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Choose the quickstart for your build goal. If you are unsure which applies, use the navigator to compare paths first.

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AI inference

Goal: Make a working API call to a Livepeer AI pipeline. Time: 10 minutes. Prerequisites: API key from Livepeer Studio. No GPU. No local node. What you build: A POST /text-to-image call that returns a generated image, using curl or an SDK of your choice. SDK options: livepeer (npm v3.5.0 / PyPI), @livepeer/ai (alpha, AI-only).

AI Quickstart

First API call, error handling, and next steps in under 10 minutes.

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Real-time AI video

Goal: Apply a ComfyUI workflow to a live webcam or video stream. Time: 30-60 minutes (includes environment setup). Prerequisites:
  • NVIDIA GPU (RTX 3090 or better recommended)
  • ComfyUI installed and working
  • Python 3.12, CUDA 12.5+, Miniconda
What you build: A ComfyStream server connected to the Livepeer network, with a live webcam feed processed through an SD1.5 workflow at real-time frame rates.

ComfyStream Quickstart

ComfyStream install, SD1.5 workflow, and webcam-to-processed-stream in 30 minutes.

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Video transcoding and streaming

Goal: Create a livestream or transcode a video asset using the Studio API. Time: 15 minutes. Prerequisites: API key from Livepeer Studio. SDK installed. What you build: A stream with an RTMP ingest URL and an HLS playback URL, tested end-to-end. SDK install: 
# TypeScript / JavaScript
npm install livepeer

# Python
pip install livepeer

# Go
go get github.com/livepeer/livepeer-go

Transcoding Quickstart

Create a stream, get the ingest URL, test with OBS or ffmpeg.

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OSS contribution

Goal: Get the Livepeer codebase running locally and make your first contribution. Time: 1-2 hours (includes testnet setup). Prerequisites: Go 1.21+ for go-livepeer; Python 3.12 for ai-runner or ComfyStream; Docker. What you build: A local testnet with one orchestrator and one gateway running, capable of processing test jobs.

Contributor Quickstart

Clone go-livepeer, start a local testnet, and submit your first test job.

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Navigator

Full path comparison with decision framework and per-path descriptions.

Workload Fit

Studio API vs self-hosted gateway vs BYOC vs ComfyStream — when to use each.
Last modified on April 7, 2026