Systems
Rádio Alvorada TV
A broadcaster’s whole stack, designed and built by one person.
In one paragraph
A small broadcaster ran radio on desktop encoders and TV on borrowed platforms. Operators had to understand servers to go on air. I designed and built a stack where going live is a button in a browser.
The distance
To go on air, an operator had to understand encoders, mount points and bitrates. The people running the station think in programmes and schedules. The tools asked them to think like servers.
The working
Four parts, one system, one person.
- Design system. 24 documented sections across web, audio and TV,Receipt24 sectionsDesign system documentationMethodDocumented sections across web, audio and TV.SourceRádio Alvorada TV case study (design.izaias.xyz)Checked so every surface speaks the same visual language.
- Website. Next.js with a persistent 24/7 player that keeps playing as you move between pages, a São Paulo schedule, and an installable app.
- Audio broadcasting in the browser. A tool that replaces desktop encoders: self hosted Icecast with a WebSocket bridge, on an always free cloud tier. Origin cost: $0.Receipt$0Audio origin costMethodSelf-hosted Icecast and WebSocket on an always-free cloud tier.SourceRádio Alvorada TV case study (design.izaias.xyz)Checked
- Live TV. OBS to nginx to HLS to a Next.js viewer, 3 to 6 seconds of latency,Receipt3 to 6 sLive TV latencyMethodStated in the case study for the OBS to nginx to HLS pipeline.SourceRádio Alvorada TV case study (design.izaias.xyz)Checked with mobile unmute handling and a YouTube fallback if the origin goes down.
Receipts
- Live TV at 3 to 6 seconds of latency.Receipt3 to 6 sLive TV latencyMethodStated in the case study for the OBS to nginx to HLS pipeline.SourceRádio Alvorada TV case study (design.izaias.xyz)Checked
- $0 origin cost for audio.Receipt$0Audio origin costMethodSelf-hosted Icecast and WebSocket on an always-free cloud tier.SourceRádio Alvorada TV case study (design.izaias.xyz)Checked
- 24 documented design system sections.Receipt24 sectionsDesign system documentationMethodDocumented sections across web, audio and TV.SourceRádio Alvorada TV case study (design.izaias.xyz)Checked
Lessons paid for twice
- Going live should feel like pressing play, not like configuring a server.
- Plan the failure path first; the fallback is part of the product.
- A free tier is a design constraint. Design for it on purpose.