Getting Started

HLS Playlist Viewer is an open source browser-based tool for inspecting HLS streams. Available as a managed service in Eyevinn Open Source Cloud, it lets you paste any HLS manifest URL and browse the full playlist hierarchy — master playlist, media playlists, and segment details — without installing local tooling.

Prerequisites

Step 1: Create an instance

Navigate to the HLS Playlist Viewer service in the OSC web console. Click Create hls-viewer and enter a name for your instance.

Click Create. Once the status turns green, click the instance card and then Open to launch the viewer in your browser.

Step 2: Inspect an HLS stream

In the viewer interface, paste an HLS manifest URL (.m3u8) into the input field and press Load. The tool fetches and parses the manifest, displaying:

  • The master playlist and its variant streams (bandwidth, resolution, codecs)
  • Each media playlist and its segments
  • Segment durations, discontinuity markers, and byte ranges
  • EXT-X tags including program date/time, media sequence, and target duration

This is useful for debugging adaptive bitrate issues, verifying output from a packager like Shaka Packager or SVT Encore, and checking that segment counts and durations match expectations.

Default credentials

This service has no authentication — the viewer is publicly accessible at the instance URL.

CLI usage

npx -y @osaas/cli create nfrederiksen-hls-viewer myhls-viewer

After creation, retrieve the instance URL:

npx -y @osaas/cli describe nfrederiksen-hls-viewer myhls-viewer

Open the URL shown in a browser to access the viewer.

Resources