Kodi timeshifting with version 5

[mvallevand]

Sub and I are now ready to start testing a pre release version of Kodi with  working timeshifting on v5.  There is a Kodi build for Matrix and many platforms and partial build for Leia Win64 now with 32bit coming.    I will do a custom CoreElec build for the Odroid N2 but I won't be making an LibreElec builds, the source will be available for the adventurous.

- implement v5 timeshifting *
- improve playback of in progress recordings *
- added original air date as firstAired
- live and new flags modify firstAired
- added Advanced Recording type
- Add genres to recordings (Kodi bug doesn't display them)
- can force delete of all channel icons from the setup screen
- added the sid to recordings*
- removed forced (YEAR) from EPG titles, Kodi V19 does this now.
- reintroduce XMLUtils makes the parsing code easier to read.*
- continue to change c to c++*
- fixed bug passing empty channel group titles to Kodi (kodi bug) *

I'd like to test V4 and V5 servers so the upgrade to V5 is recommended but not mandatory.

If you are interested in testing please post on this thread information on your configuration so I'd know what to prepare, and what you are interested in testing.

Matrix builds are now part of the nightly release

The Jenkins Leia build is https://jenkins.kodi.tv/blue/organizatio.../artifacts. The Leia changes are showi with the *
.
Custom Windows builds for Leia are attached (i686 is 32 bit)  and CorElec for the Odroid N2 with all the Matrix feature are attached.

Thanks,  

Martin

[BrettB]

Hey, Martin.

I don't normally use the native Kodi PVR interface nor typically watch live tv, but I'm happy to help with testing.

I've moved my production server to v5, so that's where I've got the most recordings, activity, etc. I do still have a v4 server at my mom's where I'll be 12/20-12/27 (can't upgrade because of lack of support for the DCS-2650 in v5 right now). I've also got the server I was using for v5 testing where I can install either if needed for testing. And I've got a QNAP NAS which supports docker where I'm planning to test running a v5 server to see if I can eventually move my production server to it.

If you care about tuner types, my production system has 2 HDHR Primes (with cablecards) and an HDHR Quatro for OTA ATSC. Those are all on the network so can also be allocated/used by a test server. And, of course, I use SD for EPG data.

My normal production clients are RPi 3b+'s running Libreelec. And I've also got an Odroid N2 with Coreelec which is currently still a "test" system. So the Odroid N2 would probably be my most ideal system to test with.

-Brett

[mvallevand]

Thanks Brett, since you will only using it with light testing I suggest the Matrix Build. You can see the comskip markers on recordings.

To make it really simple download the nightly and for simplicity install into a folder outiside of Program File but don't run it. Instead start with the command line option -p (portable mode) and all the files will be self contained in that folder. You can even have multiple configurations this way. You can install the PVR addon but we will be replacing it.

A key change will be having an advancedsettings.xml file that enables debug logging. That wil be

portable_data/userdata/advancedsettings.xml

with

Code:

<advancedsettings>
<loglevel hide="false">1</loglevel>
</advancedsettings>

The N2 build will be Leia, there is going to be issues moving to 19 for CE since Kodi devs are ripping out legacy support for all the small devices.

Martin

[pkscout]

I can test Matrix on Mac OSX as well as Leia on OSX and Windows with a v4 backend server if that would help. I could probably lightly test with a v5 backend, but it might be a little dicey (the only v5 I have is a Docker container on OSX that runs in a different user space than my Matrix install).

[mvallevand]

Right now there is only a Matrix build for macos so confirming v4 will be fine. You can also see the New flag and Original Air date fields in Estuary which we have talked about online. Still haven't decided if it is worth backporting those.

Here is the link the the osx version https://jenkins.kodi.tv/job/kodi-pvr/job...-4.3.0.zip

Martin

[jcole998]

Is there a preferred manner in which to test? A list of test "targets" might be useful if everyone knows what they are and can test the same things.

[mvallevand]

Given the nature of the testing it is not clear if this is beta or release candidate. It is all unit tested so I am asking for general user testing. To direct users in a specific area would be counter productive especially for regression testing against v4. I am hoping it is stable enough for full time use and user may have use cases I haven't considered.

Here are my thoughts on the release if it helps.

In addition to the live tv and recording playback changes I've touched the data load for recording, recurring code and guide data, changed the settings code and added a new scheduling type. Pretty much the only things I left alone was v4 timeshift and real time playback.

For v5 certainly testing the new timeshift mode is the significant change and deserves the most attention. The ability to see the original air date and the new show indicator in the guide would be something but it can be easily confirmed. Comments on being able to see and edit advanced manual recordings would be useful but probably not a high use option

In v4 and v5 reports back on being able to play in progress recording would server to confirm unit testing, but that is also general use.

Resetting the channel icons can really only be tested if you replace one.

You can't see the changes in the recording genre logic because of bug in Kodi (currently recordings always show Other/Unknown). I hope to submit a Kodi PR for this

The source PR (pull request) is also available for review and comments if you are interested https://github.com/kodi-pvr/pvr.nextpvr/pull/101

Hopefully that helps.

Martin

[jcole998]

That'll do nicely. Many thanks

[VCR58]

I have one v5 setup with v5 Debian 10 Buster & Plasma desktop environment. I have only seen Kodi 17.6 on the standard deb repo but would be willing to try Matrix if I knew where to download it.

Also have v5 on Windows 10 Pro that I could install Matrix on and test the timeshifting.

[mvallevand]

For linux it is a little more difficult, you need to do some things to install the Matrix nightlies explained here https://kodi.wiki/view/HOW-TO:Install_Kodi_for_Linux. Hopefully the .so file (linux equivalent of dll's) that I make for Ubuntu will be compatible.

Let me know if you get the linux nigthly installed and I will upload the updated files.

Martin