Streaming like in a blockbuster: Laravel-HLS takes the stage

At OBI Partner, we are used to saving projects like Tom Cruise saves the world in Mission Impossible. But this time, the mission is different: streaming videos without everything going up in smoke.

Because let's be clear:

• Videos that load in a loop are like a credit roll that never ends.

• Crying databases are worthy of an episode of Dark.

• And developers who swear “¡pero en mi máquina sí funciona!”, resemble a badly dubbed parody on Netflix.

That's where our hero appears: laravel-hls.

🎥 The pitch

Laravel-HLS is an open-source package that does the job of video producer in your Laravel app:

• It converts your files into adaptive HLS streams using ffmpeg.

• It adds AES-128 encryption, so your videos don't wander naked on the Internet.

• It works in Laravel queues, like an editing team that doesn't block the main shoot.

• And it provides you directly the playlist .m3u8 to stream your movie.

In short: you upload a video, and it comes out ready for Netflix (well… in a handmade version 😅).

🎬 Act I: Installation

1. You call in reinforcements via Composer:

   composer require achyutn/laravel-hls

2. You dump the config into your project:

   php artisan vendor:publish --provider="AchyutN\LaravelHLS\HLSProvider" --tag="hls-config" 

3. In config/hls.php, you set the scenario: resolutions, bitrates, encryption, queue, storage…

4. You add the trait to your video model:

   use AchyutN\LaravelHLS\Traits\ConvertsToHls; class Video extends Model { use ConvertsToHls; }

5. And BOOM: you get your playlist with a simple route /hls/{id}/playlist.

🎬 Act II: Behind the scenes

💣 Encryption: like in any good thriller, there's a secret key. Here, AES-128 protects your video segments. Without the key → no playback → no spoilers.

⚡ Parallel processing: conversion happens in the background with Laravel jobs. Your web server doesn't need to be Rambo to handle video rendering.

🚀 Deployment: you can integrate this into your CI/CD pipeline, to automatically start conversions as soon as a file lands in your project.

🎬 Act III: CI/CD action plan

Example with GitLab CI:

Here, it's like a commando mission:

• test checks that the team is ready,

• convert takes care of the editing,

• deploy streams the movie to the marquee 🎞️.

🎬 Bonus: Possible spin-offs

• E-learning: your courses stream securely, no content leaks.

• Internal VOD: you become the company's Netflix.

• Live events: conferences, concerts or online lotteries (yes yes 👀).

🎬 The sequel

Laravel-HLS already works very well, but the sequel could include:

• CMAF for more compatibility,

• Hollywood-level DRM,

• Scalability with distributed workers,

• IMDB-style dashboard to track conversions.

🎬 Conclusion

➡️ If you want a CI/CD forge that deploys your apps like a buffet, we have GitLab.
➡️ If you want modular, food‑truck style, go with Gitea + Woodpecker.
➡️ And if you want to stream videos like Netflix, laravel-hls is your leading actor.

At OBI Partner, we like to say:
“No need for Hollywood, as long as your video streams, without spoilers and without black screens.” 🍿

👉 So, ready to shoot your first blockbuster in Laravel?