Open-source p2p videoconferencing in Flash or Java?

Question

I want to build a community website with videoconferencing functionality integrated. I would prefer to provide this from within the browser, so I'm looking for a Java- or Flash-based solution.

Also, it would be nice to spare bandwidth by having the clients stream their audio and video data without using a central server (like the way Skype works, for example).

Is there a reasonably mature open-source project that meets these criteria?

Answer 1

Take it from someone who found out the hard way: Java's support for video playback is pisspoor. They keep promising a new, fantastic video playback system, but meanwhile we are STILL stuck with Java Media Framework, the platform-limited, MPEG-4 incompatible mess.

Your alternatives are Quicktime for Java and systems wrapping MPlayer/VLC/etc. None of those are really options for a browser.

Much as I hate Adobe and the evils of Flash site design, Flash is far and away your best option.

Answer 2

See the Xuggler library -- it includes code for playing back video (well, sample code) in the com.xuggle.mediatool.IMediaVieer object.

Answer 3

When doing Voice over IP, UDP is preferred, and web browser plugins usually lacks support for UDP and P2P-connections.

But there is a solution. You have to use Adobe Flash Player 10 and the Adobe Stratus for this. This is actually what Chatroulette is using for P2P streamed video chat.