MPEG DASH HLS PLAYER FOR CHROME & FIREFOX
MPEG-DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) and HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) are two popular protocols for delivering streaming content over the internet. A Chrome extension that supports both MPEG-DASH and HLS can enhance the user experience by enabling seamless streaming within the browser. This guide outlines the steps to develop such a Chrome extension. NOTE: For Firefox Extenion open in Fiefox browser otherwise Download .exe file download in other browser and install.
MPEG DASH HLS PLAYER: The Ultimate Guide
Key Features
- MPEG-DASH and HLS Support: Ability to play both MPEG-DASH and HLS streams.
- User Interface: A simple, user-friendly interface for entering URLs and controlling playback.
- Adaptive Bitrate Streaming: Automatic adjustment of video quality based on network conditions.
- Playback Controls: Standard video controls like play, pause, seek, and volume.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Ensure compatibility with various operating systems.
Prerequisites
- Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Understanding of Chrome extension development.
- Familiarity with streaming protocols (MPEG-DASH, HLS).
Tools and Libraries
- Video.js: A popular open-source HTML5 video player that supports both MPEG-DASH and HLS through plugins.
- Dash.js: A reference client for playing MPEG-DASH streams.
- hls.js: A JavaScript library that implements an HTTP Live Streaming client.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Setting Up the Chrome Extension
- Create Extension Directory: Create a new directory for your Chrome extension files.
- Create Manifest File: Create a
manifest.jsonfile in the extension directory with the following content:
json{
"manifest_version": 3,
"name": "MPEG-DASH HLS Player",
"version": "1.0",
"description": "Play MPEG-DASH and HLS streams directly in your browser.",
"permissions": ["activeTab"],
"action": {
"default_popup": "popup.html",
"default_icon": {
"16": "icons/icon16.png",
"48": "icons/icon48.png",
"128": "icons/icon128.png"
}
},
"background": {
"service_worker": "background.js"
}
}2. Designing the User Interface
Create an HTML file named popup.html:
/* html */
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>MPEG-DASH HLS Player</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
</head>
<body>
<h1>MPEG-DASH HLS Player</h1>
<input type="text" id="stream-url" placeholder="Enter stream URL">
<button id="play-button">Play</button>
<video id="video-player" controls></video>
<script src="popup.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
3. Adding Styles
Create a styles.css file:
/* css */
body {
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
padding: 20px;
}#video-player {
width: 100%;
margin-top: 20px;
}
input, button {
display: block;
width: 100%;
margin-top: 10px;
padding: 10px;
}
4. Implementing Playback Logic
Create a popup.js file to handle the playback logic:
document.getElementById('play-button').addEventListener('click', function() {
const url = document.getElementById('stream-url').value;
const video = document.getElementById('video-player');if (url.endsWith(‘.mpd’)) {
// MPEG-DASH playback
if (dashjs.MediaPlayer.isSupported()) {
const player = dashjs.MediaPlayer().create();
player.initialize(video, url, true);
} else {
alert(‘MPEG-DASH not supported in this browser.’);
}
} else if (url.endsWith(‘.m3u8’)) {
// HLS playback
if (Hls.isSupported()) {
const hls = new Hls();
hls.loadSource(url);
hls.attachMedia(video);
} else if (video.canPlayType(‘application/vnd.apple.mpegurl’)) {
video.src = url;
video.addEventListener(‘loadedmetadata’, () => {
video.play();
});
} else {
alert(‘HLS not supported in this browser.’);
}
} else {
alert(‘Invalid stream URL.’);
}
});
5. Adding Background Script
Create a background.js file to handle background tasks (if needed):
5. Adding Background Script
Create a background.js file to handle background tasks (if needed):
/* javascript */
chrome.runtime.onInstalled.addListener(() => {
console.log('MPEG-DASH HLS Player extension installed.');
});
6. Adding Icons
Add icons for your extension in the icons directory (16×16, 48×48, and 128×128 PNG images).
Testing and Debugging
- Load Extension:
- Open Chrome and navigate to
chrome://extensions/. - Enable “Developer mode” and click “Load unpacked”.
- Select your extension directory to load it.
- Open Chrome and navigate to
- Test Functionality:
- Click the extension icon to open the popup.
- Enter an MPEG-DASH or HLS stream URL and test playback.
- Debugging:
- Use Chrome Developer Tools to debug your extension.
- Check for console errors and fix any issues.
Conclusion
Developing a Chrome extension that supports both MPEG-DASH and HLS streams involves setting up a simple user interface, implementing playback logic using libraries like Video.js, Dash.js, and hls.js, and ensuring compatibility across different browsers. By following this guide, you can create a functional extension to enhance streaming experiences directly within the Chrome browser.