Could a Rasperry Pi V4 be a client?

[timg11]

I've seen the Android Mini-client around, and there is a full Linux version for X86 and 64, but has anyone ever tried porting to the Pi? Apparently the new Raspberry Pi 4 is more powerful (ARM v8 64-bit 1.5GHz, 2x 4kp60 HDMI ports), and could potentially make a nice small, quiet client platform. The Pi runs Raspbian, a derivative of Debian. Of course the ARM architecture would require re-building the with that alternate tool chain. That's out of my league, but other than the build process, are there any insurmountable technical barriers?

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by timg11

I've seen the Android Mini-client around, and there is a full Linux version for X86 and 64, but has anyone ever tried porting to the Pi? Apparently the new Raspberry Pi 4 is more powerful (ARM v8 64-bit 1.5GHz, 2x 4kp60 HDMI ports), and could potentially make a nice small, quiet client platform. The Pi runs Raspbian, a derivative of Debian. Of course the ARM architecture would require re-building the with that alternate tool chain. That's out of my league, but other than the build process, are there any insurmountable technical barriers?

The linux miniclient is primarily a java program but it uses JOGL (opengl) for the UI rendering. There are likely ARM binaries prebuilt so that would probably be fairly easy. The main video playback uses a very old and modified version of mplayer and that would be very hard to upgrade and rebuild to pi. (it's the rebuilding, it's figuring out what was changed to mplayer and then trying to redo that for a new mplayer that can be built on ARM).

It'll be a huge undertaking.

The Android MiniClient is a java port/rewrite that was based on the java code from the linux miniclient.

You'd probably have better luck with an intel based PI alternative, since, it could run the current binaries, as is. You'd also need to setup/configure the IR receiver to be able to control it.

[BobPhoenix]

How about getting the Android OS running on the Pi and then installing the client on that?

[DynamoBen]

Originally Posted by BobPhoenix

How about getting the Android OS running on the Pi and then installing the client on that?

Did this today look here: https://forums.sagetv.com/forums/sho...835#post623835

[DynamoBen]

I think creating a client for the Pi, especially Pi4 (which has dual 4K displays), would be worthwhile long term for this community. A $35 client is pretty appealing!

I've considered trying to do this a number of times but I don't have the skill-set necessary to pull it off. I'm hopeful someone will take this up as a challenge at some point soon.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by DynamoBen

I think creating a client for the Pi, especially Pi4 (which has dual 4K displays), would be worthwhile long term for this community. A $35 client is pretty appealing!

I've considered trying to do this a number of times but I don't have the skill-set necessary to pull it off. I'm hopeful someone will take this up as a challenge at some point soon.

I have lots of RPis - from the first one to the latest RPi4s. Creating a Pi client would be very cool, but it isn't quite as cheap as it appears.

Adding a case, power supply and SD card probably adds at least $20 to the cost. And if you need more memory the 4GB Pi is actually $55. So that gets you up to at least $75 which is a bit more then you generally pay for a MiBox. And you still need a remote and IR receiver.

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by DynamoBen

Did this today look here: https://forums.sagetv.com/forums/sho...835#post623835

Cool was hoping it could be done. Just haven't had the time to try it myself and not likely to get any time in the near future either.