How to create a TV Server Plugin? (1 Viewer)

[Snoopy87]

Hi,

Is there any more detailed documentation available on how to develope a tv plugin? The wiki articles I found where not really helpfull. Or is there any example plugin with source code available?

All I need is to tune to a given channel by id, get the stream url and stop the stream/timeshift later.
I created a new class, implemented ITvServerPlugin, but don't know which parameters I have to set to controller.Tune() or StartTimeshifting()

Best regards,
Sascha

 

[mm1352000]

Hello Sascha

ITvServerPlugin is the plugin interface. It is very simple:
https://github.com/MediaPortal/Medi...VLibrary/Plugins/PluginBase/PluginBase.cs#L39

You can use the built-in plugins as examples if the info in the wiki is not sufficient:
https://github.com/MediaPortal/MediaPortal-1/tree/master/TvEngine3/TVLibrary/Plugins

All I need is to tune to a given channel by id, get the stream url and stop the stream/timeshift later.

When I look at the design of the code and plugin interface I would say that it was not intended for plugins to tune channels. Of course it is technically possible to tune using the functions in the TVController class... but they're not really considered as part of the TV Server interface (for external use). That's why there isn't much (if any documentation). Also, in theory they could change at any time.

If you insist that your plugin needs to tune then my advice is to check the MP1 TV plugin code and see which functions and parameter values it uses.

Regards,
mm

 

[Snoopy87]

Hi mm,

thanks a lot!

I already had a look at those plugins, but they do not control the TV Server to start timeshift :-/

If it was not designed to control timeshifting from a TV Server Plugin, is there any other way? A documented API like MediaPortal Client is communicating with TV Server?

Best regards,
Sascha

 

[mm1352000]

If it was not designed to control timeshifting from a TV Server Plugin, is there any other way?

Yes, indirectly - eg. through MPExtended - or you could use the TV control .NET remoting interface like the MP TV plugin uses.

A documented API like MediaPortal Client is communicating with TV Server?

First, MP does not communicate directly with TV Server. Only the MP TV plugin does that.

The interface between MP TV plugin and TV Server is also not really documented, but these are the main classes/interfaces:
https://github.com/MediaPortal/Medi...TvEngine3/TVLibrary/TvControl/TvServer.cs#L33
https://github.com/MediaPortal/Medi...ine3/TVLibrary/TvControl/RemoteControl.cs#L43
https://github.com/MediaPortal/Medi...Engine3/TVLibrary/TvControl/Controller.cs#L33

The comments in the code and the TV plugin code itself are the only documentation.

 

[regeszter]

Hi,

you can control the tvserver using the public methods from this class: https://github.com/MediaPortal/MediaPortal-1/blob/master/TvEngine3/TVLibrary/TvControl/Controller.cs

 

[Snoopy87]

I created the following empty class:

  public class TVServerPlugin : ITvServerPlugin
    {
        #region ITvServerPlugin Member

        public string Author
        {
            get { return "Author"; }
        }

        public bool MasterOnly
        {
            get { return true; }
        }

        public string Name
        {
            get { return "Name"; }
        }

        public SetupTv.SectionSettings Setup
        {
            get { return new SettingsDialog(); }
        }

        public void Start(TvControl.IController controller)
        {
           
        }

        public void Stop()
        {

        }

        public string Version
        {
            get { return "1.0.0"; }
        }

        #endregion
    }

    public class SettingsDialog : SectionSettings
    {

    }

.NET 4.0, x86. But SetupTV is listing my plugin as "Incompatible". What's wrong?

 

[mm1352000]

You haven't added the required compatibility info. It is basically the same requirement as for an MP plugin.

Here's an example from the IRSS TVE 3 Blaster Plugin:
https://github.com/MediaPortal/IR-S...Blaster Plugin/Properties/AssemblyInfo.cs#L37

...and here is the list of subsystems:
https://github.com/MediaPortal/Medi...MP-TVE3/Common.Utils/CompatibilityInfo.cs#L83

You should include each subsystem that your plugin uses.

 

[Snoopy87]

Thank you so much! My plugin is working and starting timeshift!

 

[Stéphane Lenclud]

Cool stuff, I posted a similar question earlier today.