BigBlueButton v4.0.0-beta.5 release notes

BigBlueButton 4.0.0-beta.5

BigBlueButton 4.0.0-beta.5 brings a mobile layout overhaul (paginated webcams, compact bars, responsive dialogs, and side-by-side cameras and presentation on phones in landscape) along with automatic light/dark theme switching via prefers-color-scheme. Audio work continues with a new dedicated Audio settings tab, push-to-talk enabled in settings.yml, and better BBB<->LiveKit state reconciliation on reconnects. On the packaging side this beta adds the bbbctl admin tool and a bbb-coturn package, makes bbb-etherpad and bbb-pads optional, and carries a broad set of dependency upgrades. Below is a list of the pull requests in this iteration, grouped by component.

We strongly encourage administrators to update their existing 4.0.x-beta servers to beta.5! For production use we still recommend the latest release of BigBlueButton 3.0.x.

In addition to updating to this patched version, we encourage administrators to proactively rotate the API secret via bbb-conf --setsecret https://docs.bigbluebutton.org/administration/bbb-conf/#--setsecret-new_secret

More details included in the advisory below in the bbb-etherpad section.

Link to installation command / instructions / planned features: https://docs.bigbluebutton.org/4.0/new-features (work in progress)

Big THANK YOU to all community members who helped for this release - both through sending pull requests and through reporting bugs or requesting enhancements! :confetti_ball:

HTML5 client

fixes

[chore] fix children PropType in PresentationDownloadDropdownWrapper by @hiroshisuga in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25407
fix: Presentation download: filename containing "&" is truncated and saved without its extension by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25435
fix: grid-aware resize snapping in camera dock by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25410
fix(html5): prevent white flash on slide change by @Tainan404 in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25493
fix: broadcast external video seek detected via onProgress discontinuity by @Tainan404 in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25504
fix: app gallery design fixes by @germanocaumo in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25469
fix(shared-notes): match the BlockNote font to the client by @germanocaumo in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25516
fix(video-preview): fit background thumbnails to the available width by @germanocaumo in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25524
fix(user-list): prevent search input from being squeezed by growing participant list by @Arthurk12 in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25528
[4.0] fix: broadcast external video seek detected via onProgress discontinuity- #25504 by @germanocaumo in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25534
fix: underline styles do not work in shared notes by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25525
Backport: "fix(audio): assorted fixes and improvements to LiveKit's floor manager" by @prlanzarin in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25537
fix(shared-notes): add missing border radius to pinned BlockNote by @Arthurk12 in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25536
Fix(html5): Audio tiles are not displayed for attendees by @Tainan404 in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25284
fix(external-video): restore audio when autoplay starts the video muted by @germanocaumo in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25535
fix(whiteboard): Frame rename drops characters when typing at normal speed by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25546
fix(html5): align audio modal microphone and listen-only icons vertically by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25611
fix: Locking private chat in 4.0 also prevents viewers from private chat with moderator by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25610
fix: grid-aware resize snapping in camera dock by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25612

features and refactors

feat: automatic light/dark theme switching via prefers-color-scheme by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25490
[3.0] refactor(audio): better BBB<->LiveKit state reconciliation on reconnects, bbb-webrtc-sfu@v2.24.0- #25550 by @prlanzarin in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25551
refactor(audio): better BBB<->LiveKit state reconciliation on reconnects, bbb-webrtc-sfu@v2.24.0 by @prlanzarin in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25550
feat(sidebar-navigation): align sizing and notification badge colors with design spec by @AtilaU19 in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25542
feat(mobile): mobile layout overhaul — paginated webcams, compact bars and responsive dialogs by @AtilaU19 in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25340
feat(layout): arrange cameras and presentation side by side on phones in landscape by @AtilaU19 in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25565
feat: Add support for custom text in the recording permission dialog by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25603
feat(settings): add dedicated Audio tab with advanced/standard/original filtering by @Arthurk12 in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25589

test and CI

test: add BlockNote shared notes e2e tests (backport of #25165) by @imdt-claudiop in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25444
test(ci): tag deterministic untagged specs with @ci so CI runs them by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25512
test: Fix 4 playwright test failures by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25510
fix: update session details test to reflect new default value by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25555

locales

[3.0 locales] Updates for project BigBlueButton v3.0 HTML5 client by @transifex-integration[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25439

Plugin SDK

feat: New useTimer hook by @GuiLeme in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25335
feat(plugin-sdk): add senderRole to useLoadedChatMessages by @GuiLeme in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25539
fix(data-consumption): prevent hook usage counter from going negative by @Arthurk12 in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25403

Core

refactor(bbb-web): process pre-uploaded slides async on a bounded pool by @germanocaumo in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25495
build(gql-server): keep Hasura metadata after applying it by @prlanzarin in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25540
fix: MeetingActor analytics discards VoiceUserState.callerName, logs ERROR after user leaves by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25541
refactor: remove deprecated copyright create parameter by @Tainan404 in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25559
refactor(core): Remove obsolete webVoice create parameter by @Tainan404 in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25526
fix(bbb-web): Fallback to Rasterization if SVG has (lots of) Mask Tags by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25513
build(bbb-web): pin tomcat-embed to 10.1.56 by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25452
build(bbb-web): update Spring Boot to 3.5.16 by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25453
chore(akka): bump shared JVM dependency versions by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25454
chore(bbb-web): Bump dependencies by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25456
core(deps): upgrade Tika, Jackson, Netty, Grails and related depende… by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25613

Learning dashboard

fix: The .csv export for LAD has the user 'Anonymous' by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25496
fix(lad): incorrect row data and crashes from browser auto-translation by @prlanzarin in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25605

Recording

recording: Update dependencies, add tests by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25473

Packaging and configuration

[3.0] build: Pull new image bumping Go and Nodejs by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25429
feat: Add bbbctl tool to bbb-config package by @schrd in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25411
chore(bbb-conf): Add virtualBackgroundsDisabled to list of retired pr… by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25511
build: Make bbb-etherpad and bbb-pads optional by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25616
build: Add bbb-coturn package by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25549

bbb-etherpad

fix(sec): harden static asset path resolution by @prlanzarin https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/security/advisories/GHSA-4g74-4wqf-fr8c

Chore

chore: BigBlueButton 3.0.32 iteration by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25348
[3.0] chore: npm audit fixes by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25446
build(deps-dev): bump @babel/core from 7.24.9 to 7.29.6 in /bigbluebutton-html5 by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25448
build(deps): bump axios from 1.16.0 to 1.18.0 in /bbb-export-annotations by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25468
build(deps): bump axios from 1.16.1 to 1.18.0 in /bbb-shared-notes-server by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25470
build(deps): bump axios from 1.16.0 to 1.18.0 in /bigbluebutton-tests/playwright by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25474
build(deps): bump ch.qos.logback:logback-core from 1.5.33 to 1.5.34 in /bbb-recording-imex by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25427
build(deps): bump linkify-it from 5.0.1 to 5.0.2 in /bigbluebutton-html5 by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25483
build(deps): bump fast-uri from 3.1.2 to 3.1.4 in /docs by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25486
build(deps): bump svgo from 3.3.3 to 3.3.4 in /docs by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25489
build(deps): bump shell-quote from 1.8.4 to 1.10.0 in /docs by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25485
build(deps): bump body-parser from 1.20.5 to 1.20.6 in /docs by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25484
build(deps-dev): bump brace-expansion from 5.0.6 to 5.0.7 in /bbb-shared-notes-server by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25478
build(deps-dev): bump fast-uri from 3.1.2 to 3.1.4 in /bigbluebutton-html5 by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25499
build(deps): bump postcss from 8.5.15 to 8.5.23 in /docs by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25521
build(deps): bump body-parser from 2.2.1 to 2.3.0 in /bbb-graphql-actions by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25522
build(deps): bump shell-quote from 1.8.4 to 1.10.0 in /bbb-learning-dashboard by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25520
chore: update showSessionDetailsOnJoin default value by @ramonlsouza in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25547
chore: BigBlueButton 3.0.33 iteration by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25376
chore: Enable push-to-talk feature in settings.yml by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25576
chore: Merge 3.0.34 into 4.0 by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25614
(WIP) iteration: BigBlueButton 4.0.0-beta.5 by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25505

Documentation

fix(docs): use valid font-weight for Open Sans SemiBold @font-face by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25465
Docs: Clarify voiceBridge range by @samuelwei in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25464
docs: Documentation catchup on 3.0 new features/configs since 3.0.28 by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25442
docs: add missing create params by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25082
docs: drop 3.0 feature sections duplicated into 4.0 new-features by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25506
docs: added documentation for the different build process in LAD by @GuiLeme in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25283
docs(api): add "Internal API calls" section; mark getJoinUrl internal by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25514
[port] docs: iteration doc sync for 3.0.33 (#25568) by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25571
docs: install sbt 1.10.7 in the dev setup by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25583
docs: Remove 3.0 "news" from 4.0s "news" by @antobinary in https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/pull/25609

Full Changelog: https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton/compare/v4.0.0-beta.4...v4.0.0-beta.5

Release name

Passing -v noble-400 to https://github.com/bigbluebutton/bbb-install/blob/v4.0.x-release/bbb-install.sh will always install the latest released BigBlueButton 4.0 version.

If for some reason you would like to install this specific release, pass -v noble-400-4.0.0-beta.5.

We still recommend using -v noble-400 as this repository is continually updated with each BigBlueButton 4.0 release.

BigBlueButton v4.0.0-beta.5