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Why Java?

Because server side networking code is REALLY easy in Java. Writing multithreaded code is REALLY easy in Java.

That said, OPENdj is really built on top of open wire-level protocols. The current client and server are in Java. I'm working on a C client right now. If someone wants to reimplement the server in C, go for it!

- jonathan.

Wow. That's a really interesting idea.

OPENdj works because the upstream connection from the broadcaster can be virtually anything (like a 56k modem), and the server relays the signal over a high-bandwidth connection to the listeners. In that sense, it's not the P2P that you refer to. But from the viewpoint that "anyone who can listen could also broadcast" (any client is also a potential server), it is P2P.

The difference between OPENdj and a simple relay is that opendj acts as a "controller" to the encoder port, and enforces the channels schedule by only allowing the correct broadcaster to connect and stream. OPENdj also handles the "hand-off" when one broadcaster finishes and other needs to start. Imagine one guy in brazil, the other in london, and the stream transitions is seamless to the listener.

There's a lot more material explaining how this all works (and other nifty features too) on the OPENdj project site.

- jonathan.

Here's a hypothetical strategy:

Open source the project. Then, with sufficiently quick and easy installer (not there yet), and easy-to-use broadcasting software (getting there), massive proliferation could result.

Then you're off to the law of large numbers. If it is really this easy for anyone to broadcast, there should be thousands of these small "community" radio stations.

There would be many to prosecute all of them, and it wouldn't be worthwhile because the number of listeners these stations have is so small. It would become a bit like speeding, technicially 5mph over the speed limit is illegal, but generally you won't get pulled over unless you up the numbers...

I encourage you to check out OPENdj, my rendition of an open source, UNIX-based distributed streamer. It is very full featured and has been operating on http://opendj.com/ for over a year.

It is open source software, available for anyone to download, play with, and use.

- jonathan.

Very interesting. To keep accounting of per-song streaming would require some work, and would be difficult for live analog sources.

About a year ago I had some spare time, so I built OPENdj: an open source Java/Linux distributed streamer. OPENdj could be extended to do a lot of the things you describe (which, by the way, are some very interesing ideas). A fully-functional version 1.0.0 was released last May.

Check it out, let me know what you think.

- jonathan.

Check out OPENdj, my rendition of an open source, UNIX-based distributed streamer. It is very full featured and has been operating on http://opendj.com/ for over a year.

It is open source software, available for anyone to download, play with, and use.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

- jonathan.

Check out OPENdj, my rendition of an open source, UNIX-based distributed streamer. It is very full featured and has been operating on http://opendj.com/ for over a year.

It is open source software, available for anyone to download, play with, and use.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

- jonathan.

Hello folks, Since it seems other folks are getting lots of attention, and this "P2P streaming" stuff is exactly what my OPENdj project is all about, I feel I've got to pitch OPENdj to you...

OPENdj is a distributed streamer, allowing DJs to schedule time on streams through a web based interface. It's pretty full-featured, with automatic archiving of all broadcasts, meta-tagging on broadcasts, searching on those metatags, listener counts, chat room features, etc.

OPENdj is open source software, available for anyone to download, play with, and use.

Check it out, let me know what you think.

- jonathan.

It is not an indefensible position. This is just a piece of software. The fact that it may be used to stream copyrighted content does not mean that it is illegal. Certainly many forms of talk radio do not infringe on anyone's copyrights.

For the record, OPENdj has been doing this "P2P streaming" stuff for over a year.... and is open source software

- jonathan.

Check out OPENdj.

It is my vision of this guys idea - but I have had opendj running from over a year ago. It has had listener counting features (both for broadcasters and listeners) since its inception.

An icecast server instrumented with expect scripts provides this service. Privacy is maintained in the sense that only the count of listeners is monitored, nothing is recorded such as IP address, length of connection, etc.

OPENdj's license is mostly Apache-ish, with some subprojects GPL'd due to GPL dependencies.

Check it out and tell me what you think.

- jonathan.

Check out OPENdj.

It is my vision of this guys idea - but I have had opendj running from over a year ago.

OPENdj's license is mostly Apache-ish, with some subprojects GPL'd due to GPL dependencies.

- jonathan.

• It's a bandwidth hog. Unless you have T1 speed internet access, or machines at a colo facility, you won't be able to support very many listeners.
• It's expensive. Even in the absence of the RIAA, T1's and colo's are expensive. Fast servers that can stream to many people are expensive.
• You don't have the time. There are 168 hours in a week. Are you going to be on the air for all of those? Not likely.