media.vlc

media.vlc#

Description#

Plugin to control VLC instances.

Configuration#

media.vlc:
  # [Optional]
  # List of extra arguments to pass to the VLC executable (e.g.
  # ``['--sub-language=en', '--snapshot-path=/mnt/snapshots']``)
  # args:   # type=Optional[Collection[str]]

  # [Optional]
  # Set to True if you want media files to be opened in
  # fullscreen by default (can be overridden by `.play()`) (default: False)
  # fullscreen: False  # type=bool

  # [Optional]
  # Default media volume (default: 100)
  # volume: 100  # type=int

  # [Optional]
  # Directories that will be scanned for media files when
  # a search is performed (default: only ``download_dir``). You can
  # specify it either:
  #
  #     - As a list of strings:
  #
  #       .. code-block:: yaml
  #
  #         media_dirs:
  #             - /mnt/hd/media/movies
  #             - /mnt/hd/media/music
  #             - /mnt/hd/media/series
  #
  #     - As a dictionary where the key is the name of the media display
  #       name and the value is the path:
  #
  #         .. code-block:: yaml
  #
  #           media_dirs:
  #               Movies: /mnt/hd/media/movies
  #               Music: /mnt/hd/media/music
  #               Series: /mnt/hd/media/series
  #
  #     - As a dictionary where the key is the name of the media display
  #       name and the value is a dictionary with the path and additional
  #       display information:
  #
  #           media_dirs:
  #               Movies:
  #                   path: /mnt/hd/media/movies
  #                   icon:
  #                       url: https://example.com/icon.png
  #                       # FontAwesome icon classes are supported
  #                       class: fa fa-film
  #
  #               Music:
  #                   path: /mnt/hd/media/music
  #                   icon:
  #                       url: https://example.com/icon.png
  #                       class: fa fa-music
  #
  #               Series:
  #                   path: /mnt/hd/media/series
  #                   icon:
  #                       url: https://example.com/icon.png
  #                       class: fa fa-tv
  # media_dirs:   # type=Union[str, Iterable[Union[str, dict]], Dict[str, Union[str, dict]], NoneType]

  # [Optional]
  # Directory where external resources/torrents will be
  # downloaded (default: ~/Downloads)
  # download_dir:   # type=Optional[str]

  # [Optional]
  # Environment variables key-values to pass to the
  # player executable (e.g. DISPLAY, XDG_VTNR, PULSE_SINK etc.)
  # env:   # type=Optional[Dict[str, str]]

  # [Optional]
  # Optional plugin to be used for torrent download.
  # Possible values:
  #
  #     - ``torrent`` - native ``libtorrent``-based plugin (default,
  #       recommended)
  #     - ``rtorrent`` - torrent support over rtorrent RPC/XML interface
  #     - ``webtorrent`` - torrent support over webtorrent (unstable)
  # torrent_plugin: torrent  # type=str

  # [Optional]
  # Select the preferred video/audio format for
  # YouTube videos - and any media supported by youtube-dl or the
  # selected fork. See the `youtube-dl documentation
  # <https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl#format-selection>`_ for more
  # info on supported formats. Example:
  # ``bestvideo[height<=?1080][ext=mp4]+bestaudio`` - select the best
  # mp4 video with a resolution <= 1080p, and the best audio format.
  # youtube_format: bv[height<=?1080]+ba/bv+ba  # type=Optional[str]

  # [Optional]
  # Select the preferred audio format for
  # YouTube videos downloaded only for audio. Default: ``bestaudio``.
  # youtube_audio_format: ba  # type=Optional[str]

  # [Optional]
  # Path to the ``youtube-dl`` executable, used to
  # extract information from YouTube videos and other media platforms.
  # Default: ``yt-dlp``. The default has changed from ``youtube-dl`` to
  # the ``yt-dlp`` fork because the former is badly maintained and its
  # latest release was pushed in 2021.
  # youtube_dl: yt-dlp  # type=str

  # [Optional]
  # If media download requires ``youtube_dl``,
  # and the upstream media contains both audio and video to be merged,
  # this can be used to specify the format of the output container -
  # e.g. ``mp4``, ``mkv``, ``avi``, ``flv``. Default: ``mp4``.
  # merge_output_format: mp4  # type=str

  # [Optional]
  # Directory where the media cache will be stored. If not
  # specified, the cache will be stored in the default cache directory
  # (usually ``~/.cache/platypush/media/<media_plugin>``).
  # cache_dir:   # type=Optional[str]

  # [Optional]
  # If set to True, streams transcoded via yt-dlp or
  # ffmpeg will be cached in ``cache_dir`` directory. If not set
  # (default), then streams will be played directly via memory pipe.
  # You may want to set this to True if you have a slow network, or if
  # you want to play media at high quality, even though the start time
  # may be delayed. If set to False, the media will start playing as
  # soon as the stream is ready, but the quality may be lower,
  # especially at the beginning, and seeking may not be supported.
  # cache_streams: False  # type=bool

  # [Optional]
  # Additional arguments to pass to the youtube-dl
  # executable. Default: None.
  # ytdl_args:   # type=Optional[Sequence[str]]

  # [Optional]
  # How often the `RunnablePlugin.loop <https://docs.platypush.tech/platypush/plugins/.html#platypush.plugins.RunnablePlugin.loop>`_ function should be
  # executed (default: 15 seconds). *NOTE*: For back-compatibility
  # reasons, the `poll_seconds` argument is also supported, but it's
  # deprecated.
  # poll_interval: 15  # type=Optional[float]

  # [Optional]
  # How long we should wait for any running
  # threads/processes to stop before exiting (default: 5 seconds).
  # stop_timeout: 5  # type=Optional[float]

  # [Optional]
  # If set to True then the plugin will not monitor
  # for new events. This is useful if you want to run a plugin in
  # stateless mode and only leverage its actions, without triggering any
  # events. Defaults to False.
  # disable_monitor: False  # type=bool

Dependencies#

pip

pip install python-vlc yt-dlp

Alpine

apk add yt-dlp vlc

Debian

apt install python3-vlc yt-dlp vlc

Fedora

yum install python3-vlc yt-dlp vlc

Arch Linux

pacman -S yt-dlp vlc

Actions#

Module reference#

class platypush.plugins.media.vlc.MediaVlcPlugin(args: Collection[str] | None = None, fullscreen: bool = False, volume: int = 100, **kwargs)[source]#

Bases: MediaPlugin

Plugin to control VLC instances.

__init__(args: Collection[str] | None = None, fullscreen: bool = False, volume: int = 100, **kwargs)[source]#
Parameters:

  • args – List of extra arguments to pass to the VLC executable (e.g. ['--sub-language=en', '--snapshot-path=/mnt/snapshots'])

  • fullscreen – Set to True if you want media files to be opened in fullscreen by default (can be overridden by .play()) (default: False)

  • volume – Default media volume (default: 100)

back(*_, offset: float = 30.0, **__)[source]#

Back by (default: 30) seconds

cancel_download(url: str | None = None, path: str | None = None)#

Cancel a download in progress.

Either the URL or the path must be specified.

Parameters:

  • url – URL of the download.

  • path – Path of the download (default: any path associated with the URL).

clear_downloads(url: str | None = None, path: str | None = None)#

Clear completed/cancelled downloads from the queue.

Parameters:

  • url – URL of the download (default: all downloads).

  • path – Path of the download (default: any path associated with the URL).

download(url: str, filename: str | None = None, directory: str | None = None, timeout: int = 10, sync: bool = False, only_audio: bool = False, youtube_format: str | None = None, youtube_audio_format: str | None = None, merge_output_format: str | None = None)#

Download a media URL to a local file on the Platypush host (yt-dlp required for YouTube URLs).

This action is non-blocking and returns the path to the downloaded file once the download is initiated.

You can then subscribe to these events to monitor the download progress:

Parameters:

  • url – Media URL.

  • filename – Media filename (default: inferred from the URL basename).

  • directory – Destination directory (default: download_dir).

  • timeout – Network timeout in seconds (default: 10).

  • sync – If set to True, the download will be synchronous and the action will return only when the download is completed.

  • only_audio – If set to True, only the audio track will be downloaded (only supported for yt-dlp-compatible URLs for now).

  • youtube_format – Override the default youtube_format setting.

  • youtube_audio_format – Override the default youtube_audio_format

  • merge_output_format – Override the default merge_output_format setting.

Returns:

The absolute path to the downloaded file.

forward(*_, offset: float = 30.0, **__)[source]#

Forward by (default: 30) seconds

get_downloads(url: str | None = None, path: str | None = None)#

Get the download threads.

Parameters:

  • url – URL of the download (default: all downloads).

  • path – Path of the download (default: any path associated with the URL).

Returns:

[
  {
    "ended_at": "2020-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
    "path": "/path/to/download/video.mp4",
    "size": 1024,
    "started_at": "2020-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
    "state": "Download state",
    "timeout": 60,
    "url": "https://example.com/video.mp4"
  }
]

get_media_dirs() → Dict[str, dict]#
Returns:

List of configured media directories.

is_playing(*_, **__)[source]#
Returns:

True if it’s playing, False otherwise

load(resource, *_, **args)[source]#

Load/queue a resource/video to the player

mute(*_, **__)[source]#

Toggle mute state

next()#

Play the next item in the queue

pause(*_, **__)[source]#

Toggle the paused state

pause_download(url: str | None = None, path: str | None = None)#

Pause a download in progress.

Either the URL or the path must be specified.

Parameters:

  • url – URL of the download.

  • path – Path of the download (default: any path associated with the URL).

play(resource: str | None = None, subtitles: str | None = None, fullscreen: bool | None = None, volume: int | None = None, cache_streams: bool | None = None, metadata: dict | None = None, **_)[source]#

Play a resource.

Parameters:

  • resource – Resource to play - can be a local file or a remote URL (default: None == toggle play).

  • subtitles – Path to optional subtitle file

  • fullscreen – Set to explicitly enable/disable fullscreen (default: fullscreen configured value or False)

  • volume – Set to explicitly set the playback volume (default: volume configured value or 100)

  • cache_streams – Overrides the cache_streams configuration value.

  • metadata – Optional metadata to pass to the resource.

quit(*_, **__)[source]#

Quit the player (same as stop)

remove_subtitles(*_, **__)[source]#

Removes (hides) the subtitles

resume_download(url: str | None = None, path: str | None = None)#

Resume a paused download.

Either the URL or the path must be specified.

Parameters:

  • url – URL of the download.

  • path – Path of the download (default: any path associated with the URL).

search(query: str, types: Iterable[str] | None = None, queue_results: bool = False, autoplay: bool = False, timeout: float = 60)#

Perform a video search.

Parameters:

  • query – Query string, video name or partial name

  • types – Video types to search (default: ["youtube", "file", "torrent"])

  • queue_results – Append the results to the current playing queue (default: False)

  • autoplay – Play the first result of the search (default: False)

  • timeout – Search timeout (default: 60 seconds)

seek(position: float, **__)[source]#

Seek backward/forward by the specified number of seconds

Parameters:

position – Number of seconds relative to the current cursor

set_fullscreen(fullscreen: bool = True)[source]#

Set fullscreen mode

set_position(position: float, **_)[source]#

Seek backward/forward to the specified absolute position (same as seek)

set_subtitles(filename: str, *_, **__)[source]#

Sets media subtitles from filename

set_volume(volume: int)[source]#

Set the volume

Parameters:

volume – Volume value between 0 and 100

start_streaming(media: str, subtitles: str | None = None, download: bool = False)#

Starts streaming local media over the specified HTTP port. The stream will be available to HTTP clients on http://{this-ip}:{http_backend_port}/media/<media_id>

Parameters:

  • media – Media to stream

  • subtitles – Path or URL to the subtitles track to be used

  • download – Set to True if you prefer to download the file from the streaming link instead of streaming it

Returns:

dict containing the streaming URL.Example:

{
    "id": "0123456abcdef.mp4",
    "source": "file:///mnt/media/movies/movie.mp4",
    "mime_type": "video/mp4",
    "url": "http://192.168.1.2:8008/media/0123456abcdef.mp4"
}
status()[source]#

Get the current player state.

Returns:

A dictionary containing the current state.

Example:

output = {
    "filename": "filename or stream URL",
    "state": "play"  # or "stop" or "pause"
}
stop(*_, **__)[source]#

Stop the application (same as quit)

toggle_fullscreen()[source]#

Toggle the fullscreen mode

toggle_subtitles(*_, **__)[source]#

Toggle the subtitles visibility

voldown(*_, step: float = 10.0, **__)[source]#

Volume down by (default: 10)%

volup(*_, step: float = 10.0, **__)[source]#

Volume up by (default: 10)%

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