codebits-tv is a minimal Go server that streams video content to screens around a venue using IP multicast. Point it at a playlist of video files, plug screens into the LAN, and every display shows the same stream in sync -- no HDMI matrix, no managed switches, no budget. Built for the Codebits hackathon and reused for similar events.
The server reads a playlist, transcodes or repackages video via ffmpeg, and blasts the resulting UDP stream to a multicast group. Each display runs a lightweight receiver (VLC, ffplay, or a custom client) that joins the multicast group and renders the stream. A simple HTTP endpoint lets organisers update the playlist or switch content without touching the screens.
One multicast stream can feed additional receivers without adding a stream per screen.
Define a playlist of video files or URLs; the server loops them and announces transitions over HTTP so clients can display titles.
Video is fed through ffmpeg for format normalisation and timestamp injection -- handles mixed source formats transparently.
HTTP endpoints expose status, playlist updates and skip controls to devices on the LAN.
Compiled Go -- deploy on any Linux box with ffmpeg installed; no other dependencies.