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Modernizing Jitsi Architecture with Docker and Kubernetes

12 min Avkash Kakdiya

Jitsi is an open-source video conferencing tool popular among developers and businesses for secure and reliable meetings. It’s modular, which makes it flexible, but running a traditional setup that scales well can be a pain. Using Docker and Kubernetes modernizes Jitsi architecture by making deployments simpler, scaling easier, and management smoother. This article walks you through key pieces like the API, UI, branding, and customization—all within a containerized Jitsi environment.

API Overview

The real power of Jitsi comes from its APIs. There are several that let developers embed video calls and tailor features for different needs.

The main one is the Jitsi Meet API, a JavaScript interface that lets you embed and control meetings inside web apps. You can start calls, manage who’s in, mute audio or video, and track when participants join or leave.

When you move Jitsi to Docker and Kubernetes, the APIs don’t change — they stay the same core way to interact with the system. But containerizing the Videobridge, Prosody, and others makes scaling and version control way easier.

Key Jitsi API Components

  • Jitsi Meet API: Lets you embed video calls in web apps. You create a JitsiMeetExternalAPI instance with options like room name and user info.
  • Jitsi Videobridge REST API: Gives you stats and debugging info about videobridge performance and current video conferences.
  • Jicofo (Jitsi Conference Focus): Manages signaling for calls and offers config and API options to control meetings.

Breaking out components into containers keeps these APIs neat and accessible. Docker images pack each part with their APIs intact. Kubernetes keeps the containers running and balances traffic.

Practical Insight

Here’s a real example: a SaaS company containerized Jitsi to speed up their CI/CD. They pushed API updates faster and could roll back bad changes automatically. The result? 40% less downtime.

UI Elements

Jitsi’s interface is simple but flexible. It includes:

  • Video grid and thumbnails: Shows all participants dynamically.
  • Control bar: Mute/unmute, screen share, chat, hang up buttons.
  • Chat panel: Side panel for text chat during calls.
  • Participant list: Shows who’s in the meeting.

Customizing UI in Containerized Jitsi

In containers, the UI is handled by the Jitsi Meet frontend. To change it in Docker or Kubernetes, you build custom Docker images with modified React components or CSS.

You can override default settings by editing interface_config.js and config.js inside the Jitsi Meet frontend codebase.

For example, if you’re reselling video tools, you might want to hide some buttons or add controls for managing users differently. You do this by tweaking React components and bundling them into a new Docker image.

Technical Tidbits

  • The UI frontend runs as a stateless web app in its own container.
  • Config changes happen by mounting config files as volumes in Docker or Kubernetes pods.
  • You can live-reload changes during development by linking the frontend source directly to the container.

Here’s a tip: start with Jitsi’s default Docker UI, then add small tweaks in custom images. It keeps the base setup stable.

Branding Options

Branding is key when you want Jitsi to look like your own service.

Modern Jitsi lets you:

  • Replace the logo by swapping image files.
  • Change colors via interface_config.js or CSS.
  • Use your own domain to keep brand consistency.
  • Customize loading screens with different animations or splash images.
  • Edit welcome messages or add disclaimers.

Branding in Docker/Kubernetes

With containers, you can bake branding directly into your frontend Docker image or mount branding assets as external volumes. This lets you change brands quickly without rebuilding containers all the time.

On Kubernetes, ConfigMaps and Secrets help you manage branding assets and configs centrally. You update those without redeploying the whole app.

Real-World Example

An agency I know sets up separate Kubernetes namespaces for each client with unique branding ConfigMaps. They use the same Jitsi images but mount different branding assets per client. This makes rolling out new clients fast and consistent.

Example Customizations

Docker and Kubernetes make these customizations more reliable and repeatable. Some common custom setups include:

  1. Enable Recording and Live Streaming
    Extend the base Docker image to add Jibri for Jitsi Recording, which handles recording and streaming. Kubernetes scales it out to avoid resource issues.

  2. Custom Authentication Workflows
    Connect Prosody with external auth like OAuth or LDAP. Docker isolates the setup, and Kubernetes keeps secrets safe and handles service discovery.

  3. Advanced Layout Controls
    Change the video grid layout in the React frontend for webinars or classrooms. Containerization keeps backend stable while you customize UI.

  4. Load Balancing Multiple Videobridges
    Use Kubernetes services and ingress controllers to balance traffic across several Videobridge pods. This improves call quality and adds redundancy.

  5. API Event Hooks for Analytics
    Use Jitsi Meet API event listeners to gather participant data or meeting stats. You can run an analytics backend inside your Kubernetes cluster as a sidecar or a separate service.

Step-by-Step Customization Workflow

  • Fork or clone the official Jitsi Meet repo.
  • Change UI or config files as needed.
  • Build a custom Docker image with your changes.
  • Deploy that image using Kubernetes manifests or Helm charts.
  • Monitor it and tweak as you go.

Resources

Starting with containerized Jitsi on Kubernetes can feel tough. These resources will help:

  • Official Jitsi GitHub repos:
  • Kubernetes Documentation:
    • Kubernetes.io — Guides on pods, persistent storage, ConfigMaps, and secrets.
  • Community Tutorials:
    • Blogs and sites like Dev.to, Medium, and Stack Overflow offer how-tos on Jitsi with Kubernetes.
  • Security Tips:
    • Use TLS certs (like from Let’s Encrypt) behind ingress.
    • Limit open ports, apply network policies inside Kubernetes.
    • Keep images updated and watch for Jitsi security notices.
  • Helm Charts:
    • No official Helm chart, but community templates exist to deploy Jitsi clusters.

Conclusion

Updating Jitsi architecture with Docker and Kubernetes makes deploying easier, scaling smoother, and customization simpler. Whether you’re diving into Jitsi’s APIs, want your own branded video conferencing, or offer white-label solutions, containerized Jitsi fits the bill.

Its modular API, customizable UI, and flexible branding work well inside orchestrated containers. Follow good container security and resource management practices to keep meetings secure and fast.

Start by trying official Docker images. Then test Kubernetes deployments with Helm charts or manifests. Add UI and branding changes little by little, while watching how your setup performs and stays safe.

If you need a hand or a detailed guide for Jitsi Kubernetes deployment, check the links above or join the active communities that keep this project moving.


Ready to modernize your video conferencing?
Run your own containerized Jitsi setup and see how Docker and Kubernetes help you scale and manage it better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jitsi architecture is a modular setup that makes secure video conferencing possible through parts like Jitsi Videobridge, Jicofo, and Prosody. These components work together to create flexible, scalable meetings.

Docker packages Jitsi components into containers that are easy to manage, while Kubernetes handles these containers by balancing load, scaling them when needed, and keeping them running smoothly.

Yes. Containerized Jitsi lets you tweak UI elements, apply your own branding, and push updates quickly by rebuilding Docker images and updating Kubernetes deployments.

Some difficulties include handling stateful services, setting up persistent storage for components like Prosody, and making sure resources are allocated well to keep performance steady during heavy use.

Check out the official Jitsi GitHub repos, Kubernetes docs, and community tutorials. They offer solid guides and example configs for running Jitsi in containers and on Kubernetes.

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