(Click Image above to visit the streemit.online alpha)
Work continued today on the recently announced streemit.online service which will launch as the first streaming platform in history to allow Steem Backed Dollar (SBD) tips directly to users who enjoy their streems. The goal is to have streemit basic functionality and testing done by the end of this week and launch officially before the 17th of October, 2016. While this is the launch goal that is being aimed for.. I'm only 1 individual currently developing the site and if anyone is willing to lend their PHP, Javascript, HTML5, iOS, Andriod development wizardry to the cause it would greatly help speed up the process.
Funds Spent so Far Building streemit.online
Wowza Streaming Engine (1 Month): $65 USD (Paid)
The most expensive and complicated piece of the streemit puzzle is the engine that drives video streaming and content serving. It's my belief that the STEEM network's users deserve the best and that's exactly what we're going to get! As of earlier today the monthly license to allow unrestricted access to the Wowza Streaming Engine has been purchase and is valid until November 14th, 2016. If streemit proves to be well accepted and used in the future a proposal to raise the $2000 USD to buy the rights to use their engine outright will likely be made.
VideoWhisper Streaming Client (1 Month): $45 USD (Paid)
Fast site deployment requires using already developed and tested systems in order to deliver a stable product far ahead of the projected curve if all software on the site was developed in house. While I'll admit the client that streemit is currently using isn't the most up to date nor well reviewed software out there, it serves a honourable purpose.. It serves as a pretty solid platform to build our own customized streaming client in the near future once development time and funds are put aside.
Streemit Web Servers (1 Month): ~$60 USD (Paid)
(screencap of streaming server bill)
(screencap of front end server bill)
Every epic site on the web started somewhere.. streemit.online is no exception. The front end is currently being served from a relatively inexpensive datacenter located out of Quebec, Canada which runs roughly $18 CAD (Canadian Dollar) a month. Where the real powerful server boxes are needed is for processing and distributing incoming video streams.. In order to keep the project's first few months affordable while the waters are tested to see if the service is going to be used, a pretty decently powered dedicated server has been rented. Specs below:
| CPU | Speed | Cores / Threads | RAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Xeon E3 1245v2 | 3.4 GHz+ | 4 c/ 8 t | 32 GB | 4 TB SATA3 |
This will likely get upgraded if the demand is there for the site to exist with larger servers. Very excited to see what the future of the STEEM project holds and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve the community and develop services a long side our growing society.
Overall right now streemit.online costs $170 per a month to run by time you factor in the licensing rentals and servers. Meaning that with the liquid funds raised in the original announcement post will cover at least 2 almost 3 months of streemit.online operating costs. Hopefully the sites once finished gets enough users on there and tipping to pay for itself. A weekly and monthly budget posts will be done to let people know how the site is fairing financially. We are all owners of Streemit. Every single person who upvoted or donated towards the development of this project should consider themselves an esteemed board member. As Streemit development continues any form of constructive criticism or pointers is greatly appreciated. :)
Testers, Moderators and Streemers Wanted!
Please feel free to check out the site and sign up for an account. There WILL be bugs. Please don't deposit large amounts of STEEM / SBD at this point in the project. It's still very much experimental and under construction.
Things will change, break and be fixed on the site daily as the build aims to get the site fully operational by end of this week. Please feel free to comment any bugs you find here below with a nice screenshot and explanation on how to recreate it, what browser you are on and any other info you think may be valid.
Vote 
for Witness!
Every vote matters!
https://steemit.com/~witnesses
Thank you for your votes, the opportunity and support!
You Can ReSteem (share) this by clicking the 
button below
Thanks to All of Those Who Have Donated Towards Streemit Development!
| Donator | Amount |
|---|---|
 | 200 STEEM |
 | 13.435 STEEM |
 | $100 SBD |
 | $25 SBD |
 | $25 SBD |
 | $20 SBD |
 | $10 SBD |
Total: | $180 SBD / 213.435 STEEM
All SBD / STEEM donated will go towards covering server costs and licensing fees. <3
If you'd like to help support the development and ease costs associated with this project feel free to upvote this post and/or send a Steem Backed Dollar / STEEM donation to account 