What's New in BigBlueButton 3.0.17

BigBlueButton 3.0.17 focuses on refining the user experience with a redesigned raise hand feature, upgrading the core Grails framework, and improving presentation conversion and recording reliability. This release also includes numerous fixes across the HTML5 client, plugins, and learning analytics.

Redesigned Raise Hand Experience

The raise hand functionality has been simplified to avoid confusion with the clap reaction. The button is now clearer, and the presenter's view of raised hands no longer overlays important interface areas — the list has been moved to the panel. Additionally, an audio notification for raised hands has been re-introduced, and full user options are available for the raised hand users list.

Grails 7 Upgrade and Core Improvements

bbb-web has been upgraded to Grails 7, bringing a major framework refresh. Alongside this, several core fixes address timeout units for pdftotext and thumbnail generation (now in milliseconds), systemd-run failures from accumulated failed transient units, and SVG dimension calculation speed. Recording pagination has also been fixed, and database indexes have been optimized for the GraphQL server.

Presentation Conversion and Recording Fixes

Presentation conversion now handles edge cases better, including SVG tag count checks and rasterization based on a <use> threshold. Chat links in recording playback are again clickable thanks to a new messageAsHtml field. The recording now supports multiple presets for the video format, and the record-and-playback version has been bumped to 3.0.17.

HTML5 Client Improvements

Several HTML5 client fixes enhance stability: mute on start is no longer enforced on dial-in participants (now configurable), audio publish timeouts are mitigated, notification bar positioning is corrected, and the external video modal no longer opens unexpectedly on presenter change. Whiteboard annotation removals are now wrapped in remote changes, and timer drift has been fixed. Additional fixes address shared notes links, poll custom input with .txt files, and voice activity rework.

Plugin and Data Channel Enhancements

Plugin performance has been improved with a refactored data-channel subscription and fixes for multiple connections not receiving data. New styling for custom chat messages and permission editing are available. Plugins now support a version property in the manifest to avoid browser caching, and private chat message commands have been added. A layout fix resolves plugin webcam helper overlaps.

Learning Analytics Dashboard Additions

The Learning Analytics Dashboard now includes more data: notes and annotations are added to the LAD data file, and new activity columns for whiteboard annotations and shared notes have been introduced.