$docker.recipes

LiveKit

intermediate

Real-time video, audio and data SDK.

[i]Overview

LiveKit is an open-source, production-grade platform that provides real-time video, audio, and data communication capabilities through WebRTC technology. Originally developed to democratize access to video conferencing infrastructure, LiveKit serves as a compelling alternative to proprietary solutions like Twilio Video, Zoom SDK, or Agora, offering developers complete control over their real-time communication stack without vendor lock-in or per-minute pricing models. This Docker deployment creates a self-hosted LiveKit server that handles WebRTC signaling, media routing, and room management through a single containerized service. The LiveKit server acts as a Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU) that efficiently distributes media streams between participants while providing APIs for room creation, participant management, and real-time data channels, making it possible to build sophisticated video applications with minimal infrastructure overhead. This configuration is ideal for startups building video-first applications, enterprises requiring on-premises communication solutions, or developers creating custom conferencing tools who need predictable costs and full data sovereignty. The setup provides production-ready video infrastructure that can scale from small team meetings to large-scale broadcast scenarios with thousands of concurrent participants.

[*]Key Features

  • [+]WebRTC-based Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU) for efficient multi-participant video distribution
  • [+]Real-time room management with dynamic participant joining and track subscription controls
  • [+]Adaptive bitrate streaming with automatic quality adjustment based on network conditions
  • [+]Server-side recording and egress capabilities for archiving sessions or streaming to external platforms
  • [+]Built-in data channels for real-time messaging and custom signaling alongside media streams
  • [+]Multi-track audio and video support with screen sharing and device switching capabilities
  • [+]JWT-based authentication with granular permissions for room access and publishing rights
  • [+]Load balancing support for horizontal scaling across multiple server instances

[#]Common Use Cases

  • [1]Building custom video conferencing applications for remote teams and distributed organizations
  • [2]Creating online education platforms with interactive classrooms and student engagement tools
  • [3]Developing telehealth solutions requiring HIPAA-compliant video consultations
  • [4]Implementing live streaming platforms with audience interaction and real-time chat
  • [5]Building collaborative design tools with screen sharing and real-time communication
  • [6]Creating gaming platforms that require voice chat and real-time coordination features
  • [7]Developing customer support systems with video calling and screen sharing capabilities

[!]Prerequisites

  • [!]Minimum 2GB RAM and 2 CPU cores for handling moderate concurrent sessions
  • [!]Network environment with properly configured firewall allowing UDP traffic on ports 7881-7882
  • [!]Valid SSL certificate and domain name for production WebRTC connectivity
  • [!]Basic understanding of WebRTC concepts and JWT token generation for authentication
  • [!]Client-side SDK integration knowledge for your target platforms (React, Swift, Android, etc.)
  • [!]Understanding of media server scaling concepts for high-availability deployments
[!]

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

[$]docker-compose.yml

[docker-compose.yml]
1services: 
2  livekit: 
3    image: livekit/livekit-server:latest
4    container_name: livekit
5    restart: unless-stopped
6    command: --config /etc/livekit.yaml
7    environment: 
8      LIVEKIT_KEYS: "${API_KEY}: ${API_SECRET}"
9    volumes: 
10      - ./livekit.yaml:/etc/livekit.yaml
11    ports: 
12      - "7880:7880"
13      - "7881:7881/udp"
14      - "7882:7882/udp"

[$].env Template

[.env]
1API_KEY=devkey
2API_SECRET=secret

[i]Usage Notes

  1. [1]Docs: https://docs.livekit.io/
  2. [2]API/WebSocket on port 7880, UDP media on 7881-7882
  3. [3]Create livekit.yaml: port: 7880, keys: {api-key: secret}
  4. [4]SDKs for React, JS, Swift, Android, Flutter, Unity
  5. [5]Features: rooms, tracks, data channels, recording, egress
  6. [6]Open-source Zoom/Twilio alternative for video conferencing

[>]Quick Start

[terminal]
1# 1. Create the compose file
2cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
3services:
4  livekit:
5    image: livekit/livekit-server:latest
6    container_name: livekit
7    restart: unless-stopped
8    command: --config /etc/livekit.yaml
9    environment:
10      LIVEKIT_KEYS: "${API_KEY}: ${API_SECRET}"
11    volumes:
12      - ./livekit.yaml:/etc/livekit.yaml
13    ports:
14      - "7880:7880"
15      - "7881:7881/udp"
16      - "7882:7882/udp"
17EOF
18
19# 2. Create the .env file
20cat > .env << 'EOF'
21API_KEY=devkey
22API_SECRET=secret
23EOF
24
25# 3. Start the services
26docker compose up -d
27
28# 4. View logs
29docker 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/livekit/run | bash

[?]Troubleshooting

  • [!]WebRTC connection failures in production: Ensure proper TURN server configuration and SSL certificates are properly configured for secure contexts
  • [!]Participants cannot see or hear each other: Verify UDP ports 7881-7882 are open and accessible, check firewall rules blocking media traffic
  • [!]High CPU usage during video calls: Implement proper video resolution limits and enable hardware acceleration if available on the host system
  • [!]JWT authentication errors when joining rooms: Verify API_KEY and API_SECRET environment variables match your token generation code
  • [!]Audio echo or feedback issues: Configure proper echo cancellation settings in client SDKs and ensure participants use headphones
  • [!]Container fails to start with config errors: Ensure livekit.yaml file exists with proper port and keys configuration matching environment variables

Community Notes

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## Download Recipe Kit

Get all files in a ready-to-deploy package

Includes docker-compose.yml, .env template, README, and license

## Components

livekit

## Tags

#livekit#webrtc#video#audio

## Category

Message Queues & Brokers

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