Video editing software for Linux is, to put it nicely, quirky. Some editors only work with specific file formats, some work nicely for basic video editing but can be wildly temperamental on seemingly identical machines, and some are powerful to the point of overkill for the average user.

PiTiVi is a non-linear video editor based on the GStreamer multimedia framework. After hearing some positive comments, and seeing development efforts really picking up on the project, I decided to take it for a spin. It is very much in development, but not in the traditional sense. It feels very stable, and the interface isn't confusing or a hindrance. It is, at the moment, very basic when it comes to functionality. There are not plugins or extensions currently available (though feature requests are welcome). However, the project has taken the time to plan its path forward -- and with the basics down, I can't see why real headway won't come quickly.

The web is exploding with new media, and more and more people are interested in open source tools for delivering and consuming webcasts, videocasts, webinars, streaming audio, podcasts and more. The good news is that the open source community has responded with all the tools you need to create and consume video- and audio-based rich media at no cost to you. In the world of commercial software applications, the proprietary equivalents can cost you thousands of dollars. Here are 15 great, free, open source tools that can make you a broadcaster.