Jellyfin is a community-built media server that puts you in control of your library, streaming, and privacy. Forked from Emby 3.5.2 and ported to .NET for true cross-platform support, it aims to be a friendly, capable alternative to proprietary home media platforms while staying 100% Free. If you want a private, self-hosted Netflix you can tinker with, this is it.
jellyfin
Organization
Key features at a glance
- Self-hosted media streaming: index, manage, and stream your personal libraries from your own server. See README.md.
- Modern API-first server: the backend lives in Jellyfin.Api and Jellyfin.Server, with models in MediaBrowser.Model.
- Transcoding pipeline via FFmpeg: custom builds power reliable on-the-fly conversion in MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding and the upstream-enhanced jellyfin-ffmpeg repo.
- First-class web client: a separate, TypeScript app served statically by the server or hosted independently (jellyfin/jellyfin-web).
- Install anywhere: Windows, Linux, macOS, and containers are supported; see (Docker Hub, 2025) for containerized setups.
- Open API and docs: a Swagger UI ships with the server for exploration at runtime.
- Active test suite and CI: browse tests/ for coverage and expected behaviors.
The problem and the solution
Streaming has never been more convenient, or more fragmented. Media fans juggle multiple apps, shifting catalogs, paywalls, account lock-in, and limited control over how and where their media is stored or transcoded.
Jellyfin's origin story is a response to that trend. When Emby went closed-source in late 2018, a group of maintainers and contributors forked what they legally could and set a new direction: a volunteer-run, Free and Open Source media system driven by community needs rather than gated feature. The result is a server you own, that streams your media to your devices, without subscriptions or hidden switches.
Why I like it
What stands out is how practical the architecture is for real home libraries. Jellyfin pairs a fast .NET backend with a modern web client and a rich ecosystem of apps, then leans on FFmpeg for the heavy lifting of transcoding.
It is opinionated where it matters (robust server APIs, predictable metadata handling) and flexible where it helps (pluggable clients, separate web bundle, clear CLI flags for advanced setups). And because it is copyleft-licensed, improvements tend to flow back to users rather than disappearing behind a paywall.
Under the hood
This repository hosts the backend server. It is a .NET 9 codebase that organizes logic across well-scoped projects:
Core server projects include Jellyfin.Server (startup, configuration, hosting), Jellyfin.Api (controllers and endpoints), and MediaBrowser.Model (shared contracts). The media pipeline centers on MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding, delegating encode and decode work to FFmpeg with Jellyfin-maintained builds (FFmpeg for Jellyfin). The server can host static assets for the web UI or point to a separately running web client.
Because the API is central, the project exposes interactive docs at runtime via Swagger. This makes it easy to test routes, understand payloads, and wire up scripts and clients without digging through source every time.
Here is a minimal developer workflow on Windows PowerShell to run Jellyfin from source and point it at a local web client build directory. Replace the webdir path with your own:
# prerequisites: .NET SDK 9, FFmpeg
# clone the server
git clone https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin.git
cd jellyfin
# run the server, hosting a local jellyfin-web build
# change the path to your jellyfin-web/dist folder
$web = \"C:\path\to\jellyfin-web\dist\"
dotnet run --project Jellyfin.Server --webdir $web
# then open http://localhost:8096 (Swagger: /api-docs/swagger/index.html)Prefer container-based deployments? The official image is available on Docker Hub for a fast start (Docker Hub, 2025).
Community and contribution
Jellyfin is volunteer-driven. The project maintains clear guidelines for issues, coding standards, and development flow, plus a friendly Matrix chat and a feature voting hub. New contributors can start with documentation, translations via Weblate, or small code fixes.
The web client is its own active project, currently refactoring toward a Bulletproof React inspired structure for maintainability ((Jellyfin Web, 2025); see (alan2207, 2021)). See the docs for contribution steps and community standards ((Jellyfin, 2025)).
Use cases
Jellyfin shines when you want reliable access to personal media on your terms. Host a home server with a large 4K library and transcode on the fly to bandwidth-friendly streams for tablets on your home Wi-Fi.
Keep family libraries organized with profiles and parental controls, while using clients across TVs, desktops, and phones.
Run a small community library for a dorm or maker space with curated content and shared access.
Or keep things simple: turn an old PC into a jukebox for your music collection and stream it to your car. The same server can handle all of these because the core is focused on scanning, metadata, APIs, and FFmpeg-backed delivery rather than any single UI or device.
Usage and license terms
The server is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2 (GPL-2.0). In brief: you are free to use, study, and modify the software; if you distribute binaries, you must provide the corresponding source under the same license; and there is no warranty. For full terms, read LICENSE in the repository ((FSF, 1991)).
Impact and where it could go next
For households with mixed devices and large local libraries, Jellyfin is already a practical daily driver. The combination of a strong server core, an evolving web client, and a thriving apps ecosystem positions it as one of the most important open self-hosted media tools.
Expect continued investment in performance, codec support via FFmpeg, accessibility and localization through Weblate, and developer friendliness via the server's Swagger UI and typed models. Because it is open-source, integrations and niche use cases can flourish without permission or platform gatekeeping.
About the project
Jellyfin is not a company. It is a global community stewarding a free media system in the open: code, docs, and process. The team lists roles and responsibilities on the official site, and funding is community-backed through platforms like Open Collective to cover infrastructure and project needs (Jellyfin, 2025). You can explore active work across the GitHub organization and find paths to contribute that match your interests and skills.
Conclusion
If you value owning your media and the tools that serve it, Jellyfin is a standout. Start with the server README, pick your preferred client via jellyfin-web or the mobile apps, and consider lending a hand in docs, translations, or code. Open the repo, run the server, and make it yours.
Jellyfin, Owned By You: A Free Software Media Server That Performs