Is a minimal website programming interface in the pipeline, somewhere?

[Sailn]

Originally posted by bodgadle
Ah but you're assuming everyone either

a) carries a laptop around with them

b) Is running on a windows machine capable of remote desktop connections

It would be much better with a web interface or a command line interface which you could write a web wrapper for since then you're totally platform independant on how you connect to it, and no ned to worry about the sage client on your laptop or finding a windows machine capable of remote desktop connections which again would cause problems with firewalls if you're at the office and forgot to set something to record!

No argument.

However, from a mainstream product standpoint, Joe Neck-bone isn't going to write anaything.

If the goal is to be able to record shows that have a sudden or unexpected time change, how quickly do you think the epg will get the change notice? Perhaps Jeff knows. The reason I ask is that the EPG update time within sage is adjustable, and I guess you could have it update every hour or so and be pretty sure you would catch the program changes assuming that the EPG service is on the ball.

BTW, I don't think you need a windows machine to remote desktop. As I recall you can also do it from a macintosh, anyway thats not the point. As sage is a java app. it should be portable to almost any platform which supports java, and if you connect via vpn you will have all the funtionality remotely (sans video) that you would at home. Besides, the development side is easy and basicly done. All that really needs to be done is allow the sage client to run without video.

In truth, both solutions will work and have merit. I think mine is easier to do now, however your solution (command line interface) may already exist in the upcomming sage studio. If the UI is going to be skinable and customizable, then a CLI is the way to go.

[Narflex]

What are people expecting in terms of connectivity?

1.Do they expect us to host a website they can access which then communicates with their SageTV system; thereby working with any SageTV system, regardless of whether or not its behind a firewall.

OR

2. Do you all just want a webserver that runs on the SageTV computer which is then accessible from anywhere via a web browser (as long as that PC is accessible from anywhere, i.e. you need a static IP or some kind of dynamic lookup IP lookup).

[bodgadle]

Hi Jeff,

Personally i'm looking for number 2, not looking to use a 3rd party website, just want to be able to access my sage on my own computer from anywhere in the world. Be it a windows machine or a pda, anything with a web browser

Either sage can implement a simple webserver or as someone else suggested let us be able to write our own webpages in php/asp/.net or whatever we want to be able to pass parameters into sage to retrieve and set schedule information.

[ChrisDev]

I hate to sound like an AOL user, but...me too! Option 2. Add the ability to access the box running Sage over a broadband link via a browser, so that I can use _any_ computer connected to the net. BTW, password protection and the ability to run on a port other than 80 would be nice too!

[shodge]

I already have a web server, so #2 is exactly what I need. (with the ability to specify the HTTP port so I can make it exist with other WEB server on my net....


-Stan

[rsesler]

Option 1 for me.
- Ryan

[trevorst]

I can live with either but option 2 would suit me best.

[fidget]

#1 could be done via integrating with Titan TV, but I would also prefer #2.

[Sailn]

Narflex, given the choice between 1 and 2 I would go for 2. No need for you to host a site. However, might there also be a way to allow the client to run with a lower speed connection (ala no video) and the remote desktop in?

[ron.smythe]

Narflex, sorray about this but I would like to be able to secure the webserver using https aswell.

[pbarrette]

Hi Narflex,

Honestly, I think the best option would be complete command-line support using STDIO calls with the ability to output in HTML format if desired. So it's almost like Option #2, but people can choose whether they wish to implement a web server on top of that functionality or not.

Personally, I use telnet or SSH to connect to my home system. This allows me to secure my system in the manner I choose, yet still have complete control over my home system.

An integrated web server sounds good when you read it in the forums, but there are at least a few problems with the implementation:
1) Doesn't help those who do not wish to (or cannot) use a web server at home.
2) Eats away at those precious CPU cycles for the true "Set top box" fans like myself.
3) Do you really want to be responsible for contstant web server security patches?

If you had total command-line control, it would only be a matter of days before someone posted a link to a complete web interface. If third party web support scares you, you could always create your own CGI's and interface pages and distribute those.

On the other hand, if you just created web support, then what happens when one user is already using Apache, another using IIS4, yet another already using IIS5, still another using... It goes on forever.

Shodge already noted this fact and, in anticipation of problems, requested a variable port number. But your work site, or the internet cafe you happen to be in, may not allow access to non-standard ports.

With a command-line driven interface, it would be a simple drop-in for anyone who can manage to set up their own web server. All of the security issues would be handled by the user's web server of choice, and those lone telnet users (me) would be happy too.

pb

[videogeek]

I am using Tivo Web Project with my Tivo

I can use Tivo Web to browse the channel guide, perform searches, schedule and delete recordings, rename recordings, etc. from any Web browser

I believe this is what people are looking for

[Narflex]

Cool.

I think we're all on the same wavelength here.

I would much rather NOT integate a webserver into SageTV. I would much rather each person have the flexibility to set this up themselves.

I added a schedule export feature to 1.4.7. That'll allow you setup a webserver and then view the "Recording Schedule" for SageTV with it. SageTV just dumps the schedule information to a text file whenever the schedule changes.

[pbarrette]

Hi Narflex,

What about command-line based control functions?

pb

[Narflex]

What kind of command line based control functions are you looking for?

[bodgadle]

ideally if it's all going to be command driven as opposed to a built-in web interface then something like

-getchannelistings(channel, [day]) to get all listings for a channel for a given day (optional). This would return a list of programs uniqley identified.

-getchannels(). get a list of channels to use with above

-setrecord(guid) from the first call we would have got a guid for a program, so we just pass it in with this param and it's set to record

-cancelrecord(guid) - as above but cancels a previously set recording

-getschedule([channel],[date]) - retrieve shcedule information for a given channel and date (both optional)

What do you think?

[padre]

I think exporting the schedule is a great first step, but I'd love to have the ability to configure the schedule via Web server interface remotely (just like Narflex spelled out in Option 2). I travel a ton (part of the reason I built the PVR), and generally I have access to the Internet when I'm out of state or the country.

With the right firewall/access control list, I'd envision connecting via web to my SageTV (or Webserver), see the current scheduled recordings, as well as the guide, and make changes.

[justme]

Speaking as someone who doesn't understand web programming. I too think the schedule export was a great first step. But as bodgadle requests, we now need some way to change SageTV's behavior from afar. We have the tools to find out SageTV's most important behavior now thanks to Narflex, but we still lack the tools to effect changes in that behavour. A commandline interface would probably be the most universally understood way of doing this.

I realize that I would be dependant on the code of others, and that is fine with me. The people at this forum are one of SageTV's greatest strengths. Besides if someone did try to distribute malicous code I'm sure another member would catch it quickly.
Just my 2 cents.

[HawkeyeLonewolf]

Originally posted by dkardatzke
I understand this is a "Cool" feature but is it really a deal-breaker? I'd like to understand what level of functionality you guys are looking for.

Do you just need something that allows you to see your recording schedule and add recordings? Do you have to be able to view more than a day's worth of Guide data? What if you used Zap2it.com to look up listings but were then able to tell your SageTV unit to record based on someting like time and show id?

Feedback is appreciated.
Dan

Jumping in late on this thread as I'm just now evaluating SageTV for purchase -- but yes, it is a deal breaker.

Many times we're out and forgot to record something -- a one off. Being able to dart into the library or use a cell phone with net access to set this up is pretty important.

[mlbdude]

IR is working so well for me now that it automatically records everything I would want. I have had great success using SageClient via MS Remote Desktop as well. Website would be nice but I wonder what kind of problems that would create with licencing of the guide data?