iStream Player: A Versatile Video Player Framework

The increasing demand for video streaming in all forms draws significant research and development attention, especially on the client-side for adaptive streaming services like DASH and HLS. However, the implementation challenges in developing and validating new client-side solutions within a full-stack video player pose a major obstacle. State-of-the-art open-source video players, such as DASH.js, VLC, and GPAC, were designed for specific purposes and are difficult to extend and modify for video streaming research. To address this issue, we propose iStream Player, a versatile video player framework featuring fully extendable and independent micro-modules similar to Lego blocks. Constructing a video player in iStream Player is as simple as assembling Lego pieces. Our case studies demonstrate that it is effortless to create a diverse range of players by making only minor changes, such as extending or replacing only one or two micro-modules. As a result, iStream Player significantly reduces the time and effort required to develop and validate new solutions, providing researchers and developers in the video streaming field with a shared platform to explore and to share their innovative ideas.