caspermeijn/onvifviewer

ONVIFViewer is an open-source app that lets you view and configure IP cameras without relying on the proprietary software that typically comes bundled with them. Many IP cameras support a standard communication protocol called ONVIF, which means a single app can work across different camera brands instead of needing a different app for each one. The project was built primarily for Linux desktop and Plasma Mobile, with an Android version also available. The app works by communicating directly with cameras using the ONVIF protocol, which is an open standard. The developer built this communication layer from scratch, meaning the app doesn't depend on any existing proprietary library to talk to the cameras. The interface is built using Qt5 and Kirigami, which are tools for creating applications that run across different platforms. This would be useful for anyone who owns an IP camera and runs Linux on their computer or phone. Instead of being stuck with a manufacturer's app that might be poorly maintained or locked to one platform, you get a single viewer that works with any camera following the ONVIF standard. It is particularly aimed at the Plasma Mobile community, which is a mobile Linux environment that has historically lacked a dedicated ONVIF camera viewer. It is worth noting that the developer has stopped active work on this project. They lost interest after no longer having a personal use case for their camera, and they found that many reported bugs came from cameras that don't actually comply with the ONVIF specification properly, making them hard to fix without the specific hardware on hand. The code remains available though, and they welcome contributions from anyone who wants to continue development. On Linux desktops, you can install it through Flatpak, which is a straightforward way to get software running on most distributions. Volunteers can also help translate the app into other languages through an online platform called Weblate.