WebRTC streaming media technology is a very popular technology at the moment, it allows multimedia transfer easily using a simple Web browser. Its popularity has soared because of increased demand for teams that now have to handle live streaming of video and audio to meet customers and continue to operate in-house.

If your team is now ready to use the WebRTC framework, but not sure how to choose the right WebRTC video streaming server, then we’ll show you how to choose the best open source video streaming server and how to leverage them to help optimize your business.

What is WEBRTC?

WebRTC stands for Web Real-time Communications and is an open source tool that allows two or more people to transmit audio or video communications over the Internet.

Since Google’s release in May 2011, WebRTC has become one of the preferred standards for real-time meeting application development because it can be integrated into any browser without the need to download an application independently. All major Web browsers recognize it and enable peer-to-peer communication options for anyone who can establish a stable Internet connection.

The advantage of WebRTC

Prior to the release of WebRTC, it was possible to use peer-to-peer networks for real-time communication, but the complexity increased as more and more participants started using the service at the same time, especially as more than five participants started using live streaming. Participants are added to the same call. Meetings with multiple participants create significant server load problems because each participant must send their own audio/video feed to each participant.

Resource consumption severely affects the servers that handle the traffic, so when WebRTC comes along, its main benefit is the reduction of barriers to stable audio and video streaming. It leverishes SFU (Single Forward Unit) capabilities to reduce the load on the server, creating a faster, better meeting experience.

WebRTC also has integration capabilities that enable it to communicate with multiple third-party systems, making it a common way to connect your business to multiple platforms, which is especially important for customer service and engagement.

How can startup teams leverage the WEBRTC framework?

The more your team needs to handle online meeting options, whether audio, video or both, due to social distancing, increased globalization or a less concentrated workforce, the more likely you’ll need to invest time or resources to add custom WebRTC streaming capabilities.

Having a dedicated platform for your multimedia needs simplifies meeting and presentation options, prevents service outages due to server load or poor Internet connectivity, and ensures secure processing of data and projects.

Consider the following tips when choosing the right WebRTC server framework for your team.

Can your team handle the code behind it?

– Most WebRTC servers are open source, which means that, in most cases, anyone can use and customize it for free. While this is useful for talented IT and Web development teams, IT can also cause problems if your team is unfamiliar with the code used to build the system. Research the type of language written in code (usually Node.js or Java) and have a heart-to-heart talk with the team, who will help implement it to understand what they think is best for your business.

How does your team monitor it?

-WebRTC runs as real-time code, which makes real-time debugging difficult. Your team can mitigate this problem by using a management application to help assess the “health” of your code. If this is difficult to do, it creates potential problems that will leave your development team scrambling to solve problems that could have been avoided by using some sort of diagnostic mechanism. Make sure that any application your team uses has the ability to log problems and suggest fixes.

How often is the code updated?

– Technology is evolving rapidly, and as the code space improves and innovates, previously released applications will have to navigate how they implement these changes. If the code for the WebRTC server you’re looking at hasn’t been updated in a year, consider asking why, as this could be a big problem because it shows outdated and potentially insecure code. If it is recently updated, check the frequency of new patches or updates. The more improvements or updates you see, the more likely it is that the code will be supported by multiple developers who can develop it according to users’ needs.

Has it been validated by others?

– When it comes to critical communications, it’s great to be the first to launch a new product, but you don’t want to be the guinea pig. Read reviews, seek advice from consultants or peers in your industry, and weigh the feedback.

Can the team understand the documentation?

– If there’s no documentation, that’s a red flag that should lead you somewhere else. Assuming documentation exists, make sure your team understands the comments and processes recommended by the original developers, as this is critical when debugging or updating code is required. Ideally, the documentation should include a structural or architectural review, API references, some case examples or demonstrations, troubleshooting for common problems, and basic configuration and installation recommendations.

Will it expand your business?

– As the business grows, the need for peer-to-peer communication will increase, and you will need servers that can handle the increased load. Look for servers with team-level server load capabilities, or plan for situations where the business no longer uses the original WebRTC server and needs to upgrade to a new level.

Are its licensing options available to you?

– While this may seem silly, it’s worth emphasizing that not all servers are built the same or have the same licenses available. Open source software usually means “free,” but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any restrictions on how the framework can be used. Make sure that any code your team decides to use is properly licensed, or it could lead to serious legal trouble. This is usually why we recommend the business option, because licenses are built directly and are designed for B2B use.

EasyRTC real-time audio and video platform developed by WebRTC helps the team to quickly build real-time audio and video communication from scratch. EasyRTC’s global coverage ensures that real-time video can be transmitted stably across networks and regions. In weak network environment, it can still ensure high-quality communication, open data interaction, and achieve seamless integration with existing platforms through HTTP transmission.

Is there technical support?

– The inevitable misfortune of any team integrating complex code into their business is does it need some kind of professional help to correct the problem or integrate with it? If you decide to use free open source for media streaming, do your research ahead of time to see if there are dedicated professionals to support it. That way, when something goes wrong, you’ll know there’s a powerful support system that can help you quickly resolve the problem without having to search Github for anyone else who might be having the same problem.