Instagram Live Streaming Manager

InStream is a Flask-based web application for managing Instagram live streaming sessions. It provides a comprehensive dashboard and interactive control panel for uploading, selecting, and managing videos, as well as controlling live broadcasts with real-time analytics and engagement features.

Overview

This tool is designed for content creators who require full control over their Instagram Live broadcasts from a mobile-friendly interface. The application offers secure authentication, video management, live stream control, and real-time monitoring capabilities.

Key Features

Authentication & Security

• Secure cookie-based authentication for Instagram sessions
• Session validation and management
• Secure storage of streaming credentials

Video Management

• Upload videos with drag and drop support
• Download videos from Instagram URLs
• Organize and manage video library
• Delete or clear videos from library

Live Stream Control

• Start and stop streams with custom titles
• Set custom stream duration with auto-stop capability
• Real-time stream management and monitoring

Real-Time Analytics & Monitoring

• Live viewer count tracking
• Comment monitoring and management
• Broadcast duration tracking
• Live comment feed with posting capability

Dashboard

• Analytics overview
• Stream status indicators
• Quick action controls
• Application health monitoring
• Dark mode support

Requirements

• Python 3.8 or higher
• Flask web framework
• Virtual environment support

Installation

Step 1: Clone Repository

git clone https://github.com/iqbalmh18/instream.git
cd instream

Step 2: Set Up Virtual Environment

python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate

On Windows:

python -m venv venv
venv\Scripts\activate

Step 3: Install Dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

Step 4: Configure Environment

export FLASK_HOST=0.0.0.0
export FLASK_PORT=5000
export FLASK_DEBUG=true

On Windows (Command Prompt):

set FLASK_HOST=0.0.0.0
set FLASK_PORT=5000
set FLASK_DEBUG=true

Configuration

All application configuration is managed through the config.py file using the Config class. Key settings include:

Application Settings

• LOG_FOLDER: Directory location for application logs
• LOG_LEVEL: Logging verbosity level
• MAX_CONTENT_LENGTH: Maximum file upload size (default: 1GB)

Streaming Settings

• Instagram API configuration
• Streaming protocol settings
• Custom implementation via utils.LiveStreamManager

For detailed configuration options, refer to the config.py file in the project root.

Usage

Starting the Application

python3 app.py

Access the application at http://localhost:5000

Setting Up Instagram Cookies

1. Navigate to the Home page
2. Enter your Instagram session cookies in the provided field
3. Click Save and test to validate cookies

Preparing Your Video

Select one of the following methods:

• Upload a video file from your computer
• Download a video from Instagram using its URL
• Select an existing video from your library

Starting a Stream

1. Enter a custom title for your stream
2. Set the stream duration
3. Click Start to begin streaming
4. Monitor live statistics in real-time

Managing the Stream

• Post comments to engage with viewers
• Stop the stream manually at any time
• Allow automatic stop after the specified duration
• Monitor viewer count and engagement metrics

API Endpoints

Stream Management

Method	Endpoint	Purpose
GET	/	Home page and stream control interface
GET	/dashboard	Dashboard with analytics and overview
POST	/api/start	Start a new live stream
POST	/api/stop	Stop the current live stream
GET	/api/info	Retrieve current stream information
GET	/api/status	Get current streaming status

Video Management

Method	Endpoint	Purpose
POST	/api/upload	Upload video file
POST	/api/download	Download video from Instagram URL
DELETE	/api/delete/<video_id>	Delete specific video
GET	/videos	Fetch complete video library

Session Management

Method	Endpoint	Purpose
POST	/api/validate-cookies	Validate Instagram session cookies

Engagement

Method	Endpoint	Purpose
POST	/api/comment	Post comment to live stream

Monitoring

Method	Endpoint	Purpose
GET	/health	Application health status

Troubleshooting

Upload Fails with File Size Error

The upload was rejected due to file size limits. To resolve this:

1. Increase MAX_CONTENT_LENGTH value in config.py
2. Ensure your video file meets the size requirements
3. Try uploading again

Invalid Cookies Error When Saving

Ensure your Instagram cookies are correctly extracted:

1. Open Instagram in your browser
2. Access Developer Tools (F12 or right-click > Inspect)
3. Navigate to Application tab
4. Select Cookies
5. Copy the session cookie values
6. Paste them into the application

Dashboard Shows Offline Status

If the dashboard indicates offline status despite active streaming:

1. Check the browser console for error messages
2. Verify the /api/info endpoint response
3. Confirm backend server is running
4. Review application logs in the LOG_FOLDER directory

Video Upload Timeout

If video uploads are timing out:

1. Check your network connection
2. Try uploading a smaller file first
3. Verify the Flask server is responsive
4. Check available disk space

Project Structure

instream/
├── app.py                 # Main Flask application
├── config.py              # Configuration settings
├── requirements.txt       # Python dependencies
├── utils.py               # Utility functions and LiveStreamManager
├── templates/             # HTML templates
├── static/                # CSS and JavaScript files
├── uploads/               # Video upload directory
└── logs/                  # Application logs

Development

Running in Debug Mode

export FLASK_DEBUG=true
python3 app.py

Viewing Logs

Application logs are stored in the configured LOG_FOLDER. Check these logs for detailed error messages and system information.

Testing Endpoints

Use tools like curl or Postman to test API endpoints:

curl -X POST http://localhost:5000/api/validate-cookies \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"cookies": "your_cookie_string"}'

Contributing

To contribute to this project:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes
4. Submit a pull request

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for complete license information.

Support

For issues, questions, or feature requests, please open an issue on the GitHub repository or contact the development team.

Disclaimer

This tool is intended for personal use and educational purposes. Ensure compliance with Instagram's Terms of Service and community guidelines when using this application.