CamStudio
Encyclopedia
CamStudio is a screencast
ing program for Microsoft Windows
released as free software
. The software renders videos in an AVI
format. It can also convert these AVIs into Flash Video format, embedded in SWF
files. CamStudio is written in C++
, but CamStudio 3 will be developed in C#.
product by RenderSoft software in October 2001. The source code license was converted to the GNU General Public License
in December 2002 with release 1.8. The Source code of versions 1.0, 1.4 and 2.0 are still available at SourceForge
.
In 2003, the company was acquired by eHelp Corporation
who owned a competing product called RoboDemo (now called Adobe Captivate
). eHelp Corporation released an updated version as CamStudio 2.1 under a proprietary
software license only and removed the ability to create SWFs. A succession of acquisitions
led to the company being owned by Adobe
.
Development of CamStudio 2.0 (the last open-source version) was resumed and released as free software again in September 2007 with the CamStudio 2.5 Beta 1 release. Accordingly, it was re-branded as CamStudio Open Source.
CamStudio 3 is a complete rewrite of the project in the pre-alpha stages of development as of April 19, 2010, and is seeking developers.
Screencast
A screencast is a digital recording of computer screen output, also known as a video screen capture, often containing audio narration. The term screencast compares with the related term screenshot; whereas screenshot is a picture of a computer screen, a screencast is essentially a movie of the...
ing program for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
released as free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
. The software renders videos in an AVI
Audio Video Interleave
Audio Video Interleave , known by its acronym AVI, is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft in November 1992 as part of its Video for Windows technology. AVI files can contain both audio and video data in a file container that allows synchronous audio-with-video playback...
format. It can also convert these AVIs into Flash Video format, embedded in SWF
SWF
SWF is an Adobe Flash file format used for multimedia, vector graphics and ActionScript. Originating with FutureWave Software, then transferred to Macromedia, and then coming under the control of Adobe, SWF files can contain animations or applets of varying degrees of interactivity and function.,...
files. CamStudio is written in C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
, but CamStudio 3 will be developed in C#.
History
The original CamStudio was released as an open sourceOpen source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
product by RenderSoft software in October 2001. The source code license was converted to the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
in December 2002 with release 1.8. The Source code of versions 1.0, 1.4 and 2.0 are still available at SourceForge
SourceForge
SourceForge Enterprise Edition is a collaborative revision control and software development management system. It provides a front-end to a range of software development lifecycle services and integrates with a number of free software / open source software applications .While originally itself...
.
In 2003, the company was acquired by eHelp Corporation
EHelp Corporation
eHelp Corporation was co-founded by Jørgen Sigurd Lien and Trond Bergquist in 1990, and headquartered in San Diego, California....
who owned a competing product called RoboDemo (now called Adobe Captivate
Adobe Captivate
Adobe Captivate is an electronic learning tool for Microsoft Windows, and from v.5 Mac OS X which can be used to author software demonstrations, software simulations, branched scenarios, and randomized quizzes in .swf format. It can also convert Adobe Captivate generated .swf to .avi which can be...
). eHelp Corporation released an updated version as CamStudio 2.1 under a proprietary
Proprietary software
Proprietary software is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, while restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering.Complementary...
software license only and removed the ability to create SWFs. A succession of acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or...
led to the company being owned by Adobe
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
.
Development of CamStudio 2.0 (the last open-source version) was resumed and released as free software again in September 2007 with the CamStudio 2.5 Beta 1 release. Accordingly, it was re-branded as CamStudio Open Source.
CamStudio 3 is a complete rewrite of the project in the pre-alpha stages of development as of April 19, 2010, and is seeking developers.