Kodi
Kodi is a free, open source media center (formerly XBMC) that plays video, music, photos, and podcasts from local drives and network sources. It organizes your library with metadata and cover art pulled from online databases. Addons extend it to stream content, watch live TV, check weather, and more. Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and Raspberry Pi.
What it does
Point Kodi at a folder of movies or TV shows, and it scans the files, matches them to online databases, downloads cover art and plot summaries, and builds a browsable library. The same works for music - add your folders and browse by artist, album, genre, or year with covers displayed.
The addon system is where Kodi gets its real power. Through Settings > Add-ons > Install from repository, you can add YouTube, Twitch, podcast players, IPTV clients, and hundreds of other sources. Skins completely change the interface - from a clean TV friendly layout to a minimal desktop look. PVR addons connect to TV tuner backends for live television with an electronic program guide and recording.
UPnP/DLNA support (Settings > Services) turns Kodi into a media server that shares your library to other devices on the local network.
Advantages
- Completely free and open source with no ads
- Plays virtually every media format without extra codecs
- Addon system extends functionality to streaming, live TV, podcasts, and more
- Runs on almost every platform including Raspberry Pi
Drawbacks
- Initial setup and library configuration takes time
- Some third party addons break frequently or stop working
- Interface feels complex for people who just want to play a file
- No built-in content - you must supply your own media or find addons
Who it is for
Kodi is for people with large local media collections who want a polished, TV friendly interface to browse and play everything. I use it on a Raspberry Pi connected to my TV as a dedicated media box. If you just want to play a single file, VLC or MPC-HC is simpler. If you want a ready made streaming service, Kodi is not that - it is a platform you configure yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kodi free?
Is Kodi legal?
Can Kodi play live TV?
Does Kodi have built-in content?
Features & How-To Guide
| # | Feature | How to use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Local video file playback | Movies › Files › Add a source (a folder with movies) › Scan › Kodi fetches metadata and cover art › Choose a movie › Play. |
| 2 | Additional software installation | Settings › Add-ons › Install from repository › Choose a category › Install an add-on › It appears in the main menu. |
| 3 | Music library management 2 | Music › Files › Add a music folder › Scan › Automatic tagging › Browse by artist/album/genre. |
| 4 | Playlist and playback queue creation | Right-click a file › Add to playlist / Queue › Playlists › Manage the order › Save the playlist. |
| 5 | Local network library sharing | Settings › Services › UPnP/DLNA › Enable › Other devices on the network see the Kodi library as a media server. |
| 6 | Change interface skin | Settings › Interface › Skin › Get more › Choose a skin › Install it › The interface restarts with the new look. |
| 7 | Live TV configuration and recording | Settings › PVR & Live TV › Enable › Install a PVR backend (e.g. TVHeadend) › Configure the EPG › Watch live TV with the guide. |
| 8 | Music playback with visualizations | Music › Choose a track › Play › Fullscreen › Visualizations appear automatically › Change them in Settings › Music Player › Visualization. |
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