Editing Kodi (software)

{{short description|Free software media player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox software
| title = Kodi
| name = Kodi
| logo = File:Kodi-side-by-side.svg
| logo size = 200px
| screenshot = Main Screen Estuary 17.6.png
| caption = Kodi 17.6 Home Screen
| author = 
| developer = Kodi Foundation
| released = 2002 (as [[Xbox Media Player]]), 2003<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.xboxmediacenter.com/ |title=Xbox Media Center |date=2 October 2003 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002022404/http://www.xboxmediacenter.com/ |archive-date=2 October 2003 |access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref> (as Xbox Media Center)
| ver layout = stacked
| latest release version = 21.2
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2025|01|19}}
| latest preview version = <!--19.0b2 "Matrix"<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/releases/tag/19.0b2-Matrix |title=Release 19.0b2-Matrix · xbmc/xbmc |date=7 December 2020 |website=[[GitHub]] |access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref>-->
| latest preview date = <!--{{Start date and age|df=yes|2020|10|05}}-->
| programming language = {{nowrap|[[C++]]}} core, with C++ (binary) or [[Python (programming language)|Python scripts]] as [[Plug-in (computing)|add-ons (plug-in extensions)]] from [[third-party developer]]s{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}
| operating system = [[Windows 10]] and later, [[macOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]], [[iPadOS]], [[tvOS]] ([[Apple TV|Apple TV OS]]), [[Linux]], [[FreeBSD]], [[webOS]], [[Xbox One]] and [[Xbox Series X/S]]
| platform = [[ARM architecture|ARM]], [[ARM architecture|ARM64]], [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]], [[RISC-V]], [[PowerPC]], [[IA-32|IA-32 (x86)]], and [[x64|x64 (x86-64)]]
| size = 
| language = 
| language count = 77 (via add-ons)<ref>{{cite web| title=Matrix Addons: Languages| website=Kodi| url=https://kodi.tv/addons/matrix/category/languages| access-date=18 September 2022| archive-date=22 September 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922102746/https://kodi.tv/addons/matrix/category/languages/| url-status=live}}</ref>
| language footnote = 
| genre = [[Media player (software)|Media player software]], [[Smart TV|smart TV platform]], [[digital media player]], [[digital video recorder]]
| license = [[GNU General Public License|GPL-2.0-or-later]]<ref name="license">{{cite web|url=https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/blob/master/LICENSE.md|title=xbmc / LICENSE.md|website=[[GitHub]]|access-date=1 July 2021|archive-date=5 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605084453/https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/blob/master/LICENSE.md|url-status=live}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://kodi.tv/}}
}}

'''Kodi''' (formerly '''XBMC''') is a [[free and open-source]] [[Media player (application software)|media player]] and [[technological convergence|technology convergence]] software application developed by the Kodi Foundation, a [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit]] technology [[consortium]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kodi.tv/about/ |title=About Kodi |publisher=kodi.tv |access-date=5 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807221746/https://kodi.tv/about |archive-date=7 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kodi is available for multiple operating systems and hardware platforms, with a software [[10-foot user interface]] for use with televisions and [[remote control]]s. It allows users to play and view most streaming media, such as videos, music, [[podcast]]s, and videos from the Internet, as well as all common [[digital media]] files from local and network [[storage media]], or [[TV gateway]] viewer.<ref name="Modding The Xbox Into The Ultimate Multimedia Center">{{Cite web |url=http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/modding-xbox-ultimate-multimedia-center,807.html |title=Modding The Xbox Into The Ultimate Multimedia Center |last=Patrick Schmid |date=5 November 2004 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref>

Kodi was initially designed as a [[multi-platform]] [[Home theater PC|home-theater PC]] (HTPC) application that has grown to become a multi-purpose [[technological convergence]] platform. It is customizable: [[Skin (computing)|skins]] can change its appearance, and [[Plug-in (computing)|plug-ins]] allow users to access [[streaming media]] content via online services such as [[Amazon Prime Video]], [[Crackle (company)|Crackle]], [[Pandora (service)|Pandora]], [[Napster (streaming service)|Napster]], [[Spotify]], and [[YouTube]].<ref name="XBMC 9.11 makes your open source home theater look shinier">{{Cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/open-source/reviews/2009/12/xbmc-911-makes-your-open-source-home-theater-look-shinier.ars |title=XBMC 9.11 makes your open source home theater look shinier |last=Ryan Paul |date=29 December 2009 |website=Ars Technica |access-date=14 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416191227/http://arstechnica.com/open-source/reviews/2009/12/xbmc-911-makes-your-open-source-home-theater-look-shinier.ars |archive-date=16 April 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The later versions also have a personal video-recorder (PVR) graphical [[front and back ends|front end]] for receiving live television with [[electronic program guide]] (EPG) and high-definition [[digital video recorder]] (DVR) support.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/10/10/xbmc-10-pvr-raspberry-pi/ |title=XBMC celebrates 10 years, latest build works in mainline PVR and Raspberry Pi support |last=Lawler |first=Richard |date=10 October 2012 |publisher=Engadget.com |access-date=28 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129233946/http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/10/xbmc-10-pvr-raspberry-pi/ |archive-date=29 January 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The software was originally created in 2002 as an independently developed [[Homebrew (video games)|homebrew]] media player application named '''Xbox Media Player''' for the first-generation [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] game console, changing its name in 2004 to '''Xbox Media Center''' (abbreviated as XBMC, which was adopted as the official name in 2008)<ref name="Modding The Xbox Into The Ultimate Multimedia Center" /><ref name="Review of XBMC in Hardcore Gamer Magazine">{{Cite web |url=http://www.o-sd.com/hardcoregamermag/publicPDF/HGM_Aug.pdf |title=HGM Aug |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714223409/http://www.o-sd.com/hardcoregamermag/publicPDF/getfile.php?file=HGM_Aug.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2011 |access-date=31 May 2010}} Review of XBMC in Hardcore Gamer Magazine</ref> and was later made available under the name XBMC as a native application for [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Linux]], [[Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD]], [[macOS]], [[iOS]]/[[tvOS]], and [[Microsoft Windows]]-based operating systems.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-softmod-your-xbox...for-FREE/ |title=How to soft mod your xbox...for FREE |last=VzjrZ |date=18 January 2007 |website=Instructables |access-date=30 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714220836/https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-softmod-your-xbox...for-FREE/ |archive-date=14 July 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Then the project was renamed again from XBMC to "Kodi" in July 2014 with the release of Kodi 14 (instead of the expected XBMC 14 release), while still keeping "XBMC Foundation" as the name for its legal entity that owns Kodi's code as well as directly related trademarks and logos.

Because of its open source and [[cross-platform]] nature, with its core code written in [[C++]], modified versions of Kodi XBMC together with [[Just enough operating system|JeOS]] have been used as a [[software appliance]] suite or [[software framework]] in a variety of devices, including [[smart TV]]s, [[set-top box]]es, digital signage, hotel television systems, [[Digital media player|network connected media players]] and embedded systems based on [[ARM architecture#VFP|armhf]] platforms like [[Raspberry Pi]]. Derivative applications such as [[MediaPortal]] and [[Plex (software)|Plex]] have been spun off from XBMC or Kodi, as well as [[just enough operating system]]s like [[LibreELEC]].<ref name="XBMC is the best media center application. Period.">{{Cite web |url=http://www.instantfundas.com/2009/08/xbmc-is-best-media-center-application.html |title=XBMC is the best media center application. Period. |last=Kaushik |date=8 August 2009 |website=instant fundas |access-date=9 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714220836/https://www.instantfundas.com/2009/08/xbmc-is-best-media-center-application.html |archive-date=14 July 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="XBMC 9.04 delivers impressive media center experience">{{Cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/05/xbmc-904-delivers-impressive-media-center-experience.ars |title=XBMC 9.04 delivers impressive media center experience |last=Ryan Paul |date=10 May 2009 |website=Ars Technica |access-date=14 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429165149/http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/05/xbmc-904-delivers-impressive-media-center-experience.ars |archive-date=29 April 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Voddler använder XBMC">{{Cite web |url=http://www.xbmc.nu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=177:voddler-anvaender-xbmc&catid=37&Itemid=2 |title=Voddler använder XBMC (Bekräftat!) |last=Richard Skalsky (a.k.a. GrandAnse) |date=2 July 2009 |website=xbmc.nu |language=Swedish |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225170902/http://www.xbmc.nu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=177:voddler-anvaender-xbmc&catid=37&Itemid=2 |archive-date=25 February 2012 |access-date=21 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="CrunchGear Interview: We talk to the lead developer of Plex Media Center for Mac OS X: It was doing Boxee-like stuff before Boxee was cool">{{Cite web |url=http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/01/15/interview-we-talk-to-the-lead-developer-of-plex-media-center-for-mac-os-x-it-was-doing-boxee-like-stuff-before-boxee-was-cool/ |title=CrunchGear Interview: We talk to the lead developer of Plex Media Center for Mac OS X: It was doing Boxee-like stuff before Boxee was cool |last=Nicholas Deleon |date=15 January 2010 |website=CrunchGear |access-date=16 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118083235/http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/01/15/interview-we-talk-to-the-lead-developer-of-plex-media-center-for-mac-os-x-it-was-doing-boxee-like-stuff-before-boxee-was-cool/ |archive-date=18 January 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Thinking inside the box">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/oct/07/boxee-web-video-software |title=Thinking inside the box |last=Kevin Anderson |date=7 October 2009 |website=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=17 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605103526/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/oct/07/boxee-web-video-software |archive-date=5 June 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kodi has attracted negative attention from the news media and law enforcement agencies due to some add-ons as plug-ins made available by third parties for the software that facilitates unauthorized access and playback of media content by different means of [[copyright infringement]], as well as sellers of [[digital media player]]s that pre-load them with third-party add-ons for the express purpose of making [[Online piracy|piracy]] easy. The XBMC Foundation have expressed that they do not endorse the use of third-party add-ons that are designed for the purpose of piracy, and it takes active steps to disassociate and distance the Kodi project from third-party add-ons that violate copyright. These steps include blocking such add-ons and banning all discussions about piracy in their community forums, as well as threatening legal action against those using the Kodi [[trademark]]s or logos to promote add-ons and digital media players that come with them pre-installed with such add-ons.<ref name="engadget-sellerskodi"/>

==Overview==
Kodi supports many common audio, video, and image formats, playlists, audio visualizations (FishBMC, Goom, Matrix, [[MilkDrop]], [[Shadertoy]]), slideshows, weather forecast reporting, and third-party plugins. It is network-capable (internet and [[Local area network|home network]] shares). Unlike other media center applications such as [[Windows Media Center]], [[MediaPortal]] and [[MythTV]], Kodi does not include its own internal digital TV-tuner code for [[Live TV]] or DVR/PVR recording functionality, as instead it acts as a unified DVR/PVR front-end with an EPG TV-Guide [[graphical user interface]] (GUI) interface which, via a common [[application programming interface]] (API), abstracts and supports multiple back-ends via PVR client add-ons from third parties, with those running either locally on the same machine or over the network.<ref name="XBMC 9.11 makes your open source home theater look shinier" /><ref name="XBMC is the best media center application. Period." /><ref name="XBMC 9.04 delivers impressive media center experience" />

[[Plug-in (computing)|Plug-ins]], using either C/C++ programming languages to create binary add-ons or the [[Python (programming language)|Python scripting language]] to create Script Addons, expand Kodi to include features such as television program guides, [[YouTube]], [[Hulu]], [[Netflix]], [[Veoh]], online movie trailer support, and Pandora Radio and [[podcast]] streaming. Kodi also functions as a game launcher on any operating system.<ref name="XBMC is the best media center application. Period." /><ref name="XBMC 9.04 delivers impressive media center experience" />

Kodi's [[source code]] is distributed as open source under the [[GNU General Public License]] (GPL-2.0-or-later), it is governed by the tax-exempt registered non-profit US organization, XBMC Foundation, and is owned and developed by a global free software community of unpaid volunteers.

Even though the original XBMC project no longer develops or supports XBMC for the Xbox, XBMC on the Xbox is still available via the third-party developer spin-off project "[[XBMC4Xbox]]", which forked the Xbox version of the software and completely took over the development and support of XBMC for the old Xbox. The ending of Xbox support by the original project was also the reason that it was renamed "XBMC" from the old "Xbox Media Center" name, and why it later was renamed "Kodi".<ref name="XBMC Discontinues Xbox Support">{{Cite web |url=http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/10/05/28/043243/XBMC-Discontinues-Xbox-Support?art_pos=1 |title=XBMC Discontinues Xbox Support |last=Timothy |date=28 May 2010 |website=Slashdot |access-date=31 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608061250/http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/10/05/28/043243/XBMC-Discontinues-Xbox-Support?art_pos=1 |archive-date=8 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="XBMC Drops Support for the Original Xbox">{{Cite web |url=http://lifehacker.com/5550225/xbmc-drops-support-for-the-original-xbox |title=XBMC Drops Support for the Original Xbox |last=Adam Pash |date=28 May 2010 |website=Lifehacker |access-date=31 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531174016/http://lifehacker.com/5550225/xbmc-drops-support-for-the-original-xbox |archive-date=31 May 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="XBMC4Xbox">{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/xmbc-bids-farewell-to-its-progenitor-the-original-xbox/ |title=XBMC bids farewell to its progenitor: the original Xbox |last=Sean Hollister |date=31 May 2010 |website=Engadget |access-date=2 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830151620/https://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/xmbc-bids-farewell-to-its-progenitor-the-original-xbox/ |archive-date=30 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Xbox version of XBMC had the ability to launch console games, and [[homebrew (video games)|homebrew]] applications such as [[Video game console emulator|emulators]]. Since the XBMC for Xbox version was never distributed, endorsed, or supported by Microsoft, it always required a [[modchip]] or [[softmod|softmod exploit]] to run on the Xbox game-console.<ref name="Modding The Xbox Into The Ultimate Multimedia Center" /><ref name="Review of XBMC in Hardcore Gamer Magazine" />

===Hardware requirements===
Kodi has greater basic hardware requirements than traditional 2D style software applications: it needs a [[3D computer graphics|3D]] capable [[GPU|graphics hardware controller]] for all rendering. Powerful 3D GPU chips are common today in most modern computer platforms, including many [[set-top box]]es, and XBMC, now Kodi, was from the start designed to be otherwise very resource-efficient, for being as powerful and versatile a framework as it is. It runs well on what (by [[Intel Atom]] standards) are relatively underpowered [[OpenGL|OpenGL 1.3]] (with [[GLSL]] support), [[OpenGL ES|OpenGL ES 2.0]] or [[Direct3D|Direct3D (DirectX) 9.0]] capable systems that are [[IA-32]]/[[x86]], [[x86-64]], [[ARM architecture|ARM]] (AArch32 and AArch64), [[RISC-V]], or [[PowerPC G4]] or later [[CPU]] based.<ref name="XBMC is the best media center application. Period." />

When software decoding of a full HD [[1080p]] high-definition and high bit-rate video is performed by the system [[CPU]], a [[multi-core processor|dual-core]] 2&nbsp;GHz or faster CPU is required in order to allow for perfectly smooth playback without dropping [[Film frame|frames]] or giving playback a jerky appearance. Kodi can, however, offload most of the video decoding process onto graphics hardware controller or embedded video processing circuits that support one of the following types of hardware-accelerated [[video decoding]]: Google's MediaCodec API for Android, Intel's [[VAAPI]], Nvidia's [[VDPAU]] API, AMD's [[XvBA]] API, Microsoft's [[DXVA]] API, Apple's VDADecoder/VideoToolbox APIs, and the Khronos Group's [[OpenMAX]] API,<ref name="How to install Broadcom Crystal HD driver on Ubuntu?">{{Cite web |url=http://www.htpcbeginner.com/install-broadcom-crystal-hd-driver-ubuntu/ |title=How to install Broadcom Crystal HD driver on Ubuntu? |last=Anand Subramanian |date=7 February 2014 |website=htpcBeginner |access-date=23 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403145722/http://www.htpcbeginner.com/install-broadcom-crystal-hd-driver-ubuntu/ |archive-date=3 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="phoronix1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTAyODU |title=XBMC Project Implements AMD XvBA Interface |date=14 December 2011 |publisher=Phoronix.com |access-date=24 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202013131/http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTAyODU |archive-date=2 February 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[AMLogic]] VPU, [[Freescale Semiconductor|Freescale]]'s [[i.MX|i.MX6x series]] VPU, and [[Raspberry Pi]]'s GPU MMAL. By taking advantage of such hardware-accelerated video decoding, Kodi can play back most videos on many inexpensive, low-performance systems, as long as they contain a supported VPU or GPU.

==Core features==

===Live TV with EPG and PVR/DVR frontend===

The TV feature allows users to watch some TV broadcasts that may be transmitted by a [[digital terrestrial television]], [[asymmetric digital subscriber line]] (ADSL), cable, or Internet streaming, depending on the chosen add-on.

From version 12.0 (Frodo), Kodi has a native Live TV with [[Electronic program guide|EPG (Electronic Program Guide)]] and [[Digital video recorder|DVR (Digital Video Recorder)]] features with a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) frontend GUI, which enables [[video capture]] and playback to and from a [[hard disk drive]] with PVR Client Addons for most popular PVR backends ([[TV tuner card]] server). These addons can be installed separately as plugins in Kodi.

The PVR backend can either be a DVR set-top box connected to the network or a PC with a digital video recorder software. This software can run on the same computer or on other computers on the same network. The PVR software can turn computers or other appliances into DVRs. The operating system can be [[Linux]], [[macOS]], [[Microsoft Windows]], and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] devices.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.techhive.com/article/2031217/htpc-showdown-which-front-end-interface-is-best-.html |title=HTPC Showdown: Which front-end interface is best? |website=TechHive.com |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127211232/http://www.techhive.com/article/2031217/htpc-showdown-which-front-end-interface-is-best-.html |archive-date=27 November 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Several types of PVR Client Addons are available:
* addons used for many PVR software and hardware such as Argus TV, DVBLogic DVBLink, [[DVBViewer]], ForTheRecord, Tvheadend, [[MediaPortal]], [[MythTV]], [[NextPVR]] (formerly [[GB-PVR]]), [[Video Disk Recorder|VDR]], [[Windows Media Center]],
* addons used for [[Enigma (DVB)|Enigma2]]-based DVR set-top boxes such as [[Dreambox]], [[DBox2]], and [[Vu+]].,
* addons used for direct LAN connection to network-attached TV-Tuners such as [[HDHomeRun]], PCTV Systems Broadway, [[VBox Home TV Gateway]], and Njoy Digital AnySee N7 DVB-S2 Network-Tuner.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tv2lan.com/page/show/faq-en#nil |title=Njoy N7 FAQ |publisher=Tv2lan.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201170152/http://www.tv2lan.com/page/show/faq-en#nil |archive-date=1 February 2014 |access-date=28 January 2013}}</ref>
* addons used for the Internet-based television providers [[FilmOn]] (FilmOn.TV Networks), and Stalker Middleware,
* addons used for [[IPTV]] in general, e.g. the simple PVR client addon.

===Video playback===

====Video Library====
The Video Library, one of the Kodi [[metadata]] databases, is a key feature of Kodi. It allows the organization of video content by information associated with the video files (e.g., movies and recorded TV shows) themselves. This information can be obtained in various ways, like through scrapers (e.g., [[web scraping]] sites like IMDb, TheMovieDB, TheTVDB), and [[.nfo|nfo]] files. Automatically downloading and displaying movie posters and fan art backdrops as background wallpapers. The Library Mode view allows users to browse their video content by categories; Genre, Title, Year, Actors and Directors.<ref name="XBMC 9.11 makes your open source home theater look shinier" /><ref name="XBMC is the best media center application. Period." />

====Video player cores====
Kodi uses one multimedia video player "core" for video-playback. This video-player "core" for video-playback is an in-house developed cross-platform media player, "DVDPlayer", which was designed to play back [[DVD-Video]] movies, and this includes support native for DVD-menus, (based on the free open source libraries code [[libdvdcss]] and libdvdnav). This [[FFmpeg]] based video-player "core" today supports all widespread mainstream formats. One relatively unusual feature of this DVD-player core is the capability to on-the-fly pause and play DVD-Video movies that are stored in [[ISO image|ISO and IMG]] DVD-images or DVD-Video ([[IFO file|IFO]]/[[VOB]]/[[.bup|BUP]]) images (even directly from uncompressed [[RAR (file format)|RAR]] and [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP]] archives), from either local harddrive storage or network-share storage.<ref name="XBMC 9.11 makes your open source home theater look shinier" /><ref name="XBMC is the best media center application. Period." /><ref name="XBMC 9.04 delivers impressive media center experience" />

===Audio playback===

====Music Library====
The Music Library, one of the Kodi metadata databases, is another key feature of Kodi. It allows the organization of a music collection to allow searching, and creating smart playlists by information stored in music file [[ID3|ID meta tags]], like title, artist, album, production year, genre, and popularity. Automatically downloading and displaying album covers and [[fan art]] backdrops as background wallpapers.<ref name="XBMC 9.11 makes your open source home theater look shinier" /><ref name="XBMC is the best media center application. Period." />

===Digital picture/image display===
Kodi handles all common [[digital camera|digital picture/image formats]] with the options of panning/zooming and slideshow with the [[Ken Burns effect]], with the use of CxImage open source library code. XBMC can handle CBZ (ZIP) and CBR (RAR) [[comic book archive]] files, this feature lets users view/read, browse and zoom the pictures of comics pages these contain without uncompressing them first.<ref name="Modding The Xbox Into The Ultimate Multimedia Center" />

===Games Manager and game console emulators===
Development was in progress {{As of|2013|alt=in 2013}} on new core features integrating a built-in Games Manager and Game Launcher front-end GUI with a Games Library, and [[Video game console emulator|Game Console Emulator]] API into XBMC. The code for all was being developed in a separate branch to be incorporated into the mainline tree.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTQ3MTI |title=XBMC Prepares Support For Running Emulated Games - Phoronix |date=27 September 2013 |website=Phoronix |access-date=29 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212010237/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTQ3MTI |archive-date=12 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Games Manager, once integrated into Kodi, provides a unified [[Video game|games]] manager library and GUI front-end launcher with online metadata web scraping support for information about the games. It also introduces Game Addons as new type of addon with just-in-time emulator installation. Adding a Games Library for Game Metadata, exposing info (current level, number of lives, number of coins earned, etc.) to GUI, as well as extending the Addon API to support Game Client Addons, supporting Kodi's VFS (Virtual File System). It also provides a joystick and gamepad abstraction layer for common joystick API and input clients.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tech2.in.com/video/dell-inspiron-one-2320/278112/tomszNJjmqenwKqGuoe1ppeJvK7JorSXuKi5pbiqqISlh9qr/xbmc-integrated-emulation-with-libretro-retroplayer-wip |title=XBMC: Integrated Emulation with libretro RetroPlayer wip - Dell Inspiron One 2320 Videos |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131206122800/http://tech2.in.com/video/dell-inspiron-one-2320/278112/tomszNJjmqenwKqGuoe1ppeJvK7JorSXuKi5pbiqqISlh9qr/xbmc-integrated-emulation-with-libretro-retroplayer-wip |archive-date=6 December 2013 |access-date=6 December 2013 }} Xbmc: Integrated Emulation with libretro RetroPlayer wip]</ref>

====RetroPlayer====
Also under development is the RetroPlayer [[video game console emulator]] ([[ROM image|ROMs]]) interface, supporting the libretro API and emulator cores (from the RetroArch project, which is its reference front-end). Libretro itself is a modular multi-system game/emulator system designed to be fast, lightweight, and portable.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://xbmcnightlybuilds.com/now-building-openelec-retroplayer-build-images/ |title=Now Building OpenELEC-RetroPlayer Build Images |last=Paul Rae |date=3 December 2013 |website=XBMC Nightly Builds |access-date=29 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809225111/http://xbmcnightlybuilds.com/now-building-openelec-retroplayer-build-images |archive-date=9 August 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

RetroPlayer supports emulators for popular retro game consoles, including [[Atari 2600]], [[Atari Lynx|Lynx]], [[Atari Jaguar|Jaguar]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]], [[Nintendo 64]], [[Game Boy]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], [[Master System]], [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]], [[Sega CD]], and [[Game Gear]], plus multiple [[arcade video game]]s via [[MAME]] and Final Burn Alpha, as well as [[ScummVM]] and [[MS-DOS]] based games.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.patreon.com/libretro |title=The Libretro Team is creating RetroArch and Lakka |website=Patreon.com |access-date=29 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128023924/https://www.patreon.com/libretro |archive-date=28 November 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

From version 18 Kodi supports a player core, Retroplayer, to play games using game emulator addons available for libretro.<ref>{{cite web| title=[Guide] Getting Started with Kodi Retroplayer| author=zachmorris| website=Kodi Community Forum| date=6 December 2019| url=https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=340684| access-date=18 September 2022| archive-date=20 September 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171420/https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=340684| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Audio, video, and pictures media formats===
Kodi can play media from CD/DVD media using an internal [[DVD-ROM]] drive. It can play media from an internal built-in [[hard disk drive]] and [[Server Message Block|SMB/SAMBA/CIFS]] shares (Windows File-Sharing), [[Network File System|NFS]], or stream them over [[ReplayTV]] DVRs/PVRs, [[Universal Plug and Play]] (UPnP) or [[Digital Living Network Alliance]] (DLNA) shares, or stream [[iTunes]]-shares via [[Digital Audio Access Protocol]] (DAAP). Kodi can take advantage of a broadband Internet connection if available to stream Internet-video-streams like YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, and Veoh, and play Internet-radio-stations (such as [[Pandora Radio]]). Kodi includes the option to submit music usage statistics to [[Last.fm]] and [[Libre.fm]]. It has music/video-playlist features, picture/image-slideshow functions, an MP3+CDG [[karaoke]] function and many [[Music visualization|audio-visualizations]] and [[screensaver]]s. Kodi can [[Upscaling DVD|upscale/upconvert]] all [[SDTV|standard-definition]] resolution videos and output them to [[HDTV|720p, 1080i, and 1080p high-definition]] resolutions.<ref name="XBMC is the best media center application. Period." /><ref name="Turbo Charge Your New XBMC Installation">{{Cite web |url=http://lifehacker.com/5393227/turbo-charge-your-new-xbmc-installation |title=Turbo Charge Your New XBMC Installation |last=Jason Fitzpatrick |date=30 October 2009 |website=Lifehacker |access-date=15 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115110900/http://lifehacker.com/5393227/turbo-charge-your-new-xbmc-installation |archive-date=15 January 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Under Microsoft Windows, Kodi supports Directsound and WASAPI; since [[WASAPI]] performs no mixing or resampling, it provides best audio quality.

====Format support====
Kodi can be used to play/view all common multimedia formats through its native clients and parsers. It can decode these audio and video formats in software or hardware, and optionally pass-through [[Dolby Digital|AC3]]/[[DTS Coherent Acoustics|DTS]] audio, or encode to AC3 in real time from movies directly to [[S/PDIF]] digital output to an external audio-[[Audio amplifier|amplifier]]/[[Audio receiver#Hi-Fi / Home theater|receiver]] for decoding.<ref name="XBMC is the best media center application. Period." />

===Addons Manager, addons and plugins===
Kodi features several open [[Application programming interface|APIs]] to enable [[third-party developer]]s to create capabilities which extend Kodi with a multitude of [[Plug-in (computing)|addons]], such as audio and video streaming plugins for online sources, screensavers, skins and themes, visualizations, weather forecasts, web interfaces, web scrapers, widget scripts, and more. Kodi developers encourage users to make and submit their own addons to expand media content and [[value-added service]]s accessible from within Kodi.

Kodi/XBMC features, since version 10.0 (codename: "Dharma"), an Addons Framework architecture and an Addons Manager GUI client that connects to a [[decentralized]] [[digital distribution]] service [[Platform (computing)|platform]] that serves add-on apps and [[Plug-in (computing)|plug-ins]] which among other things provide online content to Kodi, the "Addons Manager" (or "Addons Browser") inside Kodi allows users to browse and download new addons directly from Kodi's GUI.

Many of these online content sources are in [[over-the-top content]] high definition services and use video streaming site as sources for the media content that is offered. Kodi has extensibility and integration with online sources for free and premium streaming content, and offers content from everything from commercial video to free educational programming, and media from individuals and small businesses. Not all content sources on add-ons are available in every country, however. Due to rights agreements, many content sources are geo-restricted to prevent users in outside countries from accessing content, although some have taken to bypassing the regional restrictions in order to unblock these sources, disregarding the usage rights.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wtvpc.com/unblock-kodi-tv-add-ons/ |title=How To Unblock Kodi TV Add-Ons {{!}} wTVPC |website=wtvpc.com |access-date=6 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912074402/http://wtvpc.com/unblock-kodi-tv-add-ons/ |archive-date=12 September 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Plugins and scripts====
Kodi features an integrated Python Scripts interpreter for addon extensions, and WindowXML [[application framework]] (a XML-based [[widget toolkit]] engine for creating a GUI for apps and [[widget (computing)|widgets]]) in a similar fashion to Apple macOS [[Dashboard (macOS)|Dashboard Widgets]] and [[Microsoft Gadgets]]. Python widget scripts allow normal users to add new functionality to Kodi themselves, using Python scripting language. Current [[plug-in (computing)|plugin]] scripts include functions like [[Internet television|Internet-TV]] and [[trailer (film)|movie-trailer]] browsers, cinemaguides, weather forecast, [[over-the-top content]] video streaming services like YouTube, [[BBC iPlayer]], [[Hulu]], [[Netflix]], [[Veoh]], [[MLB.tv]], Internet-radio-station browsers such as Pandora Radio, online picture sharing sites like [[Flickr]], TV guides such as [[TVShow Time]], e-mail clients, [[instant messaging]], different timetables, [[home automation]] scripts to [[Front-end and back-end|front-end]] control PVR software and hardware, [[Peer-to-peer|P2P]] file-sharing downloaders ([[BitTorrent]]), [[Internet Relay Chat|IRC]], also [[casual game]]s such as ''[[Tetris]]''.<ref name="XBMC is the best media center application. Period." /><ref name="XBMC 9.04 delivers impressive media center experience" />

====Metadata extraction and web scrapers====
Kodi has the built-in optional function to automatically download [[metadata]] information, [[cover art]] and other related media artwork online through its [[web scraping|web scrapers]] that looks for media in the user's audio and video folders and their sub-directories. These "scrapers" are used as [[Importer (computing)|importers]] to obtain detailed information from various Internet resources about movies and television shows. It can get synopses, reviews, movie posters, titles, genre classification, and other similar data. XBMCGUI then provides a rich display for audio and video files that the scrapers have identified.

Scrapers use sites like The Movie Database (TMDb) or [[IMDb.com]] to obtain [[thumbnails]] and information on movies, [[TheTVDB|thetvdb.com]] for TV show posters and episode plots, [[CDDB]] for audio CD track listings, and [[Allmusic|Allmusic (AMG)]] and [[MusicBrainz]] for album [[thumbnails]], reviews, and metadata.

Fanart.tv has been added to the list of information sources and XBMC can use it to retrieve logos, backgrounds, CDs with transparent backgrounds, album covers and banners among other image types for music artists, TV shows and movies, the popularity of which contributed to XBMC being able to handle new image types.

===Skins and themes===
Like the majority of applications that originated from a '[[homebrew (video games)|homebrew]]' scene, modification and customization of the interface using [[skin (computing)|skin]]s is very popular among Kodi users and hundreds of skins and themes are available for users to install. The Kodi skinning engine's flexibility is also advantageous to third parties wanting to create derivative works, as it facilitates rebranding the environment and making deeper changes to the look and feel of the user interface.

As of Kodi version 17, the official default skins for new installs are "Estuary", for typical [[Home theater PC|home-theater]] usage, and "Estouchy" for [[touchscreen]]s.  These newly designed skins replace the longtime default skin "Confluence", and are intended to present more content on the homescreen, be easier for new users, and bring "Kodi into the present day of UI design."

Users can also create their own skin (or simply modify an existing skin) and share it with others via public websites that are used for Kodi skin trading and development. Many such third-party skins exist that are well maintained by the community, and while some skins are originals with unique designs, most begin as a clone or an exact replica of other multimedia software interfaces, such as [[Apple Front Row]], [[Windows XP Media Center Edition|Windows Media Center Edition]] (MCE), MediaPortal, [[Wii Menu|Wii Channel Menu (Xii)]], [[Xbox 360#Software|Xbox 360 interface]], and others.<ref name="Customize XBMC with These Five Awesome Skins">{{Cite web |url=http://lifehacker.com/5198009/customize-xbmc-with-these-five-awesome-skins |title=Customize XBMC with These Five Awesome Skins |last=Jason Fitzpatrick |date=5 April 2009 |website=Lifehacker |access-date=15 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204125706/https://lifehacker.com/5198009/customize-xbmc-with-these-five-awesome-skins |archive-date=4 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition to skins and themes users can create a themed package called a 'build'. Within this package homebrew developers are able to distribute a skin and multiple addons. The delivery mechanism used within the Kodi scene is called a wizard with the Replicant Wizard<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://replicant.run/signup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714220633/http://replicant.run/signup |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-07-14 |title=Replicant Wizard - Register}}</ref> being the most prominent.

===Web Interfaces===
Web Interface addons for Kodi normally allow browsing a media library remotely, to handle music playlists from a computer instead of television. Others allow remotely controlling the navigation of XBMC like a remote for [[Touchscreen remote control|remote controlling]] of an installed and concurrently active Kodi session running on a computer if it runs on an internet tablet or similar device with a touch interface. Others act like a media manager to allow modifying metadata and artwork in XBMC's video and music libraries.

===Application launcher===
Kodi has a "My Programs" section which is meant to function as an application launcher for third-party [[application software|software]] such as computer games and [[List of emulators|video game emulator]]s, all from a [[GUI]] with [[thumbnail]] and different listings options. However, while this feature was fully functioning on the Xbox version of XBMC, it is still in its infant stage on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows, thus requiring third-party launcher plugins to function properly.<ref name="Review of XBMC in Hardcore Gamer Magazine" />

==Mobile remotes and second screen apps==
There are many [[companion app]]s for mobile devices available for and associated with Kodi. Some of these mobile apps work as simple remote controls, while others function as more advanced [[second screen]] companion apps, offering additional information about what users are viewing or listening to on Kodi, such as [[metadata]] about movie actors and music artists, with links to other works available from those persons in their collection or online.

"XBMC Remote for Android" and "XBMC Remote for iOS" are free and open source official apps for mobile devices released by Team-Kodi/Team-XBMC on [[Google Play]] for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] devices and the [[App Store (iOS)|App Store]] for [[iOS Devices]], such as [[iPad]], [[iPhone]], and [[iPod Touch]]. These applications act as a second screen<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://xbmc.us/njbetzen/2012/06/15/airtunes-coming-to-xbmc-for-windows-and-why-airplay-is-awesome/ |title=Airtunes coming to XBMC for Windows… And Why AirPlay is Awesome |date=15 June 2012 |publisher=Xbmc.us |access-date=28 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216035340/http://xbmc.us/njbetzen/2012/06/15/airtunes-coming-to-xbmc-for-windows-and-why-airplay-is-awesome/ |archive-date=16 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> and remote control solution which allows for fully browsing the media library and for [[Touchscreen remote control|remote controlling]] of an installed and concurrently active XBMC session running on a computer via the handheld touchscreen user interface of these device.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.talkandroid.com/6960-xbmc-remote-for-android-now-official/ |title=XBMC Remote for Android now official |date=19 July 2010 |publisher=Talkandroid.com |access-date=17 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017052928/http://www.talkandroid.com/6960-xbmc-remote-for-android-now-official/ |archive-date=17 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Several third-party developers have also released multiple other unofficial Kodi remote control apps for iOS, Android, [[BlackBerry]], [[Symbian]], [[Ubuntu Touch]], [[Windows Mobile]], and [[Windows Phone]] devices. Some of these remote control apps are made specifically for controlling Kodi, while some universal remote control apps are capable of controlling many different media center and media player applications, and some of these third-party remote apps cost money while others are free.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://lifehacker.com/5501010/enhance-your-xbmc-experience-with-remote-controls-for-any-device |title=Enhance Your XBMC Experience with Remote Controls for Any Device |date=24 March 2010 |publisher=Lifehacker.com |access-date=17 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024215108/http://lifehacker.com/5501010/enhance-your-xbmc-experience-with-remote-controls-for-any-device |archive-date=24 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Official versions==
Due to the dated hardware of the first-generation Xbox game console that Kodi-XBMC was designed for, and a desire to expand the project's end-user and developer-base, many official [[porting|ports]] of XBMC to computer operating-systems and hardware platforms have been created. Through the processing power of more recent computer hardware, XBMC can decode [[high-definition video]] up to and beyond [[1080p]] resolutions, bypassing hardware limitations of the Xbox version of XBMC.

In recent releases of Kodi-XBMC there is [[Video Acceleration API|hardware accelerated video decoding]] for [[DXVA]], [[VDPAU]], [[VA-API]] GPU hardware video decoding, as well as hardware accelerated video decoding via [[ARM NEON]], and [[OpenMAX]], Broadcom Crystal HD.<ref name="XBMC 9.04 delivers impressive media center experience" /><ref name="XBMC & Broadcom Bring 1080p Decode Upgrade to ill-equipped netbooks, nettops, Apple TVs">{{Cite web |url=http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3701 |title=XBMC & Broadcom Bring 1080p Decode Upgrade to ill-equipped netbooks, nettops, Apple TVs |last=Anand Lal Shimpi |date=29 December 2009 |website=AnandTech |access-date=20 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122122537/http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3701 |archive-date=22 January 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The source code for XBMC is actively updated by developers in a public [[Git (software)|Git repository]], which may contain features and functionality not yet incorporated into the most recent "stable" releases.

===Native applications===
''Kodi for Linux'' (formerly ''XBMC for Linux'') is primarily developed for Ubuntu Linux and Kodi's developers' own Kodibuntu (formerly ''XBMCbuntu''). Third-party packages for most other Linux distributions are also available, and it is possible to compile XBMC Media Center from scratch for any Linux distribution, as long as the required dependency libraries are installed first. Hardware accelerated video decoding is achieved via the [[VDPAU]] API on Nvidia's GPUs, the [[VAAPI]] API for [[AMD Radeon|AMD/ATI Radeon]], [[S3 Graphics]], and Intel's newer [[Integrated Graphics Processor]]s, as well as hardware accelerated video decoding via [[OpenMAX]], [[ARM NEON]], and Broadcom Crystal HD on systems with supporting hardware.<ref name="XBMC & Broadcom Bring 1080p Decode Upgrade to ill-equipped netbooks, nettops, Apple TVs" /> Development version of Kodi/XBMC for Linux is available at [[Launchpad (website)|Launchpad]] as [[Personal Package Archive|PPA (Personal Package Archive)]] for the standard Ubuntu Desktop version 8.04 and later, as well as [[deb (file format)|DEB packages]] for [[Debian]].

''Kodi for OS X'' (formerly ''XBMC for Mac'') runs natively on [[Mac OS X Tiger]] and later, as well as on the Apple TV. 1080p playback can be achieved on [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] computers either via software decoding on the CPU, if it is powerful enough, or by hardware-accelerated video decoding for hardware supporting Apple's VDA API or video decoders such as the Broadcom Crystal HD.<ref name="XBMC & Broadcom Bring 1080p Decode Upgrade to ill-equipped netbooks, nettops, Apple TVs" />

1080p playback on the first-generation Apple TV (a.k.a. "ATV1") can only be achieved by hardware accelerated video decoding via Broadcom Crystal HD; the user must replace the ATV's internal WiFi adapter with a Broadcom Crystal HD [[PCI Express Mini Card|PCI Express Mini (mini-PCIe) card]] in order to activate this functionality.<ref name="XBMC & Broadcom Bring 1080p Decode Upgrade to ill-equipped netbooks, nettops, Apple TVs" />

''Kodi for Windows'' (formerly ''XBMC for Windows'') runs natively on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 as a [[32-bit]] or [[64-bit]] application. 1080p and Ultra HD (4K) playback can be achieved on Windows computers either via software decoding on the CPU, if it's powerful enough, or by hardware accelerated video decoding.

Hardware video decoding via [[DirectX Video Acceleration]] is supported, although this enhancement only runs on Windows 7 (or later?) since it uses the DXVA 2.0 API, which was not supported in Windows XP.

''Kodi for iOS'' (formerly ''XBMC for iOS''), a full port of Kodi to Apple's [[iOS]] operating system, was released publicly on 20 January 2011. It supported both 720p and 1080p hardware accelerated video decoding of [[H.264]] videos, and was compatible with Apple's iDevices that use [[Apple A4]] or [[Apple A5]] (ARM-based) processors with a [[iOS jailbreaking|jailbroken]] iOS operating system.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/01/xbmc-on-appletv-ios-jailbreak |title=XBMC now running on jailbroken Apple TV or iDevice |last=Foresman |first=Chris |date=21 January 2011 |publisher=Arstechnica.com |access-date=17 October 2011 |archive-date=17 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117210548/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2011/01/xbmc-on-appletv-ios-jailbreak/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In late 2017 ''[[MacWorld UK]]'' described how to install on iOS devices before iOS 11 without jailbreak.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Price |first1=David |title=How to install Kodi on iPhone or iPad (you don't even need to jailbreak!) |url=https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/iosapps/how-install-kodi-on-iphone-or-ipad-without-jailbreaking-3634908/ |access-date=18 March 2021 |work=Macworld UK |date=26 June 2019 |archive-date=30 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330143956/https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/iosapps/how-install-kodi-on-iphone-or-ipad-without-jailbreaking-3634908/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Kodi for Android'' (formerly ''XBMC for Android'') is a full port of the complete Kodi/XBMC application to Google's [[Android (operating system)|Android]] operating system, officially compatible with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and later versions supporting [[Android Ice Cream Sandwich|API Level 14]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://developer.android.com/about/versions/android-4.0.html |title=Android 4.0 APIs |access-date=3 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329115550/http://developer.android.com/about/versions/android-4.0.html |archive-date=29 March 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was first announced and its source code released publicly on 13 June 2012. This is a full port of Kodi's {{nowrap|C++}} and C source code with all its dependencies to Android with a build-system that was designed to handle multiple processor architectures, like ARM, MIPS, and x86 with the [[Native development kit|Android NDK (Native Development Kit for Android)]] without using a single line of Java, and the XBMC.APK is running natively under Android as a NativeActivity application.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/07/13/xbmc-for-android-app/ |title=XBMC for Android app revealed; source code available now |last=Lawler |first=Richard |date=13 July 2012 |publisher=Engadget.com |access-date=28 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116084112/http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/13/xbmc-for-android-app/ |archive-date=16 January 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Hardware accelerated video decoding on Android is currently only officially available for some specific hardware platforms, such as the [[Amlogic]] SoC based Pivos XIOS series which have been used as the reference hardware platform during the development so far. XBMC source code must be compiled with Google's official Android NDK revision 10d or later, and be built for the ''android-17'' toolchain (Android API Level 17) using [[GNU Compiler Collection|GCC]] version 4.8, which Kodi for Android code currently requires to compile correctly but is not supported by Google's Android NDK. This is also the real reason why XBMC for Android does not support the original [[Google TV (smart TV platform)|Google TV]]; since the Android NDK was not made available for older Google TV devices it means that Kodi/XBMC could not be compiled for it today.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://spurint.org/journal/2012/10/google-tv-and-native-libraries/ |title=Google TV and Native Libraries |publisher=Spurint.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106032747/http://spurint.org/journal/2012/10/google-tv-and-native-libraries/ |archive-date=6 January 2013 |access-date=28 January 2013}}</ref>

===Xbox (first-generation)===
{{Main|XBMC4Xbox}}
XBMC 9.04 (codename: ''Babylon'') point-release version of XBMC for [[Xbox]], now obsolete, was released on 6 May 2009 as the last official version of XBMC for Xbox. The original developers of XBMC have since issued a statement stating they will no longer develop or support XBMC for Xbox as part of the XBMC project as of 27 May 2010. The development of XBMC for Xbox ended because the focus for all Team XBMC developers has completely shifted to the Linux, Mac, and Windows versions of XBMC instead.

Even though the original XBMC project no longer develops or supports XBMC for the Xbox, an XBMC version for the Xbox is still available via the third-party developer spin-off project "[[XBMC4Xbox]]", who have completely taken over the development and support of XBMC for the original Xbox.<ref name="XBMC Discontinues Xbox Support" /><ref name="XBMC Drops Support for the Original Xbox" /><ref name="XBMC4Xbox" />

XBMC for Xbox was never an authorized/signed Microsoft product, therefore a [[Xbox modding|modification of the Xbox]] is required in order to run XBMC on an Xbox game-console. XBMC for Xbox can be run as an application (like any Xbox game), or as a [[Xbox Dashboard|dashboard]] that appears directly when the Xbox is turned on.<ref name="Modding The Xbox Into The Ultimate Multimedia Center" /><ref name="Review of XBMC in Hardcore Gamer Magazine" /> Since XBMC for Xbox was part of an open source software program, its development [[source code]] was stored on a publicly accessible [[subversion (software)|subversion repository]]. Accordingly, unofficial [[executable]] builds from the subversion repository are often released by third parties on sites unaffiliated with the official XBMC project.<ref name="Modding The Xbox Into The Ultimate Multimedia Center" /><ref name="Review of XBMC in Hardcore Gamer Magazine" />

===Xbox One===
On 29 December 2017, Kodi developers announced via the news section of their official website that a Kodi app had been released for the [[Xbox One]]. It is noted that the [[Universal Windows Platform|UWP]] version will retain the characteristic Kodi appearance, however, many core features are missing or broken.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

==Commercial systems==
{{Promotional section|section|date=April 2017}}
The developers of Kodi (formerly ''XBMC'') state that as long as the GPL licensing of the Kodi software is respected they would love Kodi to run on as many third-party hardware platforms and [[operating system]]s as possible, as "'''Powered by Kodi'''" (or "'''Powered by XBMC'''") branded devices and systems. They envision Kodi being pre-installed as a [[third-party software component]] that commercial and non-commercial [[Original design manufacturer|ODM]]s and [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEM]]s and [[systems integrator]] companies can use [[royalty-free]] on their own hardware, hardware such as [[set-top box]]es from [[Television station|cable-TV companies]], [[Blu-ray Disc]] and [[DVD player]]s, [[Video game console|game-consoles]], or [[Embedded system|embedded computers]] and [[System-on-a-chip|SoC (System-on-a-Chip)]] built into [[television set]]s for web-enabled TVs, and other entertainment devices for the living room entertainment system, [[home cinema]], or similar uses.

Below is a list of third-party companies that sell hardware bundled with Kodi or XBMC software pre-installed, or sell uninstalled systems that specifically claim to be Kodi- or XBMC-compatible. Many of these third-party companies help submit bug fixes and new features back upstream to the original Kodi-XBMC project.

===Computer hardware===
[[ARCTIC]] is a company based in Germany best known for their [[Computer cooling|cooling solutions]] working in [[partnership]] with the [[OpenELEC]] team. On 5 February 2013, together they released a fully passively cooled [[home theater PC|entertainment system]]: the MC001 media centre (US and EU version), equipped with the latest XBMC 12 (OpenELEC 3.0) [[computing platform|platform]]. OpenELEC and ARCTIC are planning on their next release, aim to provide a more dedicated builds for the ARCTIC MC001 media centre systems.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/6728/arctic-introduces-openelecbased-mc001xbmc-htpc |title=Arctic Introduces OpenELEC-based MC001-XBMC HTPC |date=5 February 2013 |publisher=www.anandtech.com |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207042437/http://www.anandtech.com/show/6728/arctic-introduces-openelecbased-mc001xbmc-htpc |archive-date=7 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://legitreviews.com/news/15098/ |title=ARCTIC MC001-XBMC Media Center Now Available w/ XBMC 12 |date=6 February 2013 |website=legitreviews.com |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210110857/http://www.legitreviews.com/news/15098/ |archive-date=10 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.missingremote.com/news/2013-02-05/arctic-bundles-openelec-lower-priced-mc001-xbmc |title=ARCTIC Bundles OpenELEC with Lower Priced MC001-XBMC |date=5 February 2013 |publisher=www.missingremote.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209210043/http://www.missingremote.com/news/2013-02-05/arctic-bundles-openelec-lower-priced-mc001-xbmc |archive-date=9 February 2013 |access-date=8 February 2013}}</ref>

AIRIS Telebision, sold by Telebision in Spain and designed specifically for the Spanish market, is a [[nettop]] based on [[Nvidia Ion]] chipset, pre-installed Ubuntu base with XBMC for Linux and a customized AEON skin and Spanish plugins. Other than the modified skin, what is unique with the AIRIS Telebision's XBMC build is that it comes with a [[digital distribution]] service platform that they call their "App Store" which lets users download new Spanish plugins and updates for existing plugins. Telebision also lets users download a Live CD version of their software as [[freeware]], which lets users install their Telebision distribution on any Nvidia Ion based computer.{{fact|date=November 2024}}

Lucida TV II, made by LUCIDQ inc, is a nettop based on Nvidia Ion chipset which can be ordered with [[Xubuntu]] and XBMC software installed.{{fact|date=November 2024}}

[[Pulse-Eight|Pulse-Eight Limited]] sells both custom and off-the-shelf hardware primarily designed for Kodi-XBMC, such as remote controls, HTPC systems and accessories, including a custom HTPC PVR set-top-box pre-installed with XBMC that they call "PulseBox"<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.pulse-eight.com/2011/09/22/pulsebox-out-10th-october/ |title=PulseBox out 10th October |date=22 September 2011 |publisher=Blog.pulse-eight.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001071407/http://blog.pulse-eight.com/2011/09/22/pulsebox-out-10th-october/ |archive-date=1 October 2011 |access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref> Pulse-Eight also offers free performance tuned embedded versions of XBMC that they call "Pulse" which is based on [[OpenELEC]] and a custom PVR-build of XBMC that is meant to run on a dedicated HTPC system.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://packages.pulse-eight.net |title=libCEC Downloads - Pulse-Eight - Ultra HD Distribution and Control Products |website=packages.Pulse-Eight.net |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415013545/http://packages.pulse-eight.net/ |archive-date=15 April 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Xtreamer]] Ultra and Xtreamer Ultra 2, manufactured by the South Korean company Unicorn Information Systems, are nettops based on Nvidia graphics and [[Intel Atom]] processors which come with OpenELEC and Kodi-XBMC software pre-installed. The first-generation Xtreamer Ultra uses Nvidia Ion chipset with a 1.80&nbsp;GHz dual-core Intel Atom D525 CPU, while the Xtreamer Ultra 2 uses discrete [[GeForce 500 series|GeForce GT 520M]] graphics with a 2.13&nbsp;GHz dual-core Intel Atom D2700 CPU.<ref name="linuxfordevices1">{{Cite web |url=http://archive.linuxgizmos.com/xbmc-based-embedded-linux-distro-debuts-on-htpc-mini-pc/ |title=XBMC-based embedded Linux distro debuts on HTPC mini-PC |last=Eric Brown |date=21 October 2011 |website=Archive.linuxgizmos.com |access-date=6 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510032601/http://archive.linuxgizmos.com/xbmc-based-embedded-linux-distro-debuts-on-htpc-mini-pc/ |archive-date=10 May 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since 10 September 2010, ZOTAC has been shipping a software bundle that they call ZOTAC Boost XL with all their new [[motherboard]]s and [[Mini-PC]]s, such as Zotac's ZBOX and MAG series of Nettops which Zotac also does demos of with XBMC. This ZOTAC Boost XL software bundle consist of the software applications; Auslogics BoostSpeed, [[Cooliris]], [[Kylo (web browser)|Kylo (HDTV-optimized Web Browser)]], and XBMC Media Center.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bit-tech.net/news/industry/2010/09/11/zotac-announces-boost-xl-software-bundle-fo/1 |title=ZOTAC Announces Boost XL Software Bundle for Platforms |date=11 September 2010 |publisher=Bit-tech.net |access-date=17 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615161404/http://www.bit-tech.net/news/industry/2010/09/11/zotac-announces-boost-xl-software-bundle-fo/1 |archive-date=15 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Zotac's ZBOX and MAG series of small mini-PCs are nettops based on Intel, AMD, or Nvidia graphics, and they are all sold in both as complete ready-to-use computer and as [[barebone computer]]s (without memory and hard drive). Zotac Zbox ID33, ID34, ID81, ID80 and AD04 are all specifically marketed towards the HTPC market, with some coming with [[slot-loading]] Blu-ray Disc optical disc drive, and some with a remote control.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/08/28/zotacs-zboxes-are-small-ion-fueled-and-cheap/ |title=Zotac's Zboxes are small, Ion-fueled, and cheap |date=28 August 2010 |publisher=Engadget.com |access-date=17 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028000957/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/28/zotacs-zboxes-are-small-ion-fueled-and-cheap |archive-date=28 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The mintBox by the [[Linux Mint]] team is an OEM version of the Israeli company CompuLab's [[fit-PC]], which comes pre-installed with Linux Mint open source operating-system and software, [[MATE (desktop environment)|MATE]] desktop, and XBMC. Available in two fanless models, both with [[AMD Accelerated Processing Unit|AMD APU]]s, HDMI output port, eight USB slots, two eSATA ports, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, built-in Bluetooth, and an infrared media center remote control.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/11/linux_mint_mintbox/ |title=Linux Mint joins mini-PC hardware business |last=Thomson |first=Iain |date=11 June 2012 |publisher=Theregister.co.uk |access-date=28 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609065244/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/11/linux_mint_mintbox/ |archive-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Dedicated devices===
PrismCube Ruby by Marusys is a DVB-S2 twin-tuner high-definition DVR-PVR set-top-box running XBMC as its main interface on-top of embedded Linux.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.prismcube.com/ |title=PrismCube |website=PrismCube.com |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830104847/http://www.prismcube.com/ |archive-date=30 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://prismcube.org |title=AB IPBox Prismcube Ruby - AB-COM Europe |website=PrismCube.org |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707054814/http://www.prismcube.org/ |archive-date=7 July 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.astrasat.nl/digitale-ontvangers/prismcube-xbmc-mediaplayer.html |title=Prismcube Ruby Twin SAT HDTV XBMC Satellite receiver - Digitale ontvangers |website=www.AstraSat.nl |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814183428/https://astrasat.nl/digitale-ontvangers/prismcube-xbmc-mediaplayer.html |archive-date=14 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://digitalt.tv/prismcube-set-top-box-baseret-pa-xbmc/ |title=Prismcube - Set Top PVR Box baseret på XBMC |date=25 September 2012 |website=Digitalt.tv |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814142932/http://digitalt.tv/prismcube-set-top-box-baseret-pa-xbmc/ |archive-date=14 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://volpefirm.com/tech-review-i-hbbtv-linux-a-cool-box/ |title=HbbTV open source using Linux, XBMC |date=23 July 2012 |website=VolpeFirm.com |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814214951/https://volpefirm.com/tech-review-i-hbbtv-linux-a-cool-box/ |archive-date=14 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Little Black Box is a Linux kernel-based ARM media player with XBMC as its main interface.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tgdaily.com/consumer-electronics-features/71220-video-this-little-130-black-box-runs-xbmc-linux |title=Video: This little $130 black box runs XBMC Linux |website=TGDaily.com |date=25 April 2013 |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830103927/http://www.tgdaily.com/consumer-electronics-features/71220-video-this-little-130-black-box-runs-xbmc-linux |archive-date=30 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/the-little-black-box-open-source-xbmc-media-centre-unveiled-video-29-04-2013/ |title=The Little Black Box Open Source XBMC Media Centre Unveiled |date=29 April 2013 |website=Geeky-Gadgets.com |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830150016/http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/the-little-black-box-open-source-xbmc-media-centre-unveiled-video-29-04-2013/ |archive-date=30 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnx-software.com/2013/07/21/the-little-black-box-xbmc-stb-gets-users-feedback-becomes-available-on-amazon/ |title=The Little Black Box XBMC STB Gets Users' Feedback, Becomes Available on Amazon |date=21 July 2013 |website=CNX-Software.com |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830102738/https://www.cnx-software.com/2013/07/21/the-little-black-box-xbmc-stb-gets-users-feedback-becomes-available-on-amazon/ |archive-date=30 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Gnews.com">{{Cite web |url=http://gnews.com/littleblackbox-xbmc-linuxfree-streaming-15201306075926/ |title=TheLittleBlackBox (TLBB) launches XBMC media for the masses |date=26 July 2013 |publisher=Gnews.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731195653/http://gnews.com/littleblackbox-xbmc-linuxfree-streaming-15201306075926/ |archive-date=31 July 2013 |access-date=26 July 2013}}</ref>

Marusys MS630S and MS850S are high-definition PVR-ready set-top-boxes with the ability to run Linux kernel-based media players like XBMC, and Marusys is advertising these two devices as compatible with XBMC.<ref name="Marusys">{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/marusys-ms630s-and-ms850s-set-top-boxes-stream-straight-to-your/ |title=arusys MS630S and MS850S set-top boxes stream straight to your iPhone |date=19 April 2010 |website=Engadget |access-date=17 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422030929/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/marusys-ms630s-and-ms850s-set-top-boxes-stream-straight-to-your |archive-date=22 April 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Myka ION is a fanless Nvidia Ion-based set-top device designed to bring Internet television and media stored on the home network to the living room; it comes pre-installed with XBMC Media Center, Boxee, and Hulu Desktop as applications that can be started from the main menu.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/11/05/myka-ion-brings-the-atom-and-ion-graphics-into-the-living-room/ |title=Myka ION brings Intel Atom and ION graphics into the living room |date=5 November 2009 |publisher=Crunchgear.com |access-date=17 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508110826/http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/11/05/myka-ion-brings-the-atom-and-ion-graphics-into-the-living-room/ |archive-date=8 May 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The MK-X1 by Modified Konstructs is an Nvidia Ion-based set-top device based on [[Acer Aspire Revo]] that comes pre-loaded with XBMC, and the device has a recommended retail price of $300 (US).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/08/10/modified-konstructs-announces-custom-media-center/ |title=Modified Konstructs Announces Custom Media Center |last=Dave Freeman |date=10 August 2010 |publisher=Crunchgear.com |access-date=17 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923223626/http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/08/10/modified-konstructs-announces-custom-media-center/ |archive-date=23 September 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Neuros Technology#Neuros LINK|Neuros LINK]] made by Neuros Technology is an open Ubuntu-based set-top device and media extender designed to bring internet television and other video to the television, it comes pre-installed with XBMC Media Center.<ref name="XBMC 9.04 delivers impressive media center experience" />

BryteWerks Model One Projector is a 1080p HD [[video projector|digital video projector]] designed for home cinema use; it has an integrated home theater PC running a custom version of XBMC. In addition it features a remote control, as well as a 720p 8.9-inch [[Touchscreen|touch screen panel display]] on the back of the projector for controlling the system. It also has a built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet adapters, as well as a slot-loaded Blu-ray Disc player, and includes a 500&nbsp;GB [[solid-state drive]] and an additional internal 2&nbsp;TB hard disk drive can be added.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/brytewerks-model-one-combines-htpc-and-16-10-hd-projector-for-2/ |title=BryteWerks Model One combines HTPC and 16:10 HD projector for $2,449 |date=6 January 2012 |publisher=Engadget.com |access-date=24 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108230454/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/brytewerks-model-one-combines-htpc-and-16-10-hd-projector-for-2/ |archive-date=8 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Primus by Mediaimpact Technologies is a Linux Mint-based media center and set-top-box that integrates MythTV, Netflix Desktop, Hulu Desktop, and Steam Gaming through Kodi for a seamless home entertainment system ready for the living room. It comes complete with SMK-Link remote control.

==Derivatives and forks==
{{main|List of software based on Kodi and XBMC}}
Kodi/XBMC media center source code have over the years become a popular software to [[fork (software development)|fork]] and to use as an [[Software framework|application framework platform]] for others to base their own media player or media center software on, as if Kodi were a [[GUI toolkit]], [[windowing system]], or [[window manager]]. And today at least [[List of software based on XBMC#Boxee|Boxee]], [[List of software based on XBMC#Plex|Plex]], [[List of software based on XBMC#TOFU Media Center by Pivos|Tofu]], [[List of software based on XBMC#MediaPortal|MediaPortal]], [[LibreELEC]], [[OpenELEC]], [[List of software based on XBMC#OSMC (formerly Raspbmc)|OSMC]], [[List of software based on XBMC#GeeXboX|GeeXboX]], [[List of software based on XBMC#Voddler|Voddler]], [[List of software based on XBMC#DVDFab Media Player|DVDFab Media Player]], and [[List of software based on XBMC#Horizon TV by Liberty Global|Horizon TV]] are all separate derivative products that are all openly known to at least initially have forked the [[graphical user interface]] (GUI) and media player part of their software from XBMC's source code. Many of these third-party forks and derivative work of Kodi-XBMC are said to still assist with submitting bug fixes [[upstream (software development)|upstream]] and sometimes help getting new features [[backporting|backported]] to the original Kodi-XBMC project so that others can utilize it as well, shared from one main source.<ref name="XBMC is the best media center application. Period." /><ref name="Thinking inside the box" /><ref name="Gnews.com" /> However some which was initially a fork of XBMC have since fully or partially been rewritten to use [[Proprietary software|closed source proprietary software]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/plex-announces-paternship-with-lg-pledges-to-beat-boxee-box-and/ |title=Plex announces partnership with LG, pledges to beat Boxee Box and Apple TV for free |date=3 September 2010 |publisher=Engadget.com |access-date=17 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104203034/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/plex-announces-paternship-with-lg-pledges-to-beat-boxee-box-and/ |archive-date=4 November 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> For more information see the main "[[List of software based on XBMC]]" article.

Some examples on building on Kodi-XBMC are [[LibreELEC]], [[List of software based on XBMC#OSMC (formerly Raspbmc)|OSMC]], [[OpenELEC]] and [[List of software based on XBMC#GeeXboX|GeeXboX]] which are free and open source [[embedded operating system]]s providing complete media center software suite that comes with a preconfigured version of Kodi/XBMC and [[Digital video recorder|DVR/PVR]] plugins. They are both designed to be extremely small and very fast booting embedded [[Linux|Linux-based]] distributions, primarily optimized to be booted from [[flash memory]] or a [[solid-state drive]], and specifically targeted to a minimum [[set-top box]] hardware setup based on ARM SoC's or Intel x86 processor and graphics.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://lifehacker.com/5851924/openelec-is-a-hassle+free-xbmc-distribution-for-home-theater-pcs |title=OpenELEC Is a Fast-Booting, Self-Updating Version of XBMC for Home Theater PCs |date=20 October 2011 |publisher=Lifehacker |access-date=20 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219072138/http://lifehacker.com/5851924/openelec-is-a-hassle+free-xbmc-distribution-for-home-theater-pcs |archive-date=19 February 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTAwMzM |title=XBMC-Focused OpenELEC 1.0 Released |date=20 October 2011 |publisher=Phoronix.com |access-date=20 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123143835/http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTAwMzM |archive-date=23 November 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="OpenELEC Media Center Software on Launchpad">{{Cite web |url=http://launchpad.net/openelec |title=OpenELEC Media Center Software on Launchpad |date=18 March 2009 |access-date=29 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917181829/https://launchpad.net/openelec |archive-date=17 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="About OSMC">{{Cite web |url=https://osmc.tv/about |title=About OSMC |access-date=2 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319040931/https://osmc.tv/about/ |archive-date=19 March 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Similar embedded Linux distributions to LibreELEC/OpenELEC/GeeXboX are the professionally made [[List of software based on XBMC#E2BMC|E2BMC]] and [[List of software based on XBMC#OpenPCTV|OpenPCTV]] which are commercial Kodi/XBMC-based software platform for DVR/PVR set-top boxes, with both being designed as a hybrid integration between Kodi media center software and [[Dreambox]]'s [[Enigma (DVB)|Enigma2]] PVR software scripts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.e2bmc.com |title=E2BMC Official Website (E2BMC.com) |access-date=9 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618094126/http://e2bmc.com/ |archive-date=18 June 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mysatbox.tv/2014/02/e2bmc-new-videos.html |title=E2BMC: New videos |access-date=3 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323164644/http://www.mysatbox.tv/2014/02/e2bmc-new-videos.html |archive-date=23 March 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.satnigmo.com/2418/e2bmc-hybrid-between-enigma-2-and-xbmc/ |title=E2BMC - a hybrid between Enigma 2 and XBMC - Satnigmo.com |access-date=3 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719152453/http://www.satnigmo.com/2418/e2bmc-hybrid-between-enigma-2-and-xbmc/ |archive-date=19 July 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cubieboard.org/2013/12/19/openpctv-for-cubietruck-or-cubieboard2/ |title=OpenPCTV on Cubietruck/Cubieboard2 |last=cubietech |access-date=3 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528025713/http://cubieboard.org/2013/12/19/openpctv-for-cubietruck-or-cubieboard2/ |archive-date=28 May 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://linuxtoy.org/archives/openpctv-adding-full-tv-functionality-to-htpc.html |title=OpenPCTV - 让你的HTPC拥有更全面的电视功能 |access-date=3 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705191359/https://linuxtoy.org/archives/openpctv-adding-full-tv-functionality-to-htpc.html |archive-date=5 July 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Another example is [[XBMC4Xbox]], which is a third-party developer spin-off project of XBMC, with still active development and support of the Xbox platform. This project was created as a fork of XBMC as a separate project to continue having a version of XBMC for the Xbox hardware platform. It was not started by official members of the official XBMC project, nor will it be supported by the official Team Kodi in any way. It started when support for the Xbox branch was officially dropped by Team XBMC, which was announced on 27 May 2010.

==Programming and developing==
Kodi is a non-profit and [[free software community]] driven [[open-source software]] project that is developed only by volunteers in their [[spare time]] without any [[monetary]] gain. XBMC Foundation and the team of developers leading the development of Kodi/XBMC, "''Team-Kodi''"/"''Team-XBMC''", encourage anyone and everyone to submit their own [[patch (computing)|source code patches]] for new features and functions, improve existing ones, or fix [[software bug|bugs]] to the Kodi/XBMC project.

The online [[user guide|user manual]] is [[wiki]]-based and community driven, and it also works as a basic developers' guide for getting a good overview of Kodi's architecture. However, as with most non-profit software projects, to delve deeper into programming, looking at the actual source code and the [[Doxygen]] formatted "code documentation" comments inside that code is needed.<ref name="Modding The Xbox Into The Ultimate Multimedia Center" />

===Architecture===
[[File:XBMC Architecture Overview Schematic.png|thumb|250px|XBMC architecture overview schematic]]
Kodi is a cross-platform software application whose core is mainly programmed in {{nowrap|[[C++]]}}. Kodi uses [[OpenGL]] (or [[OpenGL ES]]) graphics [[rendering (computer graphics)|rendering]] under Kodi for both Linux and macOS, while Kodi for Windows uses [[DirectX|Microsoft DirectX]] multimedia framework and [[Direct3D]] rendering, as the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] version of XBMC did. Some of Kodi's own [[library (computing)|libraries]], as well as many third-party libraries that Kodi depends on, are written in the [[C (programming language)|C programming-language]], instead of {{nowrap|C++}} as Kodi's core, but they are then mostly used with a {{nowrap|C++}} wrapper and, through Kodi's core monolithic nature, are loaded via a [[dynamic linker]] [[Loader (computing)|loader]] for on-demand loading and unloading at [[Run time (program lifecycle phase)|run time]].<ref name="XBMC 9.04 delivers impressive media center experience" /> Kodi also still partially uses the SDL ([[Simple DirectMedia Layer]]) multimedia [[Software framework|framework]] for input on Linux, but its developers are working on completely removing that small remaining dependency on SDL.{{cn|date=June 2020}}

Because of Kodi/XBMC's origin with the resource constraints on the hardware and environment of the first-generation Xbox game-console platform, all software development of Kodi/XBMC has always been focused on reserving the limited resources that existed on embedded system hardware, like the original Xbox (which was only a 733&nbsp;MHz [[Intel Pentium III]] and 64&nbsp;MB of RAM in total as [[Shared memory (interprocess communication)|shared memory]]), as well as the still relatively low resources of [[embedded system]] devices today, of which the main hindrance has always been the amount of available system [[random access memory|RAM]] and graphics memory at any one time. This means that Kodi/XBMC is purposely programmed to be very resource- and power-efficient and can therefore run on very low-end and relatively non-expensive hardware, especially when compared to other media center software design for HTPC use.<ref name="Modding The Xbox Into The Ultimate Multimedia Center" />

But because of its origins from the Xbox game-console, Kodi/XBMC's legacy [[Rendering (computer graphics)|graphics renderer]] still runs in a more game-loop rendering environment rather than using a fully event-driven and on-demand rendering, meaning that it is almost constantly re-drawing the GUI and refreshing the frames as fast as it can, even when nothing is changing on the screen. This results in very high CPU and high GPU usage, which can be observed on embedded systems and low-end machines, and hence cause high temperatures, high fan activity, and high power consumption unless capped at a maximum frame per second configuration for that specific platform build. Work is however constantly ongoing by the developers to make Kodi/XBMC run using much fewer resources on low-power and embedded systems, which will indirectly benefit all non-embedded systems as well. Efficiency improvements in this area are however being worked on in order to move away from that old style game-loop environment in order to reduce high CPU/GPU usage by the GUI, especially as XBMC usage on embedded platforms with limited CPU/GPU resources keeps growing in popularity. XBMC 11.0 (Eden) introduced Dirty-Regions rendering option for texture support to the XBMC skinning engine as an option, and XBMC 12.0 (Frodo) enabled Dirty Regions rendering to redraw the whole screen on a single dirty region by default on all platforms. Work is also in progress for XBMC 14.0 to introduce an abstracted scene-graph deferred rendering for GUI renderer abstraction.

====Portability====
Kodi has a [[Software portability|portable code base]], with its [[Trunk (software)|trunk (mainline source code tree)]] officially available for [[IA-32]]/[[x86]], [[x86-64]], [[PowerPC]], and [[ARM architecture|ARM]]-based platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tegradeveloper.nvidia.com/tegra/project/xbmc |title=XBMC on NVIDIA Tegra |website=Tegradeveloper.Nvidia.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100112142539/http://tegradeveloper.nvidia.com/tegra/project/xbmc |archive-date=12 January 2010 |access-date=13 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://elinux.org/BeagleBoard/GSoC/2010_Projects/XBMC|title=BeagleBoard/GSoC/2010 Projects/XBMC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923042204/http://elinux.org/BeagleBoard/GSoC/2010_Projects/XBMC|url-status=live|archive-date=23 September 2010}}</ref> The Kodi GUI does require 3D hardware accelerated graphics ([[Graphics processing unit|GPU]]) that support [[OpenGL ES]], [[OpenGL]], or [[EGL (OpenGL)|EGL]], or [[Direct3D]] with device drivers that support [[OpenGL ES]] 2.0, or OpenGL 1.3 or later with [[GLSL]], or [[DirectX]] in order to [[rendering (computer graphics)|render]] the GUI at an acceptable [[frame rate]].

Kodi is thus officially not yet available for [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]] upstream in mainline source code repository from Team-Kodi, nor does it as yet support [[DirectFB]] or [[Direct Rendering Infrastructure|DRI (Direct Rendering Infrastructure)]] rendering without OpenGL/GLES hardware accelerated graphics support.<ref name="XBMC ARM port teased, will manage HD playback from pocket-sized Beagleboard (video)">{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/xbmc-arm-port-teased-will-manage-hd-playback-from-pocket-sized/ |title=XBMC ARM port teased, will manage HD playback from pocket-sized Beagleboard (video) |last=Tim Stevens |date=2 November 2009 |website=Engadget |access-date=2 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519200536/https://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/xbmc-arm-port-teased-will-manage-hd-playback-from-pocket-sized/ |archive-date=19 May 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The combination of MIPS, DirectFB, and DRI is a popular architecture used today by simpler [[set-top box]]es like digital broadcasting (cable/satellite) boxes and low-end [[digital media player]]s, such as those based on [[MIPS architecture]] chipsets from [[Sigma Designs]] or [[Realtek]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.iboum.com/artkill/chipsets.php |title=Media Player Chipsets |publisher=Iboum.com |access-date=24 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123135059/http://www.iboum.com/artkill/chipsets.php |archive-date=23 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kodi ports to MIPS is, however, currently being actively worked on by several independent development teams.

Kodi for Linux supports [[toolchain]] building systems for embedded development such as [[Yocto Project|Yocto]], [[Buildroot]] ([[uClibc]]), and the [[Linaro]] set of Makefiles and patches for easing the generation of [[Cross compiler|cross-compilation]] toolchains as well as the creation of a file system on [[embedded Linux]] systems across a wide range of hardware, kernel platforms, and CPU architectures (x86, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, etc.).

===Python scripts as plugins and addons (widgets and gadgets)===
Kodi allows developers to create addons using a built-in [[Python (programming language)|Python interpreter]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kodi Broke My Addons! |author= |website=Kodi |date= |access-date=18 March 2021 |url=https://kodi.tv/article/kodi-broke-my-addons |archive-date=18 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318190905/https://kodi.tv/article/kodi-broke-my-addons |url-status=live }}</ref>) and its own WindowXML [[application framework]], which together form an XML-based widget toolkit for which they can extend the capability of Kodi by creating a [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] for [[GUI widget|widgets]]. Python [[GUI widget|widget]] scripts allow non-developers to themselves create new add-ons for Kodi, using Python.<ref name="XBMC 9.04 delivers impressive media center experience" />

===Application programming interface (API)===
Other than the [[application programming interface]]s (APIs) available to third-party Python scripts and addon plugins, Kodi features several other APIs for controlling Kodi remotely or from an external application. These APIs includes a [[JSON-RPC]] server, [[D-Bus|D-Bus Server]], [[Web server]], [[UPnP AV media server]] (with UPnP MediaServer ControlPoint, UPnP MediaRenderer DCP, UPnP RenderingControl DCP, and UPnP Remote User Interface server), and a custom multi-protocol Event Server for remote controls.

===GUI-engine and skinning (themes)===
Kodi/XBMC is noted as having a very flexible [[GUI toolkit]] and robust [[Software framework|framework]] for its [[GUI]]. With its underlying complex [[Layout manager|graphical design and layout]] [[Library (computing)|library]] (named libGUI in Kodi/XBMC), it provides a simple [[abstraction layer]] between the application code and the interface, while allowing extremely flexible dynamic layouts and animations that are easy to work with and makes it possible to create completely unique [[Skin (computing)|skin]]s for XBMC. The skin files are written in [[XAML]], using a standard [[XML]] base, making [[theme (computing)|theme]]-[[Skin (computing)|skinning]] and personal customization very accessible.<ref name="Customize XBMC with These Five Awesome Skins" />

==Software limitations==
Kodi's own internal cross-platform video and audio players ('''DVDPlayer''' and '''PAPlayer''') cannot officially play any audio or video files that are [[encryption|protected or encrypted]] with [[digital rights management]] (DRM) technologies for [[access control]], meaning audio files purchased from [[online music store]]s such as [[iTunes Music Store]], [[Audible.com]], [[Windows Media Player|Windows Media Player Stores]], and video files protected with [[Windows Media DRM]] or [[DivX]] proprietary DRM. Such files can be played only by using another media player supporting DRM, or by removing the DRM protection from the file.

==Reception==
Kodi won a [[Lifehacker|Lifehacker Award]] in 2014 for "Best Media Player" in their entertainment selection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2014/12/lifehacker-awards-2014-best-media-player/|title=Lifehacker Awards 2014: Best Media Player|date=10 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211065452/http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2014/12/lifehacker-awards-2014-best-media-player/|url-status=live|archive-date=11 December 2014}}</ref> Kodi won two [[SourceForge]] 2006 Community Choice Awards.<ref name="SourceForge.net is proud to present the winners from our 2006 Community Choice Awards">{{Cite web |url=http://sourceforge.net/blog/cca06/ |title=SourceForge.net is proud to present the winners from our 2006 Community Choice Awards |website=SourceForge |date=19 June 2007 |access-date=20 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126133845/http://sourceforge.net/blog/cca06/ |archive-date=26 January 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the 2007 Community Choice Awards, Kodi was nominated finalist in six categories. Also in the 2008 Community Choice Awards Kodi won an award for Best Project for Gamers. With [[Microsoft|Microsoft's]] decision to discontinue Windows Media Center (WMC) starting Windows 10, htpcBeginner.com voted Kodi not only as the best WMC alternative but also in many ways better than WMC.<ref name="Best Windows Media Center Alternatives">{{Cite web |url=http://www.htpcbeginner.com/windows-media-center-alternatives/ |title=Best Windows Media Center Alternatives |date=9 June 2015 |website=htpcBeginner |access-date=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619154222/http://www.htpcbeginner.com/windows-media-center-alternatives/ |archive-date=19 June 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|Xbox Media Player}}

On 13 December 2003, Xbox Media Player (XBMP) development stopped, by which time its successor, Xbox Media Center (XBMC), was ready for its debut, renamed as it was growing out of its 'player' name and into a 'center' for media playback. 

On 29 June 2004, the first stable release of XBMC was out, with the official release of Xbox Media Center 1.0.0. This announcement also encouraged everyone using XBMP or XBMC Beta release to update, as all support for those previous versions would be dropped, and they would only support version 1.0.0. Not featured in XBMP, the addition of embedded [[Python (programming language)|Python]] was given the ability to draw interface elements in the GUI, and allowed user and community generated scripts to be executed within the XBMC environment.<ref name="Modding The Xbox Into The Ultimate Multimedia Center" />

In the middle of 2004, with the release of 1.0.0, work continued on the XBMC project to add more features, such as support for iTunes features like DAAP and Smart Playlists, as well as many improvements and fixes.

On 18 October 2004, the second stable release of XBMC, 1.1.0, was out. This release included support for more media types, file types, container formats, as well as video playback of Nullsoft streaming videos and karaoke support (CD-G).<ref name="Modding The Xbox Into The Ultimate Multimedia Center" />

On 29 September 2006, after two years of heavy development, XBMC announced a stable point final release of XBMC 2.0.0. Even more features were packed into the new version with the addition of RAR and zip archive support, a brand new player interface with support for multiple players. Such players include PAPlayer, the new audio/music player with crossfade, gapless playback and ReplayGain support, and the new DVDPlayer with support for menu and navigation support as well as ISO/img image parsing. Prior to this point release, XBMC just used a modified fork of [[MPlayer]] for all of its media needs, so this was a big step forward. Support for iTunes 6.x DAAP, and UPnP Clients for streaming was also added. A reworked Skinning Engine was included in this release to provide a more powerful way to change the appearance of XBMC. The last two features include read-only support for FAT12/16/32 formatted [[USB mass storage]] devices, and a "skinnable" 3D visualizer.

On 12 November 2006, the release of XBMC 2.0.1 contained numerous fixes for bugs that made it through the 2.0.0 release. This also marked the change from CVS to SVN (Subversion) for the development tree.

On 29 May 2007, the team behind XBMC put out a call for developers interested in porting XBMC to the Linux operating system. A few developers on Team-XBMC had already begun porting parts of XBMC over to Linux using SDL and OpenGL as a replacement for DirectX, which XBMC was using heavily on the Xbox version of XBMC.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/10/history-of-boxee-and-boxee-was-born-slowly/ |title=History Of Boxee: And Boxee Was Born, Slowly |date=19 October 2010 |website=Gizmodo.com.au |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830145826/https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/10/history-of-boxee-and-boxee-was-born-slowly/ |archive-date=30 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceC">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gizmodo.com.au/tags/history-of-boxee/ |title=Gizmodo Australia - the Gadget Guide - Technology and consumer electronics news and reviews |website=www.Gizmodo.com.au |date=22 October 2010 |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830152106/https://www.gizmodo.com.au/tags/history-of-boxee/ |archive-date=30 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 27 May 2010, the team behind XBMC announced the splitting of the Xbox branch into a new project; "XBMC4Xbox" which will continue the development and support of XBMC for the old Xbox hardware platform as a separate project, with the original XBMC project no longer offering any support for the Xbox.<ref name="XBMC Discontinues Xbox Support" /><ref name="XBMC Drops Support for the Original Xbox" /><ref name="XBMC4Xbox" />

On 2 January 2011, XBMC moved the source code repository from [[subversion (software)|subversion]] to [[Git (software)|git]], hosted at [[GitHub]].

Development on the Git codebase is continuing and the versioning scheme has been changed to reflect the release year and month, e.g., 8.10, 9.04, 9.11, 10.05.

On 1 August 2014, an announcement was made of release 14 and name change to Kodi.

On 19 February 2021, version 19 of Kodi is released.

== Organization and licensing ==
The XBMC Foundation is the organization behind the Kodi and XBMC projects. It is legally represented by the [[Software Freedom Law Center]] (SFLC), which assists the Kodi/XBMC project and its developers in legal matters such as [[intellectual property]]. It also assists with economic issues such as handling donations and sponsors that help the project with expenses for [[dedicated hosting service]] and activities such as going to developer conferences, trade fairs and computer expos to tech demo Kodi, meeting with potential new developers, and marketing the software.

Kodi's source code is primarily licensed under [[GNU General Public License]]s, XBMC core is specifically released as "GPL-2.0-or-later", and is hosted through publicly available [[Git (software)|Git]] repositories. Add-ons, plug-ins and additional extensions such as skins that are released as official resources made by the Kodi project members are released under [[Comparison of free and open-source software licenses|various free and open source licenses]].

==Controversies==
=== Use for illegal streaming ===
Third-party add-ons allow users to stream copyrighted content without the permission of its copyright holder. Some Kodi distributions and hardware devices, often marketed as "fully loaded",<ref name="tf-legitimate" /> are pre-loaded with the software and such add-ons.<ref name="techhive-piracy">{{Cite web |url=http://www.techhive.com/article/2926004/streaming-media/tvmc-for-kodi-makes-video-piracy-uncomfortably-easy.html |title=TVMC for Kodi makes video piracy uncomfortably easy |date=28 May 2015 |website=TechHive |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208135149/http://www.techhive.com/article/2926004/streaming-media/tvmc-for-kodi-makes-video-piracy-uncomfortably-easy.html |archive-date=8 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="tf-firestickuk" /> As a result, some users have incorrectly associated these products and add-ons as being affiliated with the Kodi project.<ref name="tf-legalaction" /><ref name="engadget-sellerskodi" /> In June 2015, [[Amazon Appstore]] pulled Kodi, as it can be "used to facilitate the piracy or illegal download of content", even though the software is not bundled with such content. XBMC Foundation president Nathan Betzen disagreed with the assumption, stating that "We always say we don't care what our users do with the software, and we stand by that position. But we sure do hate it when companies destroy the name of our software in order to make a profit." He also considered it ironic that Amazon would ban the app, given that it, in his opinion, helped to [[Killer app|bolster the popularity]] of Amazon Fire TV products. In December 2015, the [[Amazon Fire TV Stick]] experienced a stock shortage in the United Kingdom that was speculated to have been associated with its use with Kodi.<ref name="tf-firestickuk">{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/did-pirates-clean-out-amazon-fire-tv-stock-in-the-uk-151229/ |title=Did Pirates Clean Out Amazon Fire TV Stock in the UK? |date=29 December 2015 |website=TorrentFreak |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306083254/https://torrentfreak.com/did-pirates-clean-out-amazon-fire-tv-stock-in-the-uk-151229/ |archive-date=6 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="engadget-sellerskodi" /> It was also pointed out that Amazon still distributed Kodi distributions with infringing add-ons via the same storefront.<ref name="engadget-sellerskodi">{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/02/14/kodi-takes-the-fight-to-sellers-of-pirate-tv-boxes/ |title=Kodi takes the fight to sellers of pirate TV boxes |website=Engadget |date=15 February 2016 |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216095619/http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/14/kodi-takes-the-fight-to-sellers-of-pirate-tv-boxes/ |archive-date=16 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="tf-kodiban">{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/amazon-bans-kodi-app-over-piracy-concerns-150616/ |title=Amazon Bans Kodi/XBMC App Over Piracy Concerns |date=16 June 2015 |website=TorrentFreak |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053900/https://torrentfreak.com/amazon-bans-kodi-app-over-piracy-concerns-150616/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="techhive-amazon">{{Cite web |url=http://www.techhive.com/article/2937028/amazon-pulls-popular-video-app-kodi-from-its-store-blames-piracy.html |title=Amazon pulls popular video app Kodi from its store, blames piracy |date=17 June 2015 |website=TechHive |publisher=IDG |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225175459/http://www.techhive.com/article/2937028/amazon-pulls-popular-video-app-kodi-from-its-store-blames-piracy.html |archive-date=25 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> As of February 2019 the ban still appears to be in effect.

In February 2016, the XBMC Foundation reiterated its stance on third-party Kodi products meant for the streaming of unlicensed content; Betzen explained that the reputation of the Kodi project had been hurt by its association with third-party products whose sellers "make a quick buck modifying Kodi, installing broken piracy add-ons, advertising that Kodi lets you watch free movies and TV, and then vanishing when the user buys the box and finds out that the add-on they were sold on was a crummy, constantly breaking mess." Betzen warned that although it is open source software, the name "Kodi" and its logos are [[registered trademark]]s of the XBMC Foundation, and that the foundation intended to strictly enforce its trademark rights to prevent their unauthorized use, especially in association with information and devices meant to enable access to unlicensed content.<ref name="tf-legalaction">{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/kodi-announces-legal-action-to-smash-piracy-links-160215/ |title=Kodi Announces Legal Action to Smash Piracy Links |date=15 February 2016 |website=TorrentFreak |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216093110/https://torrentfreak.com/kodi-announces-legal-action-to-smash-piracy-links-160215/ |archive-date=16 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="engadget-sellerskodi" />

In April 2017, following an [[April Fools' Day]] stunt where the Kodi website was taken down and replaced with a fake domain seizure notice, Kodi's developers stated that they were considering working with legal third-party content providers to officially support their services within Kodi, to counter the perception that the software is primarily used for piracy.<ref name="tf-legitimate">{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/kodi-wants-to-beat-piracy-with-legal-content-and-drm-170409/ |title=Kodi Wants to Beat Piracy With Legal Content and DRM |date=9 April 2017 |website=TorrentFreak |access-date=11 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410033552/https://torrentfreak.com/kodi-wants-to-beat-piracy-with-legal-content-and-drm-170409/ |archive-date=10 April 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2018, Google removed "Kodi" from its [[autocomplete]] [[Web search query|search query]], citing that the term was associated with copyright infringement, but failed to remove autocomplete terms for modified, piracy-focused versions of Kodi (that, unlike Kodi, are illegal).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/google-adds-kodi-to-autocomplete-piracy-filter-180328/ |title=Google Adds 'Kodi' to Autocomplete Piracy Filter |date=28 March 2018 |website=TorrentFreak |publisher=ERNESTO |access-date=28 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328221903/https://torrentfreak.com/google-adds-kodi-to-autocomplete-piracy-filter-180328/ |archive-date=28 March 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software|Television}}
* [[List of smart TV platforms]]
* [[Comparison of PVR software packages]]
* [[List of software based on Kodi and XBMC]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}

{{Home theater PC (application software)}}
{{Media player (application software)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kodi}}
[[Category:2004 software]]
[[Category:Cross-platform free software]]
[[Category:Free and open-source Android software]]
[[Category:Free media players]]
[[Category:Free mobile software]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in C++]]
[[Category:MacOS media players]]
[[Category:Software DVD players]]
[[Category:Software that uses FFmpeg]]
[[Category:Xbox One software]]
[[Category:Xbox Series X and Series S software]]
[[Category:Android (operating system) software]]
[[Category:Television operating systems]]