Studio Compatibility?

[Brett]

Ok... at the risk of being calling lazy, I have two questions concerning Studio.

1) Can you access Studio from within the SageTV client, or does it only work on the main box. I would want to do my development on a spare box, and would hate to think I have to buy a full license.

2) Given past experience how upgradable are the plugins? Part of the reason I stopped development for BeyondMedia was that I had prebuilds of BM v2.0 (which is clearly never going to be released) and already knew at the time that it was not going to be very compatible with my current plugins.

Thanks,
-Brett

[GKusnick]

1. From the Studio Information Resources sticky thread at the top of this forum:

...it is included in each SageTV and SageTV Client installation.

(Consider that my shot at calling you lazy.)

2. In the past, STVI code was fairly fragile with respect to version upgrades, since it had to navigate the widget tree from the root to find insertion points. However V6.4 introduced a new invariant widget ID field, allowing specific widgets to be addressed directly by STVI code. So STVIs created in V6.4 or later should be much more robust going forward than those created in earlier versions of Studio. Of course there's always the risk that your specific hook point will be deleted (and not just moved around), and there's not much you can do about that.

[webwalker]

So I'm also interested in adapting a custom interface, and while I understand that Studio 'comes with' SageTV, what are my options for doing Studio work on something other than my 'production' PVR? You know: the one that my wife and two children use most waking moments of the day?

If I read the requirements correctly, I have to do my development on my production system, which seems about as hazardous as trying to change the spark plugs in an engine that is still running. My momma done taught me not to develop software in a production environment. Isn't this what the licensing requirement would force me to do? Or to pay twice: once for the production system, and once for the development system? Am I missing something?

M

[cncb]

You would only have to buy a Client license for your "development PC" which is less expensive ($30).

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Brett

2) Given past experience how upgradable are the plugins? Part of the reason I stopped development for BeyondMedia was that I had prebuilds of BM v2.0 (which is clearly never going to be released) and already knew at the time that it was not going to be very compatible with my current plugins.

I guess it really depends on just how tightly (?) you want to weave your customization in. Stuff like adding new or replacing current menus is quite easy and generally very forward compatible. It's if you really start getting into replacing/changing small details in many places that you'll run the risk of running into problems.

Originally Posted by webwalker

So I'm also interested in adapting a custom interface, and while I understand that Studio 'comes with' SageTV, what are my options for doing Studio work on something other than my 'production' PVR? You know: the one that my wife and two children use most waking moments of the day?

It really depends on what you want to do. If your goals are to change the "look and feel", then IMO there's no reason not to use Client on another machine and doing your work there. All your UI changes (and screw ups ) are isolated to that client machine and can be done without affecting the rest of the system.

The only time I'd hesitate is if you're going to be doing metadata/database work, because then you're affecting the whole system. It's possible (though I haven't done it, fortunately) to screw up the data in the main Sage database. After all, you've got access to the full Sage API.

[webwalker]

Truthfully, I'm only interested in adapting the XLobby 'Vintage' skin to SageTV. I don't have any beef with HOW Sage organizes itself (although the naming convention of the various products could really use some help.)

I'm only concerned with doing the adaptation of the skin/theme which would mostly be alterations in layout and graphics. (My SageTV system chassis is built in to a 1948 Emerson PhonoRadio, and I want to expand the theme on to the interface itself.)

http://xlobby.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=26302#26302

OK, so if I flipped it the other way and said that SageTV Studio was $30 (instead of the client license) I might be willing to cough it up to have a 'safe' dev environment.

BTW, What the dickens is the difference between the client and the placeshifter...? THis is what I mean about the naming convention problems.

TIA,

M

[stanger89]

You can quite possibly do that without studio... The stock STV supports "skins" of sorts. Though for the life of me I can't find any of the "Theme" threads....

Here's an example:
http://forums.sage.tv/forums/showthr...ht=stock+theme

[Brent]

Originally Posted by webwalker

BTW, What the dickens is the difference between the client and the placeshifter...? THis is what I mean about the naming convention problems.

SageTV Client = install on a computer on your network and can operate as a fully-functional 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. HTPC computer accessing content, tuners, EPG, etc from the SageTV Server HTPC. Those in the micorosoft world call it "softsled" after the feature that never arrived for them with Media Center. Snapstream folks call theirs BeyondTV Link. SageTV calls it SageTV Client.

SageTV Placeshifter = install on any computer or laptop and access your SageTV server PC using the same UI. It's very similar to ORB or slingbox except that it requires the SageTV server to serve the content and it's UI matches SageTV's. Most often used across the web to access your SageTV so you can watch Live/Recorded TV, Movies or listen to music from the hotel or office or airport etc. when the content itself is really at your home.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by stanger89

You can quite possibly do that without studio... The stock STV supports "skins" of sorts. Though for the life of me I can't find any of the "Theme" threads....

Looks like you would need to use custom TV, Music and Video screens customized with Studio to replicate that xbmc skin. SageMC (addon for SageMC) seems to be best suited for this I think.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Brent

Looks like you would need to use custom TV, Music and Video screens customized with Studio to replicate that xbmc skin. SageMC (addon for SageMC) seems to be best suited for this I think.

Depends on what you want. The stock STV supports themes, which can change the images/colors of the stock UI. So if the stock STV's functionality is fine with you, and you just want to polish it up a bit, then a Them should be sufficient.

If you totally want to rework how the menus work, well then...

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by webwalker

BTW, What the dickens is the difference between the client and the placeshifter...?

The FAQ is your friend.

Regarding Studio, if you're a serious developer, a client license for your dev machine is well worth the investment. In addition to sandboxing your Studio work, you can also use it to watch TV at your desk.

[gplasky]

As an example you can take a look at the Retro Sage I created a while back. This was done before themes so it also had an import for some of the look and feel. It's been a while and hasn't been updated but for the most part it should work. Or at least give you ideas what can be done.

Gerry

[webwalker]

Gerr,

I did see your Retro theme and liked it a lot and it told me a lot of what can be done. I did see some mention of a rotate animation attrib that I'd like to use, but probably wouldn't add in for the first cut.

The reason that I posted rather than just RTFFAQ was because I RTFFAQ and didn't find the answer as clearly spelled out sans jargon as I felt comfortable with. So I asked. QED.

I'm considering taking the approach of installing a clutch of different themes, getting some ideas for functionality and then using the best bits (including .layout, etc) to help me assemble my skin/theme/prettified version of the interface. I don't mind the face that SageTV presents its interface 'stock' as a simplified version relative to the hoop jumping that MC is capable of. But a freshening is called for.

M

[GKusnick]

Sorry; didn't mean to give offense. I just thought it was worth pointing it out in case you hadn't seen it (and there was nothing in your post to indicate you had).

[webwalker]

Sorry I jumped salty. I came from the MythTV world where RTFM is the answer almost any question you might ask (whether its in the FM or not.)

Thanks for your assistance. I am going to spring for a studio license so I can work on my theme without disrupting the rest of my family's enjoyment of our new rig.

M