Jellyfin is a free software media system that functions as the backend server and API for a complete media streaming platform. Written in C# and built on the .NET platform, it serves as an open-source alternative to proprietary services like Emby and Plex, allowing users to manage and stream their media collections from a dedicated server to multiple client devices. The project originated from Emby's 3.5.2 release and was ported to .NET to enable full cross-platform support across major operating systems.
The repository contains the core backend server code for Jellyfin, which is one component within a larger ecosystem of projects under the Jellyfin GitHub organization. The server provides media streaming capabilities with support for transcoding, metadata management, DLNA support, and remote access functionality. It operates on a client-server architecture where the server hosts media libraries and serves content to various client applications. The system includes built-in support for hosting a static web client, with API documentation accessible through Swagger at the default localhost:8096 endpoint.
Development of Jellyfin is active and community-driven.
The project requires the .NET 10 SDK for building and supports development through multiple IDEs including Visual Studio 2022 and Visual Studio Code. FFmpeg integration is necessary for transcoding functionality. The README provides comprehensive setup instructions for running the server locally, including options to run via Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, command line, or GitHub Codespaces. Contributors can build from source, and the project includes detailed development guidelines and community standards documentation.
Jellyfin emphasizes transparency and community ownership, explicitly stating there are no premium licenses, hidden features, or proprietary restrictions. The project maintains active translation efforts through Weblate and welcomes contributions across multiple areas including development, testing, and localization. The codebase is licensed under GPL 2.0, and the project maintains communication channels through Matrix chat and feature request tracking via Fider.
