diff --git a/docker/Dockerfile b/docker/Dockerfile
index 4cfc3c72..fbf0802a 100644
--- a/docker/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/Dockerfile
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ FROM crystallang/crystal:1.16.3-alpine AS builder
 RUN apk add --no-cache sqlite-static yaml-static
 
 ARG release
+ARG api_only
 
 WORKDIR /invidious
 COPY ./shard.yml ./shard.yml
@@ -21,16 +22,13 @@ COPY ./videojs-dependencies.yml ./videojs-dependencies.yml
 
 RUN crystal spec --warnings all \
     --link-flags "-lxml2 -llzma"    
-RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.cache/crystal if [[ "${release}" == 1 ]] ; then \
-        crystal build ./src/invidious.cr \
-        --release \
-        --static --warnings all \
-        --link-flags "-lxml2 -llzma"; \
-    else \
-        crystal build ./src/invidious.cr \
-        --static --warnings all \
-        --link-flags "-lxml2 -llzma"; \
-    fi
+    
+RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.cache/crystal \
+    crystal build ./src/invidious.cr \
+    ${release:+--release} \
+    --static --warnings all \
+    --link-flags "-lxml2 -llzma" \
+    ${api_only:+-Dapi_only -Dskip_videojs_download}
 
 FROM alpine:3.21
 RUN apk add --no-cache rsvg-convert ttf-opensans tini tzdata
diff --git a/docker/Dockerfile.arm64 b/docker/Dockerfile.arm64
index 758e7950..85274f75 100644
--- a/docker/Dockerfile.arm64
+++ b/docker/Dockerfile.arm64
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ RUN apk add --no-cache 'crystal=1.14.0-r0' shards sqlite-static yaml-static yaml
        zlib-static openssl-libs-static openssl-dev musl-dev xz-static
 
 ARG release
+ARG api_only
 
 WORKDIR /invidious
 COPY ./shard.yml ./shard.yml
@@ -22,16 +23,12 @@ COPY ./videojs-dependencies.yml ./videojs-dependencies.yml
 RUN crystal spec --warnings all \
     --link-flags "-lxml2 -llzma"
 
-RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.cache/crystal if [[ "${release}" == 1 ]] ; then \
-        crystal build ./src/invidious.cr \
-        --release \
-        --static --warnings all \
-        --link-flags "-lxml2 -llzma"; \
-    else \
-        crystal build ./src/invidious.cr \
-        --static --warnings all \
-        --link-flags "-lxml2 -llzma"; \
-    fi
+RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/root/.cache/crystal \
+    crystal build ./src/invidious.cr \
+    ${release:+--release} \
+    --static --warnings all \
+    --link-flags "-lxml2 -llzma" \
+    ${api_only:+-Dapi_only -Dskip_videojs_download}
 
 FROM alpine:3.21
 RUN apk add --no-cache rsvg-convert ttf-opensans tini tzdata
diff --git a/src/invidious.cr b/src/invidious.cr
index 69f8a26c..7ac84d09 100644
--- a/src/invidious.cr
+++ b/src/invidious.cr
@@ -31,24 +31,33 @@ require "yaml"
 require "compress/zip"
 require "protodec/utils"
 
-require "./invidious/database/*"
-require "./invidious/database/migrations/*"
+# Database requires
+{% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
+  require "./invidious/database/*"
+  require "./invidious/database/migrations/*"
+{% else %}
+  require "./invidious/database/api_only_stubs"
+{% end %}
+
+# Core requires
 require "./invidious/http_server/*"
 require "./invidious/helpers/*"
 require "./invidious/yt_backend/*"
 require "./invidious/frontend/*"
 require "./invidious/videos/*"
-
 require "./invidious/jsonify/**"
-
-require "./invidious/*"
+require "./invidious/requires"
 require "./invidious/comments/*"
 require "./invidious/channels/*"
 require "./invidious/user/*"
 require "./invidious/search/*"
 require "./invidious/routes/**"
-require "./invidious/jobs/base_job"
-require "./invidious/jobs/*"
+
+# Jobs (not needed in API-only mode)
+{% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
+  require "./invidious/jobs/base_job"
+  require "./invidious/jobs/*"
+{% end %}
 
 # Declare the base namespace for invidious
 module Invidious
@@ -60,7 +69,13 @@ alias IV = Invidious
 CONFIG   = Config.load
 HMAC_KEY = CONFIG.hmac_key
 
-PG_DB       = DB.open CONFIG.database_url
+# Database connection
+{% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
+  PG_DB = DB.open CONFIG.database_url
+{% else %}
+  require "./invidious/api_only_types"
+  PG_DB = DummyDB.new
+{% end %}
 ARCHIVE_URL = URI.parse("https://archive.org")
 PUBSUB_URL  = URI.parse("https://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com")
 REDDIT_URL  = URI.parse("https://www.reddit.com")
@@ -133,7 +148,11 @@ Kemal.config.extra_options do |parser|
     exit
   end
   parser.on("--migrate", "Run any migrations (beta, use at your own risk!!") do
-    Invidious::Database::Migrator.new(PG_DB).migrate
+    {% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
+      Invidious::Database::Migrator.new(PG_DB).migrate
+    {% else %}
+      puts "Database migrations are not available in API-only mode"
+    {% end %}
     exit
   end
 end
@@ -147,9 +166,11 @@ OUTPUT = CONFIG.output.upcase == "STDOUT" ? STDOUT : File.open(CONFIG.output, mo
 LOGGER = Invidious::LogHandler.new(OUTPUT, CONFIG.log_level, CONFIG.colorize_logs)
 
 # Check table integrity
-Invidious::Database.check_integrity(CONFIG)
+{% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
+  Invidious::Database.check_integrity(CONFIG)
+{% end %}
 
-{% if !flag?(:skip_videojs_download) %}
+{% if !flag?(:skip_videojs_download) && !flag?(:api_only) %}
   # Resolve player dependencies. This is done at compile time.
   #
   # Running the script by itself would show some colorful feedback while this doesn't.
@@ -175,38 +196,48 @@ DECRYPT_FUNCTION =
 
 # Start jobs
 
-if CONFIG.channel_threads > 0
-  Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::RefreshChannelsJob.new(PG_DB)
-end
+{% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
+  if CONFIG.channel_threads > 0
+    Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::RefreshChannelsJob.new(PG_DB)
+  end
 
-if CONFIG.feed_threads > 0
-  Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::RefreshFeedsJob.new(PG_DB)
-end
+  if CONFIG.feed_threads > 0
+    Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::RefreshFeedsJob.new(PG_DB)
+  end
 
-if CONFIG.statistics_enabled
-  Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::StatisticsRefreshJob.new(PG_DB, SOFTWARE)
-end
+  if CONFIG.statistics_enabled
+    Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::StatisticsRefreshJob.new(PG_DB, SOFTWARE)
+  end
 
-if (CONFIG.use_pubsub_feeds.is_a?(Bool) && CONFIG.use_pubsub_feeds.as(Bool)) || (CONFIG.use_pubsub_feeds.is_a?(Int32) && CONFIG.use_pubsub_feeds.as(Int32) > 0)
-  Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::SubscribeToFeedsJob.new(PG_DB, HMAC_KEY)
-end
+  if (CONFIG.use_pubsub_feeds.is_a?(Bool) && CONFIG.use_pubsub_feeds.as(Bool)) || (CONFIG.use_pubsub_feeds.is_a?(Int32) && CONFIG.use_pubsub_feeds.as(Int32) > 0)
+    Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::SubscribeToFeedsJob.new(PG_DB, HMAC_KEY)
+  end
 
-if CONFIG.popular_enabled
-  Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::PullPopularVideosJob.new(PG_DB)
-end
+  if CONFIG.popular_enabled
+    Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::PullPopularVideosJob.new(PG_DB)
+  end
 
-NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL = ::Channel(VideoNotification).new(32)
-CONNECTION_CHANNEL   = ::Channel({Bool, ::Channel(PQ::Notification)}).new(32)
-Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::NotificationJob.new(NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL, CONNECTION_CHANNEL, CONFIG.database_url)
+  NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL = ::Channel(VideoNotification).new(32)
+  CONNECTION_CHANNEL   = ::Channel({Bool, ::Channel(PQ::Notification)}).new(32)
+  Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::NotificationJob.new(NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL, CONNECTION_CHANNEL, CONFIG.database_url)
 
-Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::ClearExpiredItemsJob.new
-
-Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::InstanceListRefreshJob.new
-
-Invidious::Jobs.start_all
+  Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::ClearExpiredItemsJob.new
+  
+  Invidious::Jobs.register Invidious::Jobs::InstanceListRefreshJob.new
+  
+  Invidious::Jobs.start_all
+{% else %}
+  # Define channels for API-only mode (even though they won't be used)
+  NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL = ::Channel(VideoNotification).new(1)
+  CONNECTION_CHANNEL   = ::Channel({Bool, ::Channel(PQ::Notification)}).new(1)
+{% end %}
 
 def popular_videos
-  Invidious::Jobs::PullPopularVideosJob::POPULAR_VIDEOS.get
+  {% if flag?(:api_only) %}
+    [] of ChannelVideo
+  {% else %}
+    Invidious::Jobs::PullPopularVideosJob::POPULAR_VIDEOS.get
+  {% end %}
 end
 
 # Routing
diff --git a/src/invidious/api_only_types.cr b/src/invidious/api_only_types.cr
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..13cc6086
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/invidious/api_only_types.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+# API-only mode type definitions
+# This file provides dummy type definitions when running in API-only mode
+
+# Dummy DB class for API-only mode
+class DummyDB
+  def query_all(*args, as : T.class) forall T
+    [] of T
+  end
+  
+  def query_one(*args, as : T.class) forall T
+    raise "Database not available in API-only mode"
+  end
+  
+  def query_one?(*args, as : T.class) forall T
+    nil
+  end
+  
+  def scalar(*args)
+    0
+  end
+  
+  def exec(*args)
+    nil
+  end
+end
+
+# VideoNotification struct for API-only mode
+struct VideoNotification
+  property video_id : String
+  property channel_id : String
+  property published : Time
+  
+  def initialize(@video_id = "", @channel_id = "", @published = Time.utc)
+  end
+  
+  def self.from_video(video : ChannelVideo) : VideoNotification
+    VideoNotification.new(video.id, video.ucid, video.published)
+  end
+end
+
+# PQ module with Notification for API-only mode
+module PQ
+  struct Notification
+    property channel : String = ""
+    property payload : String = ""
+    
+    def initialize(@channel = "", @payload = "")
+    end
+  end
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/invidious/config.cr b/src/invidious/config.cr
index 4d69854c..a057f445 100644
--- a/src/invidious/config.cr
+++ b/src/invidious/config.cr
@@ -107,7 +107,9 @@ class Config
   property full_refresh : Bool = false
 
   # Jobs config structure. See jobs.cr and jobs/base_job.cr
-  property jobs = Invidious::Jobs::JobsConfig.new
+  {% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
+    property jobs = Invidious::Jobs::JobsConfig.new
+  {% end %}
 
   # Used to tell Invidious it is behind a proxy, so links to resources should be https://
   property https_only : Bool?
@@ -285,21 +287,28 @@ class Config
     end
 
     # Build database_url from db.* if it's not set directly
-    if config.database_url.to_s.empty?
-      if db = config.db
-        config.database_url = URI.new(
-          scheme: "postgres",
-          user: db.user,
-          password: db.password,
-          host: db.host,
-          port: db.port,
-          path: db.dbname,
-        )
-      else
-        puts "Config: Either database_url or db.* is required"
-        exit(1)
+    {% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
+      if config.database_url.to_s.empty?
+        if db = config.db
+          config.database_url = URI.new(
+            scheme: "postgres",
+            user: db.user,
+            password: db.password,
+            host: db.host,
+            port: db.port,
+            path: db.dbname,
+          )
+        else
+          puts "Config: Either database_url or db.* is required"
+          exit(1)
+        end
       end
-    end
+    {% else %}
+      # In API-only mode, database is optional
+      if config.database_url.to_s.empty?
+        config.database_url = URI.parse("postgres://dummy:dummy@localhost/dummy")
+      end
+    {% end %}
 
     # Check if the socket configuration is valid
     if sb = config.socket_binding
diff --git a/src/invidious/database/api_only_stubs.cr b/src/invidious/database/api_only_stubs.cr
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b3df636c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/invidious/database/api_only_stubs.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,240 @@
+# API-only mode database stubs
+# This file provides dummy implementations for database modules when running in API-only mode
+
+module Invidious::Database
+  module SessionIDs
+    def self.select_email(sid : String) : String?
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.select_all(email : String)
+      [] of {session: String, issued: Time}
+    end
+    
+    def self.delete(sid : String)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.insert(session : String, email : String)
+      nil
+    end
+  end
+  
+  module Users
+    def self.select!(email : String)
+      raise "Database not available in API-only mode"
+    end
+    
+    def self.update_preferences(user)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.mark_watched(user, id)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.mark_unwatched(user, id)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.clear_watch_history(user)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.subscribe_channel(user, ucid)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.unsubscribe_channel(user, ucid)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.update_subscriptions(user)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.update_watch_history(user)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.update_password(user, password : String)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.update(user)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.insert(user)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.delete(user)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.select_notifications(user)
+      [] of String
+    end
+    
+    def self.mark_notifications_as_read(user)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.feed_needs_update(user)
+      false
+    end
+    
+    def self.update_feed_watched(user)
+      nil
+    end
+  end
+  
+  module Channels
+    def self.select(subscriptions)
+      [] of InvidiousChannel
+    end
+    
+    def self.select(id : String)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.insert(channel, update_on_conflict : Bool = false)
+      nil
+    end
+  end
+  
+  module ChannelVideos
+    def self.select_notfications(*args)
+      [] of ChannelVideo
+    end
+    
+    def self.select_latest_videos(*args)
+      [] of ChannelVideo
+    end
+    
+    def self.insert(*args)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.select(notifications)
+      [] of ChannelVideo
+    end
+  end
+  
+  module Playlists
+    def self.select_all(author : String)
+      [] of InvidiousPlaylist
+    end
+    
+    def self.count_owned_by(email : String)
+      0
+    end
+    
+    def self.select(id : String)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.update(*args)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.delete(id : String)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.update_video_added(*args)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.update_video_removed(*args)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.select_like_iv(email : String)
+      [] of InvidiousPlaylist
+    end
+    
+    def self.insert(playlist)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.update_description(id : String, description : String)
+      nil
+    end
+  end
+  
+  module PlaylistVideos
+    def self.insert(*args)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.delete(*args)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.select_ids(*args, limit : Int32? = nil)
+      [] of String
+    end
+    
+    def self.select(*args, limit : Int32? = nil)
+      [] of PlaylistVideo
+    end
+  end
+  
+  module Annotations
+    def self.select(id : String)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.insert(id : String, annotations : String)
+      nil
+    end
+  end
+  
+  module Videos
+    def self.select(id : String)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.insert(*args)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.update(*args)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.delete(id : String)
+      nil
+    end
+  end
+  
+  module Nonces
+    def self.select(nonce : String)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.insert(nonce : String, expire : Time? = nil)
+      nil
+    end
+    
+    def self.delete(nonce : String)
+      nil
+    end
+  end
+  
+  # Migrator stub
+  class Migrator
+    def initialize(db)
+    end
+    
+    def migrate
+      puts "Database migrations are not available in API-only mode"
+    end
+  end
+  
+  def self.check_integrity(config)
+    # Skip integrity check in API-only mode
+  end
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/invidious/helpers/helpers.cr b/src/invidious/helpers/helpers.cr
index 6add0237..2709d776 100644
--- a/src/invidious/helpers/helpers.cr
+++ b/src/invidious/helpers/helpers.cr
@@ -186,15 +186,24 @@ end
 #
 # Creates a new tracker when unavailable.
 def get_playback_statistic
-  if (tracker = Invidious::Jobs::StatisticsRefreshJob::STATISTICS["playback"]) && tracker.as(Hash).empty?
-    tracker = {
+  {% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
+    if (tracker = Invidious::Jobs::StatisticsRefreshJob::STATISTICS["playback"]) && tracker.as(Hash).empty?
+      tracker = {
+        "totalRequests"      => 0_i64,
+        "successfulRequests" => 0_i64,
+        "ratio"              => 0_f64,
+      }
+
+      Invidious::Jobs::StatisticsRefreshJob::STATISTICS["playback"] = tracker
+    end
+
+    return tracker.as(Hash(String, Int64 | Float64))
+  {% else %}
+    # Return empty statistics in API-only mode
+    return {
       "totalRequests"      => 0_i64,
       "successfulRequests" => 0_i64,
       "ratio"              => 0_f64,
     }
-
-    Invidious::Jobs::StatisticsRefreshJob::STATISTICS["playback"] = tracker
-  end
-
-  return tracker.as(Hash(String, Int64 | Float64))
+  {% end %}
 end
diff --git a/src/invidious/jobs.cr b/src/invidious/jobs.cr
index b6b673f7..ce2772d9 100644
--- a/src/invidious/jobs.cr
+++ b/src/invidious/jobs.cr
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
 module Invidious::Jobs
   JOBS = [] of BaseJob
 
@@ -38,3 +39,4 @@ module Invidious::Jobs
     end
   end
 end
+{% end %}
diff --git a/src/invidious/requires.cr b/src/invidious/requires.cr
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f3ec64e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/invidious/requires.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Common requires for Invidious
+# This file contains the require statements organized by category
+
+# Core requires
+require "./config"
+require "./exceptions"
+require "./hashtag"
+require "./mixes"
+require "./playlists"
+require "./routing"
+require "./trending"
+require "./users"
+require "./videos"
+
+# Jobs (only if not in API-only mode)
+{% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
+  require "./jobs"
+{% end %}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/invidious/routes/api/v1/misc.cr b/src/invidious/routes/api/v1/misc.cr
index 4f5b58da..501a5dcf 100644
--- a/src/invidious/routes/api/v1/misc.cr
+++ b/src/invidious/routes/api/v1/misc.cr
@@ -6,23 +6,28 @@ module Invidious::Routes::API::V1::Misc
     if !CONFIG.statistics_enabled
       return {"software" => SOFTWARE}.to_json
     else
-      # Calculate playback success rate
-      if (tracker = Invidious::Jobs::StatisticsRefreshJob::STATISTICS["playback"]?)
-        tracker = tracker.as(Hash(String, Int64 | Float64))
+      {% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
+        # Calculate playback success rate
+        if (tracker = Invidious::Jobs::StatisticsRefreshJob::STATISTICS["playback"]?)
+          tracker = tracker.as(Hash(String, Int64 | Float64))
 
-        if !tracker.empty?
-          total_requests = tracker["totalRequests"]
-          success_count = tracker["successfulRequests"]
+          if !tracker.empty?
+            total_requests = tracker["totalRequests"]
+            success_count = tracker["successfulRequests"]
 
-          if total_requests.zero?
-            tracker["ratio"] = 1_i64
-          else
-            tracker["ratio"] = (success_count / (total_requests)).round(2)
+            if total_requests.zero?
+              tracker["ratio"] = 1_i64
+            else
+              tracker["ratio"] = (success_count / (total_requests)).round(2)
+            end
           end
         end
-      end
 
-      return Invidious::Jobs::StatisticsRefreshJob::STATISTICS.to_json
+        return Invidious::Jobs::StatisticsRefreshJob::STATISTICS.to_json
+      {% else %}
+        # Return empty statistics in API-only mode
+        return {"software" => SOFTWARE}.to_json
+      {% end %}
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/src/invidious/routes/before_all.cr b/src/invidious/routes/before_all.cr
index b5269668..4cd88d4a 100644
--- a/src/invidious/routes/before_all.cr
+++ b/src/invidious/routes/before_all.cr
@@ -72,24 +72,26 @@ module Invidious::Routes::BeforeAll
         raise "Cannot use token as SID"
       end
 
-      if email = Database::SessionIDs.select_email(sid)
-        user = Database::Users.select!(email: email)
-        csrf_token = generate_response(sid, {
-          ":authorize_token",
-          ":playlist_ajax",
-          ":signout",
-          ":subscription_ajax",
-          ":token_ajax",
-          ":watch_ajax",
-        }, HMAC_KEY, 1.week)
+      {% unless flag?(:api_only) %}
+        if email = Database::SessionIDs.select_email(sid)
+          user = Database::Users.select!(email: email)
+          csrf_token = generate_response(sid, {
+            ":authorize_token",
+            ":playlist_ajax",
+            ":signout",
+            ":subscription_ajax",
+            ":token_ajax",
+            ":watch_ajax",
+          }, HMAC_KEY, 1.week)
 
-        preferences = user.preferences
-        env.set "preferences", preferences
+          preferences = user.preferences
+          env.set "preferences", preferences
 
-        env.set "sid", sid
-        env.set "csrf_token", csrf_token
-        env.set "user", user
-      end
+          env.set "sid", sid
+          env.set "csrf_token", csrf_token
+          env.set "user", user
+        end
+      {% end %}
     end
 
     dark_mode = convert_theme(env.params.query["dark_mode"]?) || preferences.dark_mode.to_s