Owncast Project Definition

Why

Defining the goals and target users gives us something stable to guide decisions, features, and conversations, and keeps clarity around what is being built. These definitions are not meant to be exhaustive, but once they feel complete there should be few changes. A large change here would mean a real shift in direction.

Vision

The out-of-the-box personal broadcast platform for DIY streamers and integrators.

Primary goals

• Useful out of the box.
• Fast to get running.
• Self-contained.
• An alternative, not a competitor.
• For individuals, not service providers.
• Easy to integrate into other projects and products.
• Low barrier to entry.
• Empowering.
• Customizable and hackable.

Primary users

The DIY streamer

Someone streaming as a hobby or a project, or moving their audience off an existing platform.

Needs: ownership of their own stream, an independent space, personalization, and tools to manage a relationship with their audience.

Pains: getting kicked off other services, a sense of inequality or bias, low visibility for their content, platform rules that don't align with them, and forced ads, tracking, and analytics.

The integrator

A person or organization with existing content, products, or platforms who wants to add live streaming.

Needs: broadcasting without censorship, full ownership of their brand, embedding and third-party playback, support for private or invite-only streams, and independence.

Pains: censorship, rules, ads, and the risk of losing viewers to competitors and distractions.

Desires: hosting events and running their own broadcasting service.

Secondary users

The viewer

An audience member who is often, but not always, taking part in chat.

Needs: high quality video, ways to interact with the streamer (chat, memes, emoji), and clear calls to action and next steps.

Pains: understanding the interface and knowing they are in the right place.