Open Source Power for Linux HTPCs

Kodi is an application that you have almost certainly heard of – probably with shaded shades – but how much do you really know? Yes, you may know that it is used to read media like videos, but that there has also been a controversy around the software.

The truth is that Kodi is a powerful multimedia reading tool for several operating systems, including Linux. If you are looking to build a home theater or a media PC based on Linux, you should at least determine if Kodi is the right solution for you.

What exactly is Kodi?

Kodi is a free and open-source application (FOSS) designed to act as a multimedia center. He started his life as a homebrew application for the original Xbox, called XBMC, but has since evolved into a highly customizable application that works almost anything, including all the main operating systems.

Kodi’s main feature is to organize and play the media. This includes video, music and photos. These supports are stored locally or somewhere on a device on your network. If you know Plex or Jellyfin, it may seem familiar, but of course the development of Kodi is prior to all of this!

What can Kodi do?

Kodi’s basic experiences are quite targeted and simple. You can point Kodi to all local multimedia files, or those hosted on your LAN on a file server, and it should read everything without hassle. Not only that, but Kodi can add metadata to your media library with posters, episode guides and other similar useful things that you would see on any streaming service.

The codec support is wide, and it is unlikely that you will launch a file on Kodi that it cannot manage. One of the most popular aspects of Kodi is perhaps the myriad of personalized skins for the software. This facilitates the change in appearance and even the user interface according to your tastes.

Kodi add-ons: the heart of its power (and controversy)

If that was all that was in Kodi, I would not write an entire article on this subject, and it would not be as popular as. No, Kodi’s real call is in its complementary modules. Kodi is modular and you can extend the application capacities by installing additional modules.

These come in two main flavors: official and third parties. Official complementary modules include services such as YouTube or Plex (the party at the service request) and these are verified and verified.

Third -party additional modules are the main source of controversy with regard to Kodi. There is nothing intrinsically bad with them, and Kodi is open-source, so it is expected that people create their own additions to the main package, but it is thanks to this complementary system that Kodi has (unfairly) developed a reputation for a tool for hacking.

This is partly due to the proliferation of Android television boxes that have been preloaded with personalized Kodi versions configured to allow hacking. So, like Bittorrent, people have associated the software and technology with an illegal activity, while in truth, there is nothing more illegal about Kodi himself than any multimedia reader application.

You may wonder why someone would care about Kodi when alternatives like Plex or Jellyfin exist. Kodi’s personalization and modularity are a large part, of course. However, when you compare Kodi to something like plex in particular, the biggest difference comes from the location of the software. Although Plex allows you to disseminate your own local media, it is largely a cloud -based service that wants you to pay subscription fees to get more features, such as remote streaming or accelerated equipment. Kodi does not need to call home to offer you all its features.

Where Kodi shines

• Offline or local network pack: no cloud stupids, no DRM roadblocks.

• Ultimate customization: from the user interface to functionality, it is your multimedia center, your path.

• Compatibility: If there is, Kodi is likely to work there.

• Inherited niche and format support: ideal for collectors of dark or non -compliant supports.

Where Kodi is struggling

• Abrupt learning curve: the configuration takes time and a little technical confidence.

• User interface inconsistencies: Additional modules may resemble separate applications stuck with adhesive tape.

• No native distance access: Unlike plex or EMBY, Kodi is not designed for seamless cloud streaming.

• Legal traps: third -party additional modules can bring you to hot water – intentionally or not.

Is Kodi legal-and is he sure?

Kodi himself is completely legal. It’s just an open source multimedia player application. Where people are in trouble is with unauthorized complementary streaming modules. The installation and use of these can violate copyright laws in your region, even if Kodi has not created them or does not approve them. However, it’s not like you could plead ignorance here. If you get something for free that others have to pay, without any kind of advertising, it’s probably hacked. When someone announces an Android TV or something similar that “unlocks” all the content you want, you know what you are committed to.

As for security, as long as you stick to the first party addons, everything should be fine. However, third -party additional modules have no guarantee at all. Worse still, a third -party additional module which was perfectly OK could end up turning into something malicious or illegal. Basically, you are alone if you decide to relaunch the additional modules that are not on the official list. This seems to say that no one should use these third -party additional modules, but some of these small facts in community are good, it is not just a question of being outside the official approval club. It is a question of being reasonable and of doing some homework on a complementary module before going there.

Who should really use Kodi?

Kodi is certainly more niche than something like plex, scabies or jelly, but that does not mean that it is not the right choice for many people there. I think that Linux users in particular suit Kodi because its open-source and very customizable nature corresponds perfectly to Linux culture and ethics. If one of them looks like you, then you should try Kodi.

• Enthusiastic media with large local libraries

• Home Theater PC users (HTPC)

• Anyone who does not want to pay the subscription fees for basic features.

• People with inherited file formats or specialized needs

• Tinkerers who want total control over their configuration

• Those in environments limited to bandwidth (for example, rural or offline parameters)

• Anyone who wishes to access the source code of its multimedia player.

If you just want to press Play on Netflix or Youtube, Kodi is exaggerated. But if you organize your own media empire – or want to restart this old PC under the TV – Kodi is always one of the most powerful media centers.

I know that if I ever stop to build this dedicated Linux HTPC Kodi will be part of it. If nothing else, this is the perfect solution to build a media center in your underground bunker in anticipation of the inevitable fall in online streaming servers. Those who do not plan, plan to fail after all. Now where these DVDs are …