Owncast Live Streaming

beginner

Owncast self-hosted live streaming server with chat and viewers analytics.

Overview

Owncast is an open-source, self-hosted live streaming server that provides a complete alternative to platforms like Twitch, YouTube Live, or Facebook Live. Built with Go and designed for simplicity, Owncast enables content creators to maintain full control over their streaming infrastructure while offering integrated chat functionality, viewer analytics, and customizable branding. The platform supports standard RTMP ingest, making it compatible with popular streaming software like OBS Studio, Streamlabs, and XSplit. This Docker deployment creates a complete live streaming solution with Owncast handling both the RTMP video ingestion on port 1935 and the web-based viewer experience on port 8080. The configuration establishes persistent storage for stream recordings, chat logs, and configuration data while maintaining the flexibility to customize streaming settings, chat moderation, and viewer interactions through Owncast's built-in admin interface. This setup is ideal for content creators seeking platform independence, organizations requiring private streaming capabilities, or developers building custom streaming experiences. Unlike commercial platforms, Owncast gives you complete ownership of your content, viewer data, and streaming infrastructure while supporting features like stream recording, social features, and third-party integrations through webhooks and APIs.

Key Features

Real-time RTMP video ingestion compatible with OBS Studio, Streamlabs, and professional streaming software
Built-in chat system with moderation tools, user authentication, and emoji support
Automatic video transcoding with multiple quality options for adaptive bitrate streaming
Integrated viewer analytics including concurrent viewers, chat activity, and stream duration metrics
Webhook support for external integrations with Discord, Slack, and custom applications
Stream recording and VOD playback with automatic storage management
Customizable branding with logo upload, color themes, and social media integration
Directory federation allowing streams to be discoverable across Owncast instances

Common Use Cases

1Independent content creators building their own streaming platform without platform fees or restrictions
2Corporate internal communications for company-wide meetings, training sessions, and announcements
3Educational institutions hosting live lectures, seminars, and student presentations
4Gaming communities creating private streaming environments for tournaments and events
5Religious organizations broadcasting services with integrated chat for congregation interaction
6Software development teams streaming coding sessions, code reviews, and technical presentations
7Small businesses hosting product launches, webinars, and customer engagement events

Prerequisites

Minimum 2GB RAM for basic streaming, 4GB+ recommended for multiple concurrent viewers
Available ports 8080 (web interface) and 1935 (RTMP ingest) on the host system
Streaming software like OBS Studio or equivalent for video capture and RTMP transmission
Sufficient bandwidth: 1.5x your highest bitrate for upload, additional bandwidth for viewer delivery
Basic understanding of streaming concepts like bitrate, resolution, and RTMP configuration

For development & testing. Review security settings, change default credentials, and test thoroughly before production use. See Terms

docker-compose.yml

1services: 
2  owncast: 
3    image: owncast/owncast:latest
4    container_name: owncast
5    volumes: 
6      - owncast_data:/app/data
7    ports: 
8      - "8080:8080"
9      - "1935:1935"
10    restart: unless-stopped
11    networks: 
12      - owncast-network
13
14volumes: 
15  owncast_data: 
16
17networks: 
18  owncast-network: 
19    driver: bridge

.env Template

.env

1# Owncast
2# Configuration is done via web admin panel

Usage Notes

1Viewer page at http://localhost:8080
2Admin panel at http://localhost:8080/admin
3Default stream key: abc123
4RTMP ingest at rtmp://localhost:1935/live
5Use OBS or ffmpeg to stream

Quick Start

terminal

1# 1. Create the compose file
2cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
3services:
4  owncast:
5    image: owncast/owncast:latest
6    container_name: owncast
7    volumes:
8      - owncast_data:/app/data
9    ports:
10      - "8080:8080"
11      - "1935:1935"
12    restart: unless-stopped
13    networks:
14      - owncast-network
15
16volumes:
17  owncast_data:
18
19networks:
20  owncast-network:
21    driver: bridge
22EOF
23
24# 2. Create the .env file
25cat > .env << 'EOF'
26# Owncast
27# Configuration is done via web admin panel
28EOF
29
30# 3. Start the services
31docker compose up -d
32
33# 4. View logs
34docker compose logs -f

One-Liner

Run this command to download and set up the recipe in one step:

terminal

1curl -fsSL https://docker.recipes/api/recipes/owncast-streaming/run | bash

Troubleshooting

Stream key authentication failed: Verify the stream key in OBS matches the key configured in Owncast admin panel at /admin
High CPU usage during streaming: Reduce video transcoding quality settings in admin panel or decrease source resolution in OBS
Viewers experiencing buffering or lag: Check your upload bandwidth and reduce streaming bitrate in OBS settings
Chat messages not appearing: Ensure browser JavaScript is enabled and check browser console for WebSocket connection errors
Cannot access admin panel: Navigate to http://localhost:8080/admin and complete initial setup wizard to create admin credentials
RTMP connection refused: Verify port 1935 is not blocked by firewall and Owncast container is running properly

Community Notes

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