Skip to main content
Version: 0.1.x

Quick Start for Interactive Live Streaming in Android

VideoSDK enables you to embed the video calling feature into your Android application in minutes.

In this quickstart, we are going to explore interactive live streaming feature of Video SDK. We will go through step by step guide of integrating video calling with Android Video SDK.

This guide will get you running with the VideoSDK video & audio calling in minutes.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure that your development environment meets the following requirements:

  • Java Development Kit.
  • Android Studio 3.0 or later.
  • Android SDK API Level 21 or higher.
  • A mobile device that runs Android 5.0 or later.
info

One should have a VideoSDK account to generate token. Visit VideoSDK dashboard to generate token

Getting Started with the Code!

Follow the steps to create the environment necessary to add video calls into your app. Also you can find the code sample for quickstart here.

Create new Android Project

For a new project in Android Studio, create a Phone and Tablet Android project with an Empty Activity.

VideoSDK Android Quick Start New Project

caution

After creating the project, Android Studio automatically starts gradle sync. Ensure that the sync succeeds before you continue.

Integrate Video SDK

settings.gradle
dependencyResolutionManagement{
repositories {
// ...
google()
mavenCentral()
maven { url "https://maven.aliyun.com/repository/jcenter" }
}
}
note

You can use imports with Maven Central after rtc-android-sdk version 0.1.12.

Whether on Maven or Jitpack, the same version numbers always refer to the same SDK.

  • Add the following dependency in your app's app/build.gradle.
app/build.gradle
dependencies {
implementation 'live.videosdk:rtc-android-sdk:0.1.21'

// library to perform Network call to generate a meeting id
implementation 'com.amitshekhar.android:android-networking:1.0.2'

// other app dependencies
}
info

Android SDK compatible with armeabi-v7a, arm64-v8a, x86_64 architectures. If you want to run the application in an emulator, choose ABI x86_64 when creating a device.

Add permissions into your project

  • In /app/Manifests/AndroidManifest.xml, add the following permissions after </application>.
AndroidManifest.xml
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
note

If your project has set android.useAndroidX=true, then set android.enableJetifier=true in the gradle.properties file to migrate your project to AndroidX and avoid duplicate class conflict.

Structure of the project

Your project structure should look like this.

Project Structure
   app
├── java
│ ├── packagename
│ ├── JoinActivity
│ ├── MeetingActivity
│ ├── SpeakerAdapter
│ ├── SpeakerFragment
| ├── ViewerFragment
├── res
│ ├── layout
│ │ ├── activity_join.xml
│ │ ├── activity_meeting.xml
| | ├── fragment_speaker.xml
| | ├── fragment_viewer.xml
│ │ ├── item_remote_peer.xml
note

You have to set JoinActivity as Launcher activity.

App Architecture

Step 1: Creating Joining Screen

Create a new Activity named JoinActivity.

Creating UI

The Joining screen will include :

  1. Create Button - This button will create a new meeting for you.
  2. TextField for Meeting Id - This text field will contain the meeting Id you want to join.
  3. Join as Host Button - This button will join the meeting as host with meetingId you provided.
  4. Join as Viewer Button - This button will join the meeting as viewer with meetingId you provided.

In /app/res/layout/activity_join.xml file, replace the content with the following.

activity_join.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="@+id/createorjoinlayout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="@color/black"
android:gravity="center"
android:orientation="vertical">

<Button
android:id="@+id/btnCreateMeeting"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Create Meeting"
android:textAllCaps="false" />

<TextView
android:id="@+id/tvText"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:paddingVertical="5sp"
android:text="OR"
android:textColor="@color/white"
android:textSize="20sp" />

<EditText
android:id="@+id/etMeetingId"
android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Holo"
android:layout_width="250dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:hint="Enter Meeting Id"
android:textColor="@color/white"
android:textColorHint="@color/white" />

<Button
android:id="@+id/btnJoinHostMeeting"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginTop="8sp"
android:text="Join as Host"
android:textAllCaps="false" />

<Button
android:id="@+id/btnJoinViewerMeeting"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Join as Viewer"
android:textAllCaps="false" />

</LinearLayout>

Integration of Create Meeting API

  1. Create field sampleToken in JoinActivity which will hold the generated token from the VideoSDK dashboard. This token will use in VideoSDK config as well as in generating meetingId.
JoinActivity.kt
class JoinActivity : AppCompatActivity() {

//Replace with the token you generated from the VideoSDK Dashboard
private var sampleToken = ""

override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
//...
}
}
  1. On Join Button as Host onClick events, we will naviagte to MeetingActivity with token, meetingId and mode as CONFERENCE.

  2. On Join Button as Viewer onClick events, we will naviagte to MeetingActivity with token, meetingId and mode as Viewer.

JoinActivity.kt
class JoinActivity : AppCompatActivity() {

//Replace with the token you generated from the VideoSDK Dashboard
private var sampleToken = "";

override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
setContentView(R.layout.activity_join)

val btnCreate = findViewById<Button>(R.id.btnCreateMeeting)
val btnJoinHost = findViewById<Button>(R.id.btnJoinHostMeeting)
val btnJoinViewer = findViewById<Button>(R.id.btnJoinViewerMeeting)
val etMeetingId = findViewById<EditText>(R.id.etMeetingId)

// create meeting and join as Host
btnCreate.setOnClickListener {
createMeeting(
sampleToken
)
}

// Join as Host
btnJoinHost.setOnClickListener {
val intent = Intent(this@JoinActivity, MeetingActivity::class.java)
intent.putExtra("token", sampleToken)
intent.putExtra("meetingId", etMeetingId.text.toString().trim { it <= ' ' })
intent.putExtra("mode", "CONFERENCE")
startActivity(intent)
}

// Join as Viewer
btnJoinViewer.setOnClickListener {
val intent = Intent(this@JoinActivity, MeetingActivity::class.java)
intent.putExtra("token", sampleToken)
intent.putExtra("meetingId", etMeetingId.text.toString().trim { it <= ' ' })
intent.putExtra("mode", "VIEWER")
startActivity(intent)
}
}

private fun createMeeting(token: String) {
// we will explore this method in the next step
}
}
  1. For Create Button, under createMeeting method we will generate meetingId by calling API and navigate to MeetingActivity with token, generated meetingId and mode as CONFERENCE.
JoinActivity.kt
class JoinActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
//...onCreate
private fun createMeeting(token: String) {
// we will make an API call to VideoSDK Server to get a roomId
AndroidNetworking.post("https://api.videosdk.live/v2/rooms")
.addHeaders("Authorization", token) //we will pass the token in the Headers
.build()
.getAsJSONObject(object : JSONObjectRequestListener {
override fun onResponse(response: JSONObject) {
try {
// response will contain `roomId`
val meetingId = response.getString("roomId")

// starting the MeetingActivity with received roomId and our sampleToken
val intent = Intent(this@JoinActivity, MeetingActivity::class.java)
intent.putExtra("token", sampleToken)
intent.putExtra("meetingId", meetingId)
intent.putExtra("mode", "CONFERENCE")
startActivity(intent)
} catch (e: JSONException) {
e.printStackTrace()
}
}

override fun onError(anError: ANError) {
anError.printStackTrace()
Toast.makeText(this@JoinActivity, anError.message, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT)
.show()
}
})
}
}
note

Don't confuse with Room and Meeting keyword, both are same thing 😃

  1. Our App is completely based on audio and video communicatation, that's why we need to ask for runtime permissions RECORD_AUDIO and CAMERA. So, we will implement permission logic on JoinActivity.
JoinActivity.kt
class JoinActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
companion object {
private const val PERMISSION_REQ_ID = 22
private val REQUESTED_PERMISSIONS = arrayOf(
Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO,
Manifest.permission.CAMERA
)
}

private fun checkSelfPermission(permission: String, requestCode: Int) {
if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, permission) !=
PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
) {
ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, REQUESTED_PERMISSIONS, requestCode)
}
}

override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
//... button listeneres
checkSelfPermission(REQUESTED_PERMISSIONS[0], PERMISSION_REQ_ID)
checkSelfPermission(REQUESTED_PERMISSIONS[1], PERMISSION_REQ_ID)
}
}

Output

Step 2: Creating Meeting Screen

Create a new Activity named MeetingActivity.

Creating the UI for Meeting Screen

In /app/res/layout/activity_meeting.xml file, replace the content with the following.

activty_meeting.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:id="@+id/mainLayout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="@color/black"
tools:context=".MeetingActivity">

<TextView
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:gravity="center"
android:text="Creating a meeting for you"
android:textColor="@color/white"
android:textFontWeight="700"
android:textSize="20sp" />

</RelativeLayout>

Initializing the Meeting

After getting token, meetigId and mode from JoinActivity,

  1. Initialize VideoSDK.
  2. Configure VideoSDK with token.
  3. Initialize the meeting with required params such as meetingId, participantName, micEnabled, webcamEnabled , mode and more.
  4. Join the room with meeting.join() method.
  5. Add MeetingEventListener for listening Meeting Join event.
  6. Check mode of localParticipant, If mode is CONFERENCE than we will replace mainLayout with SpeakerFragment otherwise replace with ViewerFragment.
MeetingActivity.kt
class MeetingActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
var meeting: Meeting? = null
private set

override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
setContentView(R.layout.activity_meeting)

val meetingId = intent.getStringExtra("meetingId")
val token = intent.getStringExtra("token")
val mode = intent.getStringExtra("mode")
val localParticipantName = "John Doe"
val streamEnable = mode == "CONFERENCE"

// initialize VideoSDK
VideoSDK.initialize(applicationContext)

// Configuration VideoSDK with Token
VideoSDK.config(token)

// Initialize VideoSDK Meeting
meeting = VideoSDK.initMeeting(
this@MeetingActivity, meetingId, localParticipantName,
streamEnable, streamEnable, null, mode, false, null, null
)

// join Meeting
meeting!!.join()

// if mode is CONFERENCE than replace mainLayout with SpeakerFragment otherwise with ViewerFragment
meeting!!.addEventListener(object : MeetingEventListener() {
override fun onMeetingJoined() {
if (meeting != null) {
if (mode == "CONFERENCE") {
//pin the local partcipant
meeting!!.localParticipant.pin("SHARE_AND_CAM")
supportFragmentManager
.beginTransaction()
.replace(R.id.mainLayout, SpeakerFragment(), "MainFragment")
.commit()
} else if (mode == "VIEWER") {
supportFragmentManager
.beginTransaction()
.replace(R.id.mainLayout, ViewerFragment(), "viewerFragment")
.commit()
}
}
}
})
}
}

Output

Step 3: Implement SpeakerView

After successfully enter into the meeting, it's time to render speaker's view and manage controls such as toggle webcam/mic,start/stop HLS and leave the meeting.

  1. Create a new fragment named SpeakerFragment.

  2. In /app/res/layout/fragment_speaker.xml file, replace the content with the following.

fragment_speaker.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="@color/black"
android:gravity="center"
android:orientation="vertical"
tools:context=".SpeakerFragment">

<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginVertical="8sp"
android:paddingHorizontal="10sp">

<TextView
android:id="@+id/tvMeetingId"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Meeting Id : "
android:textColor="@color/white"
android:textSize="18sp"
android:layout_weight="3"/>

<Button
android:id="@+id/btnLeave"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Leave"
android:textAllCaps="false"
android:layout_weight="1"/>

</LinearLayout>

<TextView
android:id="@+id/tvHlsState"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Current HLS State : NOT_STARTED"
android:textColor="@color/white"
android:textSize="18sp" />

<androidx.recyclerview.widget.RecyclerView
android:id="@+id/rvParticipants"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="0dp"
android:layout_marginVertical="10sp"
android:layout_weight="1" />

<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:gravity="center">

<Button
android:id="@+id/btnHLS"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Start HLS"
android:textAllCaps="false" />

<Button
android:id="@+id/btnWebcam"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginHorizontal="5sp"
android:text="Toggle Webcam"
android:textAllCaps="false" />

<Button
android:id="@+id/btnMic"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Toggle Mic"
android:textAllCaps="false" />

</LinearLayout>

</LinearLayout>
  1. Now, let's set listener for buttons which will allow the participant to toggle media.
SpeakerFragment.kt
class SpeakerFragment : Fragment() {
private var micEnabled = true
private var webcamEnabled = true
private var hlsEnabled = false
private var btnMic: Button? = null
private var btnWebcam: Button? = null
private var btnHls: Button? = null
private var btnLeave: Button? = null
private var tvMeetingId: TextView? = null
private var tvHlsState: TextView? = null
override fun onAttach(context: Context) {
super.onAttach(context)
mContext = context
if (context is Activity) {
mActivity = context
// getting meeting object from Meeting Activity
meeting = (mActivity as MeetingActivity?)!!.meeting
}
}

override fun onCreateView(
inflater: LayoutInflater, container: ViewGroup?,
savedInstanceState: Bundle?
): View? {
// Inflate the layout for this fragment
val view = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_speaker, container, false)
btnMic = view.findViewById(R.id.btnMic)
btnWebcam = view.findViewById(R.id.btnWebcam)
btnHls = view.findViewById(R.id.btnHLS)
btnLeave = view.findViewById(R.id.btnLeave)
tvMeetingId = view.findViewById(R.id.tvMeetingId)
tvHlsState = view.findViewById(R.id.tvHlsState)
if (meeting != null) {
tvMeetingId!!.text = "Meeting Id : " + meeting!!.meetingId
setActionListeners()
}
return view
}

private fun setActionListeners() {
btnMic!!.setOnClickListener {
if (micEnabled) {
meeting!!.muteMic()
Toast.makeText(mContext, "Mic Muted", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()
} else {
meeting!!.unmuteMic()
Toast.makeText(
mContext,
"Mic Enabled",
Toast.LENGTH_SHORT
).show()
}
micEnabled = !micEnabled
}
btnWebcam!!.setOnClickListener {
if (webcamEnabled) {
meeting!!.disableWebcam()
Toast.makeText(
mContext,
"Webcam Disabled",
Toast.LENGTH_SHORT
).show()
} else {
meeting!!.enableWebcam()
Toast.makeText(
mContext,
"Webcam Enabled",
Toast.LENGTH_SHORT
).show()
}
webcamEnabled = !webcamEnabled
}
btnLeave!!.setOnClickListener { meeting!!.leave() }
btnHls!!.setOnClickListener {
if (!hlsEnabled) {
val config = JSONObject()
val layout = JSONObject()
JsonUtils.jsonPut(layout, "type", "SPOTLIGHT")
JsonUtils.jsonPut(layout, "priority", "PIN")
JsonUtils.jsonPut(layout, "gridSize", 4)
JsonUtils.jsonPut(config, "layout", layout)
JsonUtils.jsonPut(config, "orientation", "portrait")
JsonUtils.jsonPut(config, "theme", "DARK")
JsonUtils.jsonPut(config, "quality", "high")
meeting!!.startHls(config)
} else {
meeting!!.stopHls()
}
}
}

companion object {
private var mActivity: Activity? = null
private var mContext: Context? = null
private var meeting: Meeting? = null
}
}
  1. After adding listners for buttons, let's add MeetingEventListener to the meeting and remove all listners in onDestroy() method.
SpeakerFragment.kt
class SpeakerFragment : Fragment() {

override fun onCreateView(
inflater: LayoutInflater, container: ViewGroup?,
savedInstanceState: Bundle?
): View? {
//...
if (meeting != null) {
//...
// add Listener to the meeting
meeting!!.addEventListener(meetingEventListener)
}
return view
}

private val meetingEventListener: MeetingEventListener = object : MeetingEventListener() {
override fun onMeetingLeft() {
// unpin the local participant
meeting!!.localParticipant.unpin("SHARE_AND_CAM")
if (isAdded) {
val intents = Intent(mContext, JoinActivity::class.java)
intents.addFlags(
Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK
or Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP or Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK
)
startActivity(intents)
mActivity!!.finish()
}
}

@RequiresApi(api = Build.VERSION_CODES.P)
override fun onHlsStateChanged(HlsState: JSONObject) {
if (HlsState.has("status")) {
try {
tvHlsState!!.text = "Current HLS State : " + HlsState.getString("status")
if (HlsState.getString("status") == "HLS_STARTED") {
hlsEnabled = true
btnHls!!.text = "Stop HLS"
}
if (HlsState.getString("status") == "HLS_STOPPED") {
hlsEnabled = false
btnHls!!.text = "Start HLS"
}
} catch (e: JSONException) {
e.printStackTrace()
}
}
}
}

override fun onDestroy() {
mContext = null
mActivity = null
if (meeting != null) {
meeting!!.removeAllListeners()
meeting = null
}
super.onDestroy()
}
}
  1. Next step is to render speaker's view. With RecyclerView, we will be display list of participant who joined the meeting as a host.
info
  • Here the participant's video is displayed using VideoView, but you may also use SurfaceViewRender for the same.
  • For VideoView, SDK version should be 0.1.13 or higher.
  • To know more about VideoView, please visit here
  • Create a new layout for the participant view named item_remote_peer.xml in the res/layout folder.
item_remote_peer.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FrameLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="200dp"
android:background="@color/cardview_dark_background"
tools:layout_height="200dp">

<live.videosdk.rtc.android.VideoView
android:id="@+id/participantView"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:visibility="gone" />

<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_gravity="bottom"
android:background="#99000000"
android:orientation="horizontal">

<TextView
android:id="@+id/tvName"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:gravity="center"
android:padding="4dp"
android:textColor="@color/white" />

</LinearLayout>

</FrameLayout>
  • Create a recycler view adapter named SpeakerAdapter which will show the participant list. Create PeerViewHolder in the adapter which will extend RecyclerView.ViewHolder.
SpeakerAdapter.kt
class SpeakerAdapter(private val meeting: Meeting) :
RecyclerView.Adapter<SpeakerAdapter.PeerViewHolder?>() {
private var participantList: MutableList<Participant> = ArrayList()

init {
updateParticipantList()
// adding Meeting Event listener to get the participant join/leave event in the meeting.
meeting.addEventListener(object : MeetingEventListener() {
override fun onParticipantJoined(participant: Participant) {
// check participant join as Host/Speaker or not
if (participant.mode == "CONFERENCE") {
// pin the participant
participant.pin("SHARE_AND_CAM")
// add participant in participantList
participantList.add(participant)
}
notifyDataSetChanged()
}

override fun onParticipantLeft(participant: Participant) {
var pos = -1
for (i in participantList.indices) {
if (participantList[i].id == participant.id) {
pos = i
break
}
}
if (participantList.contains(participant)) {
// unpin participant who left the meeting
participant.unpin("SHARE_AND_CAM")
// remove participant from participantList
participantList.remove(participant)
}
if (pos >= 0) {
notifyItemRemoved(pos)
}
}
})
}

private fun updateParticipantList() {
// adding the local participant(You) to the list
participantList.add(meeting.localParticipant)

// adding participants who join as Host/Speaker
val participants: Iterator<Participant> = meeting.participants.values.iterator()
for (i in 0 until meeting.participants.size) {
val participant = participants.next()
if (participant.mode == "CONFERENCE") {
// pin the participant
participant.pin("SHARE_AND_CAM")
// add participant in participantList
participantList.add(participant)
}
}
}

override fun onCreateViewHolder(parent: ViewGroup, viewType: Int): PeerViewHolder {
return PeerViewHolder(
LayoutInflater.from(parent.context).inflate(R.layout.item_remote_peer, parent, false)
)
}

override fun onBindViewHolder(holder: PeerViewHolder, position: Int) {
val participant = participantList[position]
holder.tvName.text = participant.displayName

// adding the initial video stream for the participant into the 'VideoView'
for ((_, stream) in participant.streams) {
if (stream.kind.equals("video", ignoreCase = true)) {
holder.participantView.visibility = View.VISIBLE
val videoTrack = stream.track as VideoTrack
holder.participantView.addTrack(videoTrack)
break
}
}

// add Listener to the participant which will update start or stop the video stream of that participant
participant.addEventListener(object : ParticipantEventListener() {
override fun onStreamEnabled(stream: Stream) {
if (stream.kind.equals("video", ignoreCase = true)) {
holder.participantView.visibility = View.VISIBLE
val videoTrack = stream.track as VideoTrack
holder.participantView.addTrack(videoTrack)
}
}

override fun onStreamDisabled(stream: Stream) {
if (stream.kind.equals("video", ignoreCase = true)) {
holder.participantView.removeTrack()
holder.participantView.visibility = View.GONE
}
}
})
}

override fun getItemCount(): Int {
return participantList.size
}

class PeerViewHolder(view: View) : RecyclerView.ViewHolder(view) {
// 'VideoView' to show Video Stream
var participantView: VideoView
var tvName: TextView

init {
tvName = view.findViewById(R.id.tvName)
participantView = view.findViewById(R.id.participantView)
}
}
}
  1. Add this adapter to the SpeakerFragment
SpeakerFragment.kt
 override fun onCreateView(
inflater: LayoutInflater, container: ViewGroup?,
savedInstanceState: Bundle?
): View? {
//...
if (meeting != null) {
//...
val rvParticipants = view.findViewById<RecyclerView>(R.id.rvParticipants)
rvParticipants.layoutManager = GridLayoutManager(mContext, 2)
rvParticipants.adapter = SpeakerAdapter(meeting!!)
}
}

Output

Step 4: Implement ViewerView

When host start the live streaming, viewer will be able to see the live streaming.

To implement player view, we are going to use ExoPlayer. It will be helpful to play hls stream.

Let's first add dependency into the project.

app/build.gradle
dependencies {
implementation 'com.google.android.exoplayer:exoplayer:2.18.5'
// other app dependencies
}

Create a new Fragment named ViewerFragment

Creating UI

The Viewer Fragment will include :

  1. TextView for Meeting Id - The meeting Id that you joined will be displayed in this text view.
  2. Leave Button - This button will leave the meeting.
  3. waitingLayout - This is textView that will be shown when there is no active HLS.
  4. StyledPlayerView - This is mediaplayer which will display livestreaming.

In /app/res/layout/fragment_viewer.xml file, replace the content with the following.

fragment_viewer.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="@color/black"
tools:context=".ViewerFragment">

<LinearLayout
android:id="@+id/meetingLayout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:paddingHorizontal="12sp"
android:paddingVertical="5sp">

<TextView
android:id="@+id/meetingId"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="3"
android:text="Meeting Id : "
android:textColor="@color/white"
android:textSize="20sp" />

<Button
android:id="@+id/btnLeave"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"
android:text="Leave" />

</LinearLayout>

<TextView
android:id="@+id/waitingLayout"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:text="Waiting for host \n to start the live streaming"
android:textColor="@color/white"
android:textFontWeight="700"
android:textSize="20sp"
android:gravity="center"/>

<com.google.android.exoplayer2.ui.StyledPlayerView
android:id="@+id/player_view"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:visibility="gone"
app:resize_mode="fixed_width"
app:show_buffering="when_playing"
app:show_subtitle_button="false"
app:use_artwork="false"
app:show_next_button="false"
app:show_previous_button="false"
app:use_controller="true"
android:layout_below="@id/meetingLayout"/>

</RelativeLayout>

Initialize player and Playing HLS stream

  1. Initialize player and play the HLS when the meeting HLS state is HLS_PLAYABLE, and release it when the HLS state is HLS_STOPPED. Whenever the meeting HLS state changes, the event onHlsStateChanged will be triggered.
  • when you receive HLS_PLAYABLE status you will receive 2 urls
    • playbackHlsUrl - Live HLS with playback support
    • livestreamUrl - Live HLS without playback support
note

downstreamUrl is now depecated. Use playbackHlsUrl or livestreamUrl in place of downstreamUrl

ViewerFragment.kt
class ViewerFragment : Fragment() {
private var meeting: Meeting? = null
private var playerView: StyledPlayerView? = null
private var waitingLayout: TextView? = null
private var player: ExoPlayer? = null
private var dataSourceFactory: DefaultHttpDataSource.Factory? = null
private val startAutoPlay = true
private var playbackHlsUrl: String? = ""


override fun onCreateView(
inflater: LayoutInflater, container: ViewGroup?,
savedInstanceState: Bundle?
): View? {
// Inflate the layout for this fragment
val view = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_viewer, container, false)
playerView = view.findViewById(R.id.player_view)
waitingLayout = view.findViewById(R.id.waitingLayout)
if (meeting != null) {
// set MeetingId to TextView
(view.findViewById<View>(R.id.meetingId) as TextView).text =
"Meeting Id : " + meeting!!.meetingId
// leave the meeting on btnLeave click
(view.findViewById<View>(R.id.btnLeave) as Button).setOnClickListener { meeting!!.leave() }
// add listener to meeting
meeting!!.addEventListener(meetingEventListener)
}
return view
}

override fun onAttach(context: Context) {
super.onAttach(context)
mContext = context
if (context is Activity) {
mActivity = context
// get meeting object from MeetingActivity
meeting = (mActivity as MeetingActivity?)!!.meeting
}
}

private val meetingEventListener: MeetingEventListener = object : MeetingEventListener() {
override fun onMeetingLeft() {
if (isAdded) {
val intents = Intent(mContext, JoinActivity::class.java)
intents.addFlags(
Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK
or Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP or Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK
)
startActivity(intents)
mActivity!!.finish()
}
}

@RequiresApi(api = Build.VERSION_CODES.P)
override fun onHlsStateChanged(HlsState: JSONObject) {
if (HlsState.has("status")) {
try {
if (HlsState.getString("status") == "HLS_PLAYABLE" && HlsState.has("playbackHlsUrl")) {
playbackHlsUrl = HlsState.getString("playbackHlsUrl")
waitingLayout!!.visibility = View.GONE
playerView!!.visibility = View.VISIBLE
// initialize player
initializePlayer()
}
if (HlsState.getString("status") == "HLS_STOPPED") {
// release the player
releasePlayer()
playbackHlsUrl = null
waitingLayout!!.text = "Host has stopped \n the live streaming"
waitingLayout!!.visibility = View.VISIBLE
playerView!!.visibility = View.GONE
}
} catch (e: JSONException) {
e.printStackTrace()
}
}
}
}

private fun initializePlayer() {
if (player == null) {
dataSourceFactory = DefaultHttpDataSource.Factory()
val mediaSource = HlsMediaSource.Factory(dataSourceFactory!!).createMediaSource(
MediaItem.fromUri(Uri.parse(playbackHlsUrl))
)
val playerBuilder = ExoPlayer.Builder( /* context = */mContext!!)
player = playerBuilder.build()
// auto play when player is ready
player!!.playWhenReady = startAutoPlay
player!!.setMediaSource(mediaSource)
// if you want display setting for player then remove this line
playerView!!.findViewById<View>(com.google.android.exoplayer2.ui.R.id.exo_settings).visibility =
View.GONE
playerView!!.player = player
}
player!!.prepare()
}

private fun releasePlayer() {
if (player != null) {
player!!.release()
player = null
dataSourceFactory = null
playerView!!.player = null
}
}

override fun onDestroy() {
mContext = null
mActivity = null
playbackHlsUrl = null
releasePlayer()
if (meeting != null) {
meeting!!.removeAllListeners()
meeting = null
}
super.onDestroy()
}

companion object {
private var mActivity: Activity? = null
private var mContext: Context? = null
}
}

Output


Final Output

We are done with implementation of customised video calling app in Android using Video SDK. To explore more features go through Basic and Advanced features.


tip

You can checkout the complete quick start example here.

Got a Question? Ask us on discord