I need to create a video calling application in the coming months. The app should support real-time video communication between two users and also transfer additional data during calls.
I plan to use a high-quality USB camera for video capture. I know about the USB Video Class standard for camera integration.
What programming interfaces or libraries would work best for this project? I’m flexible with both operating system and programming language choices. The network connection will be through VPN with minimum 256kbps upload and download speeds.
It would be great if the solution includes built-in video encoding and compression features. I’m looking for suggestions to start my research. So far I’ve only found information about TAPI and H.323 protocols but I’m not sure how to implement them properly.
I’d go with OpenTok SDK (now Vonage Video API) or Agora.io. Both have solid video calling features built-in - encoding, compression, and data transfer during calls. Want more control? Try FFmpeg with libwebrtc for custom streaming. FFmpeg works great with USB cameras and handles H.264, VP8/VP9 encoding. Skip H.323 - it’s outdated. Modern apps use WebRTC for better NAT traversal and codec handling. Your bandwidth should handle decent quality video calls with proper encoding settings.
For two-way video chat, I’d go with Janus WebRTC Server if you want backend control. Used it on a similar project - handles multiple codecs well and lets you customize data channels. Steeper learning curve than cloud options, but you own the entire video pipeline. GStreamer with WebRTC libraries is another solid choice. It works directly with USB Video Class devices and has great video processing. Since you’re using VPN, make sure your solution handles STUN/TURN servers properly for NAT traversal. Your 256kbps will work fine with H.264 at lower resolutions.
totally with ya on webRTC! it’s reely user friendly and covers all bases. plus, the docs are pretty good. worth a look for shure!