Stream data via the ipfs network.

Quick start: stream desktop video

Written in python.

Requires

• python3 (openbsdpackage python3)
• ipfs (openbsd package go-ipfs)
• PyNaCl (openbsd package py3-PyNaCl)

Start the ipfs daemon in pubsub mode

ipfs daemon --enable-pubsub-experiment

To stream a video pipe the output of your video capture command into ipfs_stream. For example, to stream your desktop:

ffmpeg \
-f x11grab \
-s 1920x1080 \
-framerate 60 \
-i :0.0 \
-c:v h264 \
-preset:v slow \
-qmin:v 19  \
-f mpegts \
- |
ipfs_stream

To watch a stream you need the streamers stream_id (this matches the ipfs id and looks like QmY7PojtfGBk4AroGj4PtDGQjP56ar1ZuH4BuUTR788wHT) and the streamers base64 encoded public key in public/(stream_id). Then watch the stream by sending the output from ipfs_stream to a video player. For example, to watch this stream:

echo 'Y/x95uYu8P9abyCqSD9++bkMPkU12RDPCqWrCyqbR9A=' > public/QmY7PojtfGBk4AroGj4PtDGQjP56ar1ZuH4BuUTR788wHT
ipfs_stream QmY7PojtfGBk4AroGj4PtDGQjP56ar1ZuH4BuUTR788wHT | ffplay

See Also

• fauxstreem openbsd streaming frontend
• Monitor all audio on openbsd

justification

While ipfs is very good at sending files around there is no way to send just in time streamed data. The main use case I am considering is near realtime streamed video. As all the nessecery ipfs mechinismes exist. This is a rough implementation of the concept.

Overview

ipfs pubsub is a communication channel via which all subscribed members to a channel will see messages published to that channel.

To stream, The streamer breaks the stream into segments, makes the segment available via ipfs, then signs and publishes the ipfs hash to a ipfs pubsub channel.

The viewer watches the ipfs pubsub channel for a segment hash. verifies the hash is signed by the streamer they want to watch. then downloads the segment via ipfs and watches it.