GStreamer Daemon (GstD)

GStreamer Daemon (GstD) is a service that enables remote control of GStreamer pipelines via gst-client. It allows:

• Remote pipeline management – Start, stop, modify pipelines dynamically.
• Multi-client access – Multiple users can control pipelines simultaneously.
• Embedded & network control – Use gst-client to manage pipelines over TCP or UNIX sockets.
• Low-latency communication – Ideal for real-time media applications.

⚙️ Installing GStreamer Daemon (`gstd`)

Before installing GStreamer Daemon, ensure you have the required dependencies.

🛠️ Build System & Development Tools

sudo apt install -y meson ninja-build git

🎞️ GStreamer Core & Plugins

sudo apt install -y gstreamer1.0-tools gstreamer1.0-plugins-base

📦 Additional GStreamer Plugins

sudo apt install -y gstreamer1.0-plugins-good gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad \
  gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly gstreamer1.0-libav

🏗️ GStreamer Development Libraries

sudo apt install -y libgstreamer1.0-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-dev

🔗 GLib & D-Bus Dependencies

sudo apt install -y libglib2.0-dev libdbus-1-dev libgirepository1.0-dev python3-gi

🌐 Daemon & Networking Libraries

sudo apt install -y libdaemon-dev libsoup2.4-dev

📄 JSON & Editing Support

sudo apt install -y libjansson-dev libedit-dev

🐛 Debugging Tools

sudo apt install -y valgrind

🏗️ Installing and Running GStreamer Daemon

To install GStreamer Daemon:

git clone https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/gstreamer/gstd.git
cd gstd
meson build
ninja -C build
sudo ninja -C build install

Verify installation:

gstd --version

To start the daemon:

gstd -e --tcp-base-port=5000

Note: The -e flag enables execution mode, and --tcp-base-port sets the TCP control port.

📡 Controlling GStreamer Daemon with gst-client

Each command follows this format:

gst-client COMMAND pipeline_name "PIPELINE_DESCRIPTION"

🎞️ Creating a Pipeline

gst-client pipeline_create test_pipeline "videotestsrc ! videoconvert ! autovideosink"

Parameters:

• pipeline_create – Creates a new pipeline.
• test_pipeline – Pipeline name (identifier).
• Pipeline elements:

 - videotestsrc – Generates test video.
 - videoconvert – Ensures format compatibility.
 - autovideosink – Displays video output.

Use case: Used for testing video playback.

▶️ Starting a Pipeline

gst-client pipeline_play test_pipeline

Use case: Runs an existing paused pipeline.

⏹️ Stopping a Pipeline

gst-client pipeline_stop test_pipeline

Use case: Pauses pipeline execution without deleting it.

❌ Deleting a Pipeline

gst-client pipeline_delete test_pipeline

Use case: Frees up resources when a pipeline is no longer needed.

📡 Example: Transmitting an RTP Stream

gst-client pipeline_create udp_stream "videotestsrc is-live=true pattern=ball ! videoconvert ! x264enc tune=zerolatency bitrate=500 speed-preset=ultrafast ! rtph264pay ! udpsink host=127.0.0.1 port=5002"

Parameters:

• pipeline_create udp_stream – Creates a new pipeline named udp_stream.
• videotestsrc is-live=true pattern=ball – Generates a moving ball pattern as a live video source.

 - is-live=true – Ensures the video source behaves like a real-time stream.
 - pattern=ball – Uses a bouncing ball as the test video pattern.

• videoconvert – Ensures compatibility with encoders and sinks.
• x264enc tune=zerolatency bitrate=500 speed-preset=ultrafast – Encodes video into H.264 format with low latency.

 - tune=zerolatency – Optimizes the encoding for minimal delay.
 - bitrate=500 – Sets the bitrate to 500 kbps.
 - speed-preset=ultrafast – Uses the fastest encoding preset.

• rtph264pay – Converts H.264 video into RTP packets for network transmission.
• udpsink host=127.0.0.1 port=5002 – Sends the RTP stream to UDP port 5002 on localhost.

Use case: Broadcasting an RTP stream over UDP.

▶️ Playing the RTP Transmission

gst-client pipeline_play udp_stream

Use case: Starts broadcasting the RTP stream.

⏹️ Stopping the RTP Transmission

gst-client pipeline_stop udp_stream

Use case: Stops broadcasting the RTP stream without deleting it.

❌ Deleting the RTP Transmission Pipeline

gst-client pipeline_delete udp_stream

Use case: Removes the RTP transmission pipeline.

📡 Example: Receiving an RTP Stream

gst-client pipeline_create udp_receiver "udpsrc port=5002 ! application/x-rtp, encoding-name=H264 ! rtpjitterbuffer latency=100 ! rtph264depay ! avdec_h264 ! videoconvert ! autovideosink sync=false"

Parameters:

• pipeline_create udp_receiver – Creates a new pipeline named udp_receiver.
• udpsrc port=5002 – Listens on UDP port 5002 for incoming RTP packets.
• application/x-rtp, encoding-name=H264 – Declares the media format as RTP with H.264 encoding.
• rtpjitterbuffer latency=100 – Buffers packets to compensate for network jitter.

 - latency=100 – Sets a buffer delay of 100 milliseconds.

• rtph264depay – Extracts raw H.264 video from the RTP stream.
• avdec_h264 – Decodes the H.264 video stream.
• videoconvert – Ensures compatibility before displaying the video.
• autovideosink sync=false – Displays the video, disabling synchronization for lower latency.

Use case: Receiving an RTP video stream over UDP.

▶️ Playing the RTP Receiver

gst-client pipeline_play udp_receiver

Use case: Starts the RTP receiver pipeline.

⏹️ Stopping the RTP Receiver

gst-client pipeline_stop udp_receiver

Use case: Stops the RTP receiver pipeline without deleting it.

❌ Deleting the RTP Receiver Pipeline

gst-client pipeline_delete udp_receiver

Use case: Removes the RTP receiver pipeline.

🛑 Stopping GStreamer Daemon

To stop the GStreamer Daemon:

gstd -k

Use case: Terminates the running GStreamer Daemon (`gstd`).

✅ Checking if `gstd` is Running

To verify if GStreamer Daemon is running:

ps aux | grep gstd

Use case: Displays `gstd` processes if running.

📊 Summary

GStreamer Daemon enables remote control of pipelines via gst-client.

GStreamer Daemon Key Features

Feature	Description
Remote Pipeline Control	Manage GStreamer pipelines via gst-client
Dynamic Modification	Add/remove elements in real-time
Multi-Client Access	Multiple users can control pipelines
Embedded System Friendly	Works efficiently with TCP and UNIX socket connections