Aw6wZvuQQg`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-06-04T16:10:29Z`
Route: `/channel/UC_B9TFeBCleo0Aw6wZvuQQg`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-06-04T16:10:29Z`
Route: `/channel/UC_B9TFeBCleo0Aw6wZvuQQg`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-06-04T16:10:29Z`
Route: `/channel/UC_B9TFeBCleo0Aw6wZvuQQg`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-06-04T16:10:29Z`
Route: `/channel/UC_B9TFeBCleo0Aw6wZvuQQg`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-06-04T16:10:29Z`
Route: `/channel/UC_B9TFeBCleo0Aw6wZvuQQg`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>

Unable to parse item

Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:

Show technical details
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)`
Date: `2026-06-04T16:10:29Z`
Route: `/channel/UC_B9TFeBCleo0Aw6wZvuQQg`
Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)`

<details>
<summary>Backtrace</summary>
<p>
   
```
Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item'
  from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items'
  from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by'
  from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next'
  from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client'
  from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run'
  from ???
```
</p>
</details>