asciinema-server
asciinema-server is a web platform for hosting, sharing, and live-streaming terminal session recordings. Built in Elixir/Phoenix, it offers a self-hosted alternative to the public asciinema.org service, with full-text search, privacy-friendly design, and integrated playback.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | asciinema/asciinema-server |
| Owner | asciinema |
| Primary language | Elixir |
| License | Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 2.5k |
| Forks | 286 |
| Open issues | 5 |
| Latest release | v20260626 (2026-06-26) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-07 |
| Source | https://github.com/asciinema/asciinema-server |
What asciinema-server is
Elixir/Phoenix-based application that manages terminal session recordings in asciicast format, embeds the asciinema virtual terminal (avt) for preview generation and stream state management, and provides HTTP API integration with the asciinema CLI. Supports live streaming, content search, and configurable themes.
Get the asciinema-server source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/asciinema/asciinema-server.gitcd asciinema-server# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Requires Elixir/Phoenix runtime, database (PostgreSQL inferred), and avt virtual terminal dependency—verify complete deployment stack requirements in self-hosting documentation.
- HTTP API is stable and documented; asciinema CLI integration is mature. Validate CLI version compatibility with target server version before large-scale rollout.
- Full-text search relies on embedded terminal content indexing; performance scales with recording volume—test query latency and storage I/O under expected load.
- Metadata supports Markdown descriptions; ensure user input sanitization and XSS protections are reviewed if users can author public content.
- Visibility controls (private/unlisted/public) are built-in but require careful ACL testing, especially in multi-tenant or role-based sharing scenarios.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Real-time, high-throughput live streaming at scale — No benchmarks provided for concurrent stream capacity. Large-scale live streaming infrastructure may require load testing and architectural validation before production use.
- Minimal operational overhead required — Self-hosting adds infrastructure, database, and maintenance burden. Teams unwilling to manage Elixir/Phoenix deployments, updates, and troubleshooting should evaluate managed asciinema.org instead.
- Heavy customization or deep integration with non-standard systems — While extensible, Elixir/Phoenix expertise is needed for significant modifications. Integration with proprietary authentication, event systems, or legacy platforms may require custom development.
- Need for guaranteed SLA and commercial support contracts — Project offers consulting services but no formal SLA or enterprise support tiers documented. Adoption risk if production availability is mission-critical.
License & commercial use
Licensed under Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0), a permissive OSI-approved license. Source code, derivative works, and modifications are freely available under the same terms.
Apache 2.0 permits commercial use, distribution, and modification without fee. However, no explicit warranty or commercial support tier is documented. Commercial deployments should: (1) review the LICENSE file, (2) engage asciinema consulting services if needed, and (3) assess whether lack of formal SLA/support aligns with business risk tolerance.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Strong |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Privacy-friendly design emphasizes no tracking/ads. Visibility controls provide per-recording access management. Security considerations require review: input validation (Markdown, terminal content), user authentication strength, secrets management (API tokens), HTTPS enforcement, and database hardening. Elixir/Phoenix have good memory safety profiles but application-level security audit recommended before handling sensitive terminal data (credentials, API keys may appear in recordings). No CVE history provided—check GitHub security advisories.
Alternatives to consider
asciinema.org (public SaaS)
Official managed platform. Zero operational overhead, no self-hosting. Limits: data residency outside user control, potential policy barriers for regulated orgs. Suitable if privacy concerns are not blocking.
Teleport (Gravitational)
Broader access control, audit, and session recording for SSH/Kubernetes. More enterprise-focused (commercial tiers). Heavier; overkill if only terminal recording and sharing needed.
Custom solution (bash scripts + web frontend)
Lightweight, tailored to exact needs, no dependency on Elixir stack. High development cost, limited UX, no live streaming or search. Viable only for simple, single-team use.
Build on asciinema-server with DEV.co software developers
Evaluate asciinema-server for your team's on-premise recording and sharing needs. Review the self-hosting guide, validate deployment complexity with your DevOps team, and run a proof-of-concept in staging before production rollout.
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asciinema-server FAQ
Can I use asciinema-server to record live terminal sessions in real-time?
Is asciinema-server suitable for storing terminal recordings containing credentials or sensitive data?
What database does asciinema-server use?
Can I integrate asciinema-server with my existing Single Sign-On (SSO) provider?
Software development & web development with DEV.co
Adopting asciinema-server is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source devops software in production.
Ready to self-host terminal recordings?
Evaluate asciinema-server for your team's on-premise recording and sharing needs. Review the self-hosting guide, validate deployment complexity with your DevOps team, and run a proof-of-concept in staging before production rollout.