We used a 7USD basic web dyno from Heroku to host the website. The GitHub Student Developer Pack gave me some credits i think for heroku!

https://anime.adgstudios.co.za was first indexed by Google in May 2022. I think https://github.com/chirag-droid/animeflix gave up on the project not quite sure why? I have contributed to the project generating a Docker Image of the website to allow easy deployment to heroku:container. It was archived by him and his own personal domain was stopped being used. I have forked the project and will continue to maintain it. His repo was archived on Feb 3,2023 it is now only read-only at this point in time.

Changes made to the project:

• Added Dockerfile
• Added Docker Image
• Added Docker Compose
• Deployed to Heroku
• Reworked 'Package.json' to allow for Heroku deployment
• Bumped up node spec
• Removed linting and prettier as it caused issues with Heroku deployment

Note i am not aware when i put the project on Heroku that it would be public. I always wanted my own anime streaming platform on my own domain. I think the original version of animeflix ran from the original Dockerfile from chirag-droid. The original heroku was on the free dyno. That was the good old days when heroku was free! I used https://kaffeine.herokuapp.com/ to keep the website awake. Animeflix was running for free on my domain.

At this point the CDN servers are cracking down on the websites. The original streaming code is now deprecated.

Changes made to the project:

• Used https://march-api.vercel.app/ to get the anime data and streaming links.
• Removed proxies
• Added new streaming enviroment GUI with error handling

For reliablity and stablity. I self-hosted the API on animeapi.adgstudios.co.za using Heroku

Dub Update

• Added Dub to animeapi.adgstudios.co.za

Few SEO Updates

• WhatsApp Button Added
• Discord Community Added to Footer and Navbar
• Added anifastcdn.info to next.config.js

This website was costing money i have seen that my traffic was high. I funded this website with my own money for 1 year and i have decided to add ads to the website. I have used Adsense from Google. Getting approved on that was pain but we got it boys!

Changes

• Added Adsense to the website
• Added local device times to the website for episodes

I saw your guys installed adblockers. I have decided to write some code to punish your lol. But i realized that maybe the venue you are at have these adblockers implemented on the router itself if using public Wi-Fi i didnt want to disadvantage your anymore so it was just running for 1 day and i removed it.

When i visit my public mall called Somerset Mall they have these adblockers implemented on the router itself. I have decided to remove the adblocker code after realizing this. Its good that life lessons can be learned from this. Creative thinking is the key to success.

The CDN servers are keep on screwing me over they added CORS blocks to the API. So I had to use a reverse proxy to bypass the CORS blocks. I did some investigating and tried some reverse proxies majority failed.

The birth of my reverse proxy script was born. I used cloudflare workers to bypass the CORS blocks. I handled 40 million requests in a month. Monthly cost was like additional $5.00. I was happy with the results and I was able to get the anime data and streaming links. With the help of the reverse proxy.

• Resources pertaining to the reverse proxy:
  • Reverse Proxy Theorem
  • GitHub Software

Changelog

• I added a ko-fi button to the website
• Invested in buying an Arc.io account (i think its a scam!, been reading reviews about it - no one has been paid yet - will update this post if i get paid - i just kept it there as i paid for an account :-/)

Please note as of 03 June 2023 i am writing this. These 2 things i added paid me 0.00$ so far. I will update this post if i get paid.

Heroku is just junk. 500MB of memory is not going to cut it. 1000+ errors a day. I have decided to move to a new host. I have moved to Vercel and God damn it is the best decision of my life. This is next level stuff. It resolved all of these issues. I dont like some stuff of Vercel example being on multiple costing tiers and having restrictions with bandwidth, tracking etc.

Changes

• Moved to Vercel
• Removed .gif from genre screwed the bandwidth
• Removed image optimization from next.config.js screwed the bandwidth

I put VAST for a day using Adsterra. I played with it for day and thats just useless and i removed it. CPM was disgusting and it served useless crypto ads. I removed it and i will never use it again.

Changes

• Removed VAST
• Used Playfluid for Ads, it doesnt work natively with NextJS so i wrote my own python script to do it and Flask to render it. I think the code still exists on my website https://apps.adgstudios.co.za/player/base64here feel free to use it.

Consume.t was broken and i had to find a new API. When searching i found alot of cool solutions but i found one that was really cool, anyway it patched the website!

Changes

• New API
• Removed Dub (didnt know how to use it)

I found something called https://plyr.link/ beautiful stuff and i implemented it into the website.

• Github
  • https://github.com/sampotts/plyr

Changes

• New Player

I added back Dub to animeapi.adgstudios.co.za figured out how the API route worked.

Credits to this champ for motivating me to do this.

Changes

• Added back Dub to animeapi.adgstudios.co.za

I have updated my API system to find the fastest server for you to stream from. This is done by pinging the servers and finding the fastest one i have also read some papers regarding the m3u8 protocol. Wrote some magic!

From feedback

Bro your website speed is very good for my Internet connection

This website supports 150+ countries in the world. My goal is to enable Japan's culture with the world. People dont know about it. I want to change that. I want to make it easy for people to watch anime. This change is a step in the right direction.

Also from the feedback. The player needs to be reworked. I will do that soon. I am working on a new player. I will release it soon.

Bro after watching a anime I would say you should have to fix the playing issue.  I mean whenever I complete a episode of the anime the player didn't get me to the next episode and also if I tapped on the next episodes number showing under the player it takes so much time and I didn't even get idea when it works or not so I tapped so many times then it get me to the episode.  I don't know if the problem is my network.  But you should have to review this. Like you to add refresh the page when I tap on the next episode button or make it more smooth.

"I'm currently working on a new player for our website, and I'll be releasing it very soon. The website is entirely free, and all I ask in return is that you help me spread the word about it.

The idea behind this is simple: the more people we have using the website, the higher the probability of Adsense clicks, especially from users in the United States, which offers the highest CPM. So, if you happen to be in the US, I kindly request that you share the website with your friends. It's significantly more impactful than in South Africa, just to give you an idea.

If you're interested in keeping up with our updates, you can also follow my Instagram account where I post daily: @adgsenpai. I'm planning a public video in Cape Town, where I'll be handing out posters and other Animeflix-related items.

By the way, we also have a manga section at ADGSTUDIOS with an application available on the Play Store. If you're a manga enthusiast, be sure to check it out.

I want you to know that I'm deeply committed to this website. I've been at it for two years now, and I'll continue to ensure it stays up and running. Even if we ever run into financial challenges, I'll consider switching to more cost-effective servers if needed.

Currently, we're still making a threefold profit for ROI, even with the recent changes. This puts us in a good position. The profits will be reinvested in marketing efforts, equipment for YouTube, and potentially even traveling to different countries for some exciting projects.

I'm always open to new ideas and suggestions, so please feel free to reach out if you have any. Let's keep making this project even more amazing!"

A beautiful lady from Galaksion Advertising. Contacted me via Discord. For Ads. I have set up the new pop up ads. For the manga.adgstudios.co.za domain and anime.adgstudios.co.za domain. The pop up ads only occur once per session. So if you close it. It will not show again. Not bad 1 USD CPM. Way better than Google Ads.

I use Google Ads + Galaksion now.

Changes

• Pop Up Ads

Removed the IFRAME from the player. And replaced it with a custom player. The custom player is a lot faster. And it is also a lot more responsive. The player is also a lot more stable. It runs natively with Next.js.

Next update will allow it to skip to the next episode. And also allow it to go back to the previous episode. Also allow opening to be skipped.

We have partnered with DISQUS for comments. Below every episode. You can now comment. And also upvote and downvote comments. Have fun.

Changes

• Custom Player
• Removed IFRAME
• DISQUS Comments

Hello everyone! 👋

We've got some exciting news to share with you all! 🎉

1. Animeflix Posters: 🖼️ Today, we picked up the Animeflix posters, and they look absolutely amazing! A big shoutout to Minuteman Press Somerset West for their fantastic work. You can check them out here. 👏

We've already started sharing these posters in Somerset West Mall and Waterstone Mall. It's incredible how well-received they've been, especially among the older crowd. Even in Somerset West, which is predominantly older, we found anime enthusiasts! We handed out posters at Toys R Us and PickNPay, and people were excited about anime, with some even being avid fans of shows like Dragon Ball Z, One Punch, and One Piece. Special thanks to Brandon for spreading the word on social media—you're amazing! 🙌

We'll be distributing more posters during the holiday season and expanding to Cape Town soon! 🌴

2. Real-Time Subtitle Translation: 🌍 We're engineering a cool technology to enable subtitles in all possible languages. With visitors from all over the world, we aim to be the first anime website to offer subtitles in every language. We're exploring the use of overlays in videos to achieve this, and luckily, our video player supports these custom features. Stay tuned; we'll be working on this project shortly. The technology will be open source and available on my GitHub account. Additionally, it will be part of a thesis paper titled "Real-Time Subtitle Translation," which you can find on my ResearchGate account. 📚
3. Merchandise Coming Soon: 👕 Exciting merchandise is on the horizon! We're preparing some cool stuff just for you. To kick things off, we'll be giving away 5 free shirts through a roulette system. Anyone who signs up for our newsletter will have a chance to win! 🎁
4. Subscriptions Are Coming: 💰 While Animeflix will remain free, we're introducing a subscription option that will disable ads. We're considering a fee of $1 per month or $10 per annum for this premium experience. 💲

That's all for now! Thank you all for your continued support. Stay tuned for more exciting updates! 🙏😊

Hey guys 👋

We've got some exciting app updates to share with you all! 🎉

1. Added a new News section to the app. 📰 - Its a cool custom widget embedded at the ADGSTUDIOS @ Animeflix homepage you can find it as a floating button at the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. Added a new Downloads section to the app. 📥 - When you stream or watch an anime using our site below the episode will be a download button, when you click on it you will be redirected to another website with a stern warning saying we are not responsible for the content on the website, click on the download button and you will be redirected to the download page.

Below you can see the showcase of the new features:

Aside from that i handed out 300 posters in Stellenbosch University. 🎁 Met some new friends and had a great time. 🙌 Will be handing out more posters in the future. 🌴 and exploring new ways to advertise the website. 📢

Exciting App Updates You Won't Want to Miss! 🎉

Hey guys 👋,

We've been working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring you some new features that will absolutely enhance your experience on our platform. Let's dive right in!

Google Authentication Now Live! 🛡️

Goodbye to the hassle of remembering another set of usernames and passwords. We've now integrated Google authentication into our system for a seamless sign-in experience!

Upon login, you'll notice your Google profile picture and name displayed in the header. As a cherry on top, we'll greet you with a special "You're Subscribed!" message. Neat, right?

Introducing the Leaderboard 🏆

Ever wondered who else is enjoying our service? Our new leaderboard feature gives you a glimpse into our community of subscribers. Join the ranks, rise to the top, and bask in the glory!

Unbeatable Pricing Plans! 💵

You asked, we listened. We've revised our pricing structure to offer you even more bang for your buck. Believe it or not, subscribing to our platform is cheaper than a litre of fuel! No kidding. We're that committed to delivering value.

Revamped Login Page ✨

Last but not least, we've given our login page a facelift. The new design not only looks great but is also more user-friendly, making your login process as smooth as butter.

Thank you all for your continuous support. We have more exciting updates in the pipeline, so stay tuned. Until then, happy exploring!

Cheers 🥂,

Mr Ashlin Darius Govindasamy