Live Streaming Ingestion Explained: RTMP, SRT, HLS & Go Backend Integration for OTT

Description

Want to master live streaming ingestion for OTT platforms or scalable media services? This video is your beginner-to-advanced guide to the first mile of streaming—capturing live events and delivering them to viewers with minimal delay. We cover real-world protocols (RTMP, SRT, WebRTC, RTSP), open-source media servers, packaging for adaptive streaming, and backend integration with Go. Elevate your tech career with [Scaler](https://www.scaler.com/?unlock_code=MAIL575E)! Join a community dedicated to transforming careers in technology. With over 15,000 successful career transitions and partnerships with 900+ placement partners, [Scaler](https://www.scaler.com/?unlock_code=MAIL575E) offers tailored learning experiences that can help you become part of the top 1% in the tech industry. Explore a variety of programs, participate in live classes, and gain access to valuable resources designed to enhance your skills. Whether you're looking to advance in your current role or pivot to a new career, [Scaler](https://www.scaler.com/?unlock_code=MAIL575E) provides the support and guidance you need to succeed. Don't miss out—book your free live class today! https://programmercave.com/ What You’ll Learn: 1. What Is Live Streaming Ingestion? Live streaming ingestion is about capturing an event as it happens—taking raw video streams from cameras or broadcasting software and ingesting them into your backend. From there, your system processes, packages, and delivers the stream to viewers, ensuring the lowest latency possible. 2. Typical Live Streaming Workflow Source (camera, OBS, broadcasting software) Ingest Server (NGINX, SRS, LiveGo) Media Store (e.g., S3) CDN (CloudFront, Akamai) Viewer (web/mobile app) 3. Ingest Protocols: RTMP, SRT, WebRTC & RTSP RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol): TCP, 2-5s latency, widely supported by streaming software and firewalls Most common for ingesting live feeds to media servers SRT (Secure Reliable Transport): UDP, ~1s latency, resilient over unreliable networks Gaining traction for professional workflows WebRTC: UDP, sub-second latency (500ms), best for real-time interactivity Requires STUN/TURN RTSP: TCP/UDP, used mainly for IP cameras and surveillance streams 4. Open-Source Media Servers for Live Ingest NGINX + RTMP Module: Lightweight, supports RTMP ingress and HLS output (for adaptive streaming) SRS (Simple Realtime Server): Supports RTMP, SRT, WebRTC; used for high-performance live ingestion LiveGo: Written in Go, ideal for custom/experimental setups 5. Example NGINX Config for RTMP-to-HLS RTMP server listens on port 1935 Automatic conversion to HLS segments Webhook (callback) to backend for stream start/end events HLS fragmenting and playlist generation for ABR delivery 6. Go Backend Integration: Webhook Control Plane Backend receives webhooks from media server when streams start or stop Authenticates stream keys, logs events, updates user status, provisions resources Example Go webhook handler using net/http for authentication and event handling go func authStreamHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) { // Parse and validate the stream key from nginx webhook! // See full video for details! } 7. Best Practices & Workflow Optimization Separate control (backend logic) and media (video content) planes Use webhooks and API calls for scalable orchestration Always validate stream keys for security Integrate storage and CDN for global reach Who Should Watch? Anyone learning OTT architecture, live streaming system design, or media infrastructure Backend engineers exploring real-time pipelines and protocol integration Students prepping for interviews on streaming or large-scale backend topics Developers seeking hands-on knowledge for building scalable live streaming platforms Effective Hashtags: #LiveStreaming #OTT #StreamingIngestion #RTMP #SRT #WebRTC #MediaServer #NGINX #SRS #LiveGo #GoLang #BackendDevelopment #SystemDesign #HLS #AdaptiveStreaming #CDN #OBS #StreamingArchitecture #TechInterview 👍 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & ask your streaming questions in the comments!