basic structure

homelabbing/docs/software/mediastack/jellyfin/introduction.md

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+# Introduction
+
+**Jellyfin** is a free, open-source media server software that lets you collect, manage, and stream your personal media—such as movies, TV shows, music, and photos—across devices. It is a community-driven alternative to proprietary platforms like Plex and Emby.
+
+---
+
+## Key Features
+
+- 🆓 **Completely Free**: No paid licenses, subscriptions, or locked features.
+- 🛡️ **Privacy-Focused**: No telemetry, no third-party tracking.
+- 📺 **Streaming**: Access your media from web browsers, smart TVs, mobile apps, or Kodi.
+- 🧠 **Metadata Management**: Automatic retrieval of posters, fanart, episode guides, and more.
+- 🎚️ **Transcoding**: On-the-fly conversion for devices with limited format support.
+- 🎛️ **Plugin System**: Extend functionality with community-made plugins.
+
+---
+
+## Supported Platforms
+
+- **Server**: Windows, Linux, macOS, Docker, and more
+- **Clients**:
+  - Web browser
+  - Android / iOS apps
+  - Smart TVs (via apps or DLNA)
+  - Kodi (via Jellyfin add-on)
+  - Chromecast
+
+---
+
+## Ideal Use Cases
+
+- Home media streaming over LAN or internet
+- Centralized media hub for a household
+- Replacement for paid services (e.g., Plex, Netflix for local content)
+
+---
+
+## Comparison to Plex & Emby
+
+| Feature            | Jellyfin        | Plex            | Emby            |
+|--------------------|-----------------|------------------|------------------|
+| Open Source        | ✅ Yes          | ❌ No            | ⚠️ Partial        |
+| Free Features      | ✅ All          | ❌ Some Locked   | ⚠️ Limited        |
+| No Account Needed  | ✅ Yes          | ❌ No            | ⚠️ Mostly         |
+| Community-Driven   | ✅ 100%         | ❌               | ⚠️ Limited        |
+
+---
+
+## Quick Start
+
+If you haven’t installed Jellyfin yet, check the [Docker Compose installation guide](./jellyfin-docker-compose.md) or visit the [official documentation](https://jellyfin.org/docs/).
+
+---
+
+## Links
+
+- 🌐 Website: https://jellyfin.org  
+- 📘 Docs: https://jellyfin.org/docs/  
+- 🐙 GitHub: https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin  
+- 💬 Community: https://matrix.to/#/#jellyfin:matrix.org