Is Shinobi Open Source, and What Support Options Are Available?

Shinobi is open source, written in Node.js, and available for both personal and business use. Community support is available through Discord, while businesses can access professional support and Pro licensing through Shinobi Systems. The right support path depends on whether you are running a home setup or a larger operation that needs personnel briefing, development, or consultation.

What "Open Source" Means for Shinobi

Shinobi is described on its website as open source software built with Node.js. It is designed for performance and can run on an enterprise machine or an edge computer, depending on your needs.

The project is developed by hundreds of developers around the world and has over 10,000,000 installations. It supports realtime events through WebSocket, pushing data to connected clients.

Because it is open source, you can inspect, modify, and build on the platform. The site describes it as "a sturdy platform to develop your complex needs on top of."

Community Support

The primary community channel is Discord, where developers and users gather to discuss improvements and troubleshoot issues.

Community feedback on the site highlights reliability and ease of setup compared to other open-source NVR options. One community member noted that Shinobi took minutes to set up on a mini PC, while another reported recording 16 cameras at 1080p 15fps continuously with no load on a Pentium E5500 with 3GB RAM.

If you are an individual user or running a small deployment, the community Discord is likely your first stop for help.

Enterprise and Professional Support

For larger operations, Shinobi Systems offers professional support. The site states that if you need to get a big operation running, have personnel briefed, or need development and consultation, Shinobi Systems can lead and assist.

There is also a Pro licensing option described as "Pro Licensing and support for business." This is the path for organizations that need formal support arrangements rather than community-based help.

Choosing Your Support Path

What to Consider Before Choosing

Shinobi's open-source nature means you are not locked into a vendor for basic use. However, if your operation depends on uptime, training, or custom development, the professional support route provides a more structured relationship.

The site does not publish specific pricing for Pro licensing, so businesses should contact Shinobi Systems directly to discuss terms. For individuals, the community and codebase are available without a formal support contract.