# ZLMediaKit — High-Performance Streaming Media Server in C++

> A production-grade streaming media server supporting WebRTC, RTSP, RTMP, HLS, HTTP-FLV, SRT, and GB28181. Built in C++11 for low-latency live streaming, surveillance systems, and media distribution at scale.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# ZLMediaKit — High-Performance Streaming Media Server in C++

## Quick Use
```bash
# Build from source
git clone https://github.com/ZLMediaKit/ZLMediaKit.git
cd ZLMediaKit && git submodule update --init
mkdir build && cd build
cmake .. && make -j$(nproc)
# Run the server
./MediaServer -d &
# Default API: http://localhost:80, RTSP: 554, RTMP: 1935
```

## Introduction
ZLMediaKit is a high-performance, cross-platform streaming media server framework written in C++11. It provides a unified server that handles nearly every streaming protocol used in production — from traditional RTSP/RTMP to modern WebRTC and SRT — making it suitable for live broadcasting, video surveillance, and real-time communication systems.

## What ZLMediaKit Does
- Receives and distributes live streams across multiple protocols simultaneously
- Converts between protocols on-the-fly (e.g., RTSP input to HLS/WebRTC output)
- Records streams to MP4 or HLS segments for later playback
- Provides a RESTful API for stream management and server control
- Supports cluster deployment with origin-edge architecture

## Architecture Overview
ZLMediaKit is built on an event-driven, multi-threaded networking framework (ZLToolKit). Each incoming stream is demuxed into a protocol-agnostic internal frame queue, then remuxed on demand into any output protocol requested by viewers. This design enables zero-copy protocol conversion. The server manages sessions via a thread-pool model with lock-free queues for high concurrency.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Compile from source with CMake on Linux, macOS, or Windows
- Docker images available for quick deployment
- Configure listening ports and protocol options in config.ini
- Enable HTTPS/WSS with your own TLS certificates
- Set up hook URLs for stream publish/play authentication callbacks

## Key Features
- Multi-protocol: WebRTC, RTSP, RTMP, HLS, HTTP-FLV, SRT, GB28181 in one binary
- Sub-second latency with WebRTC and HTTP-FLV delivery
- On-the-fly transcoding-free protocol conversion
- RESTful API for programmatic stream management
- Cluster support with configurable origin-edge relay

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Nginx-RTMP** — RTMP-only module; ZLMediaKit handles many more protocols natively
- **SRS (Simple RTMP Server)** — similar goals but ZLMediaKit adds GB28181 and broader WebRTC
- **Janus** — WebRTC gateway focus; ZLMediaKit covers traditional streaming protocols too
- **MediaSoup** — WebRTC SFU library; ZLMediaKit is a full-featured standalone server
- **Wowza** — commercial streaming server; ZLMediaKit is free and open source

## FAQ
**Q: Can it handle thousands of concurrent viewers?**
A: Yes, its event-driven architecture and edge-relay support allow scaling to large audiences.

**Q: Does it support recording?**
A: Yes, streams can be recorded as MP4 files or HLS segments with configurable retention.

**Q: Is GPU transcoding supported?**
A: ZLMediaKit focuses on protocol conversion without transcoding. For transcoding, pair it with FFmpeg.

**Q: What is GB28181 support?**
A: GB28181 is a Chinese national standard for video surveillance systems. ZLMediaKit can ingest and serve streams from GB28181-compliant cameras.

## Sources
- https://github.com/ZLMediaKit/ZLMediaKit
- https://docs.zlmediakit.com

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-4abd729f
Author: Script Depot