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Kernel is a self-hosted media server for Live TV, movies, and TV shows. Point it at your library and/or an IPTV source, and stream to Roku, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android, iOS, and the web. Kernel direct plays when a client can handle the file, and transcodes when it can’t.

Quickstart

Get a server running in a few minutes with Docker.

Install & Update

Docker, Linux packages, or a release zip. Pick what fits your setup.

Using the Apps

Download links, sign-in, and remote/keyboard controls for every client.

API Reference

Authenticate and build against the client-facing HTTP API.

Pro & Lifetime Features

What’s free, what needs a license, and how to unlock it.

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What Kernel does

  • Movie & TV libraries: scans your files, enriches them with TMDB metadata, and organizes them into browsable libraries.
  • Live TV & EPG: pulls channels and a program guide from Xtream Codes, M3U, or HDHomeRun sources.
  • Direct play first: Kernel only transcodes when a client can’t play the source directly, preserving quality and saving CPU.
  • Remote transcoding (Pro/Lifetime): offload transcode work to one or more separate transcoder nodes on your network.
  • Per-user accounts: admin-managed users with per-library access control and personal favorites.

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Where to go next

Install the server

Set up a remote transcoder

Sign in on an app

Browse the API