Media & creativity / OPEN-SOURCE PROJECT GUIDE
VLC
The traffic cone that just plays it.
A versatile media player for local files, discs, and streams, with broad format support.
Why it matters
A longstanding example of open-source software solving a common problem: playing media across platforms.
The honest heads-up
It plays media you provide; it does not include a content subscription or replace a media-server library. DRM-protected streaming services may require their own apps.
Your first small step
Install VLC and open a local audio or video file.
Getting-started guide ↗Checked September 2026 · Official project source ↗
Capabilities can change. Check the project’s current documentation for your setup.