Jitsi facts for kids
 |
|
 |
|
| Original author(s) | Emil Ivov |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | 8x8 |
| Initial release | 2003 |
| Stable release |
2.10
 / 1 October 2017 |
| Written in | Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Lua |
| Operating system | Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS |
| Available in | Austrian, English, French, German, Bulgarian, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, Romanian, Greek and 25 more |
| Type | Voice over IP, instant messaging, videoconferencing |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
Jitsi (pronounced 'JIT-see') is a collection of free computer programs. The name comes from a Bulgarian word meaning "wires." These programs let you make voice calls, video calls, and send instant messages. You can use Jitsi on many devices. It works on computers (Windows, Linux, macOS) and phones (Android, iOS).
The Jitsi project began in 2003 with a program called Jitsi Desktop. Later, as web technology grew, the team focused on Jitsi Videobridge. This allowed many people to join video calls online. They also created Jitsi Meet, a full video calling app. Jitsi even offers a free version of Jitsi Meet you can use at meet.jit.si.
Many groups have supported Jitsi. These include the NLnet Foundation and the European Commission. It has also been part of the Google Summer of Code program. This program helps students work on open-source projects.
Contents
History of Jitsi
Work on Jitsi started in 2003. It was a student project by Emil Ivov at the University of Strasbourg. The program was first called SIP Communicator. It was a simple video phone example. Later, it became its own project.
BlueJimp Company (2009–2015)
In 2009, Emil Ivov started a company called BlueJimp. This company hired some of the main people who worked on Jitsi. BlueJimp offered help and development services for the project.
In 2011, the project was renamed Jitsi. This happened because it could do more than just SIP calls. It could also handle audio and video calls using XMPP. The name Jitsi comes from the Bulgarian word "жици," which means "wires."
Jitsi added the Videobridge in 2013. This helped support video calls with many people. It used a new way to send video streams. Later that year, Jitsi Videobridge could also make calls from a web browser. To show how well it worked, BlueJimp offered a free service at meet.jit.si.
In 2014, Jitsi scored well on a security test. The Electronic Frontier Foundation checked how secure messaging apps were. Jitsi got 6 out of 7 points.
On February 1, 2015, version 2.6 of Jitsi was released. This update fixed security issues. It also removed support for old, less secure features. The update made Jitsi work better on different computers.
Atlassian Takes Over (2015–2018)
Atlassian bought BlueJimp on April 5, 2015. After this, the Jitsi team at Atlassian focused on Jitsi Videobridge and Jitsi Meet. They did less new work on the original Jitsi Desktop. However, people in the open-source community kept working on Jitsi Desktop.
In 2017, Jitsi was added as a feature to the Element messaging app.
8x8 Acquires Jitsi (2018–Present)
In October 2018, a company called 8x8 bought Jitsi from Atlassian.
Main Jitsi Projects
The Jitsi team has many projects. They are all open source. Here are some of the most important ones:
- Jitsi Meet: This is a video conferencing server. It is easy to set up on computers that run Debian or Ubuntu.
- Jitsi Videobridge: This is the engine that powers video conferences with many people. It helps send video streams efficiently.
- Jigasi: This program lets regular phone call users join Jitsi Meet conferences.
- lib-jitsi-meet: This is a set of tools for developers. It helps them create custom Jitsi Meet apps.
- Jidesha: This is a special extension for the Chrome web browser. It works with Jitsi Meet.
- Jitsi: This is also known as Jitsi Desktop. It is the original Jitsi app for audio, video, and chat. It supports many different chat types.
Jitsi Meet
| Stable release |
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Videoconferencing | ||||||
| License | Apache-2.0 |
Jitsi Meet is a free program used for video conferencing. You can share your screen during calls. You can also invite new people by sending them a link. You can use Jitsi Meet in your web browser or with a mobile app. The Jitsi company, 8x8, offers a free public server. It can host up to 100 people at meet.jit.si.
Jitsi Meet Features
- Secure Calls: Jitsi Meet uses special encryption to keep your calls private. This means only people in the call can see and hear what's happening.
- Recording: You can record your meetings. You can even stream them live to YouTube. You can also save recordings directly to your computer.
- Easy to Use: You only need a web browser to join a Jitsi meeting. You don't have to download any extra software.
Jitsi Videobridge
Jitsi Videobridge is a key part of Jitsi. It helps many people join video calls at once. It works by sending only the video streams that are needed. This makes video calls run smoothly, even with many participants.
Jitsi Desktop
Jitsi Desktop is the original Jitsi program. It lets you make audio and video calls and chat. It supports many different communication types.
Over time, Jitsi Desktop became less of a main focus. This was because Jitsi Videobridge and Jitsi Meet became very popular. The Jitsi team doesn't actively work on Jitsi Desktop anymore. However, other people in the open-source community still maintain it.
Jitsi Desktop Features
Jitsi Desktop works on many computer systems. These include Windows, Linux, and macOS. It also has mobile apps for iOS and Android phones.
Some of its features include:
- Transferring calls to other people.
- Automatically answering calls.
- Recording calls.
- Encrypting calls for privacy.
- Making conference calls with many people.
- Sharing your computer screen.
- Sending files to others.
- Encrypting instant messages for privacy.
- Supporting different types of video and audio.
- Using high-quality audio for clear sound.
See also
In Spanish: Jitsi para niños
