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lectureStudio
Darmstadt, Germany
What it is
lectureStudio is a free, open-source tool for presenting lectures built around PDF slides. It supports a dual-screen arrangement using a tablet, computer, or laptop with a projector, and presenters can write on slides with digital ink or highlight information. It records audio and video, and its post-processing tools allow slide errors to be corrected without recording the lecture again. Students can use smartphone browsers to take part in real-time quizzes and chat. Slides need to be converted to PDF before use; the FAQ describes workflows for PowerPoint and LibreOffice Impress. Recordings can be exported as MP4 files or lectureStudio .plr files for sharing through an LMS or file-sharing service. Institutions can host it on-premise, and the maker says it can integrate with institution-wide Single Sign-On. The maker labels lectureStudio GDPR compliant and says on-premise hosting can help avoid data-protection challenges associated with external services. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and the project is released on GitHub under GPLv3.
For and against
For
- Free and open source under GPLv3
- Records audio and video with post-processing tools
- Students can quiz and chat through smartphone browsers
- Exports recordings as MP4 or .plr files
- On-premise hosting is available
Against
- Slides must be converted to PDF first
- Desktop support is listed for Windows, macOS, and Linux
The verdict
lectureStudio combines slide presentation, annotation, recording, and student interaction in a free tool. Its PDF requirement and hosting approach are key considerations for institutions and presenters.
Who it suits
lectureStudio suits educators presenting PDF-based lectures who want annotation, recording, and classroom interaction tools. Its on-premise hosting option may also fit institutions seeking to keep hosting in-house.
Plans and prices
lectureStudio Free
Windows · macOS · Linux desktop software
Read 15 Oct 2026 · lecturestudio.github.io
lectureStudio
Desktop operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux
Read 7 Oct 2026 · lecturestudio.github.io
On the record
- Annotations
- Presenters can annotate slides with pen-based digital ink tools and highlight information.lecturestudio.github.io · read 7 Oct 2026
- Audio and video recording
- The software records lecture audio and video directly in the presentation workflow.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Beamer and PDFPC
- The presenter is compatible with PDFPC functions such as an integrated clock, countdown timer, navigation tools and notes slides.lecturestudio.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Browser playback
- A JavaScript player supplied with vector-recording archives runs in modern browsers without a separate native player.esa.informatik.tu-darmstadt.de · read 15 Oct 2026
- Classroom interaction
- Students can access real-time quizzes and chat through smartphone browsers.lecturestudio.github.io · read 7 Oct 2026
- Company facts
- lectureStudio was created and is maintained by research groups at Technische Universität Darmstadt.e-learning.tu-darmstadt.de · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company location
- The project’s published contact address is Technische Universität Darmstadt, Hochschulstrasse 10, D-64289 Darmstadt, Germany.esa.informatik.tu-darmstadt.de · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- Official documentation includes getting-started, installation, quick-start, microphone, PowerPoint and LibreOffice guides plus a FAQ.lecturestudio.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Dual-screen presenting
- The presenter supports a tablet or computer display alongside a projector in a dual-screen setup.e-learning.tu-darmstadt.de · read 15 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- The GitHub source tree includes presenter and web API modules, and the FAQ invites users to implement features under the GPLv3 terms.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- The maker describes on-premise server hosting and says it can integrate with institution-wide Single-Sign-On facilities.lecturestudio.github.io · read 7 Oct 2026
- Independent praise: interaction
- TU Darmstadt reports that anonymous browser questions can produce more participation than conventional lectures and that quizzes reveal comprehension gaps immediately.tu-darmstadt.de · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent use
- A TU Darmstadt compiler course used lectureStudio to record classes and stream them live through lect.stream.esa.informatik.tu-darmstadt.de · read 15 Oct 2026
- Installers
- Downloads include Windows x86_64 MSI, Linux DEB/RPM/ZIP/AppImage packages and macOS Intel and Apple Silicon packages.lecturestudio.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- TU Darmstadt says lectureStudio recordings can be published on Panopto and shared through learning-management or file-sharing systems.e-learning.tu-darmstadt.de · read 15 Oct 2026
- Interactive annotations
- Presenters can mark slides with digital-ink pens and highlighting tools.lecturestudio.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The main project is released under the GNU GPL version 3.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: mobile apps
- The FAQ states that lectureStudio has no native mobile version and is currently desktop-only.lecturestudio.github.io · read 15 Oct 2026
