Where do I start?

[jezbo]

Hello,

I've just bought a Squeezebox and want to start programming my own plugins to control it - the SlimServer web interface just doesn't do what I want. I want to build a Windows application like this one which I did for iTunes:

http://albumbrowser.galleytech.com/

So where do I start? Given this is for a Windows platform, what do I need to start looking into in order to work out how to control SlimServer from a 3rd party app? I guess I'll need things like:

- start playing a song now
- next/prev/pause/stop
- add a song to the playlist queue
- delete a song from the playlist queue
- clear the playlist queue
- skip to a specific position within the playing track

Then there's the question of how SlimServer would like to be told what a track is - ie. whether it needs an ID within its own database or whether a full file path will do.

Any guidance gratefully received. I'll be happy to share my app with anyone that helps.

[Ron Olsen]

The SlimServer Command Line Interface (CLI) is how third-party apps communicate with SlimServer. Documentation for the CLI API is included with the SlimServer software, in HTML/EN/html/docs/cli-api.html in the SlimServer installation directory.

CLI API documentation is also available through the SlimServer web interface at http://localhost:9000. Go to Help->Technical Information->The SlimServer Command Line Interface.

Also check out the work that others have done:

Moose: http://www.rusticrhino.com/drlovegrove/ and http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=32467
slimfx: http://solaristics.net/slimfx/ and http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=32422
FatGooey: http://www.the-gordons.net/homepage/DownLoad.html and http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=32414

Good luck!

[mherger]

> I've just bought a Squeezebox and want to start programming my own
> plugins to control it - the SlimServer web interface just doesn't do
> what I want. I want to build a Windows application like this one which
> I did for iTunes:

There's a new Flash based skin calle SlimFX which might be closer to what
you're looking for than the other skins:

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=32422

I'm sure Mike would be happy if you wanted to give him a helping hand :-).

> So where do I start?

On your SlimServer you'll find the Command Line Interface (CLI)
documentation in the Help/Technical something section.

> - start playing a song now

That command is called "start"

> - next/prev/pause/stop

That would be "index +1", "index -1", "pause" and "play"

> - add a song to the playlist queue

"playlist add"

> - delete a song from the playlist queue

"playlist deleteitem"

> - clear the playlist queue

"playlist clear"

> - skip to a specific position within the playing track

"time seconds"

> Then there's the question of how SlimServer would like to be told what
> a track is - ie. whether it needs an ID within its own database or
> whether a full file path will do.

I think both can be used.

--

Michael

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.herger.net/SlimCD - your SlimServer on a CD
http://www.herger.net/slim - AlbumReview, Biography, MusicInfoSCR

[transporter]

jezbo,

Maybe there is already someting which could fit your needs.
http://www.rusticrhino.com/drlovegrove/

otherwise check this out http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.cgi?DeveloperGuide

[jezbo]

Many thanks good people, the CLI is indeed what I was looking for,

[Ron Olsen]

Hi jezbo,

Pesonally, I would like to see development of third-party apps that work on multiple platforms, like slimfx.

Windows-only apps (Moose, FatGooey) don't do me any good, since I run SlimServer on Linux.

It would be great if you could develop your app to run on Linux as well as Windows.

[mherger]

> Windows-only apps (Moose, FatGooey) don't do me any good, since I run
> SlimServer on Linux.

We're talking about client apps here. As long as the app is using the CLI
the application doesn't care about the server's OS.

> It would be great if you could develop your app to run on Linux as well
> as Windows.

I second that. I'd like to see some supporting efforts for the SlimFX skin
development...

--

Michael

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.herger.net/SlimCD - your SlimServer on a CD
http://www.herger.net/slim - AlbumReview, Biography, MusicInfoSCR

[erland]

> Windows-only apps (Moose, FatGooey) don't do me any good, since I run
> SlimServer on Linux.

We're talking about client apps here. As long as the app is using the CLI the application doesn't care about the server's OS.
I care since I'm running Linux on both my server and my laptop. Moose is one of the applications I really miss since I kicked out Windows from the laptop.

[Ron Olsen]

We're talking about client apps here. As long as the app is using the CLI the application doesn't care about the server's OS.

Client apps that only run on Windows don't do me any good. I've got one computer that runs SlimServer, my web browser, client apps, and everything else. At that computer is running Gentoo Linux.

SlimFX has lots of promise, and I would love to see some cooperative effort put into improving it.

[mherger]

>> We're talking about client apps here. As long as the app is using the
>> CLI the application doesn't care about the server's OS.
>>
> Client apps that only run on Windows don't do me any good.

Wow, never thought my phrase would ask for so much comments... I meant
that the OP wouldn't have to care about the server operating system, as
long as he stuck to CLI. I myself prefer cross-platform solutions...

> SlimFX has lots of promise, and I would love to see some cooperative
> effort put into improving it.

So do I.

--

Michael

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.herger.net/SlimCD - your SlimServer on a CD
http://www.herger.net/slim - AlbumReview, Biography, MusicInfoSCR

[Kyle]

I'll be happy to share my app with anyone that helps.

Looks like you're sharing your itunes app with anyone who has 10 quid.

[mherger]

> Looks like you're sharing your itunes app with anyone who has 10 quid.

Why not?

--

Michael

-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.herger.net/SlimCD - your SlimServer on a CD
http://www.herger.net/slim - AlbumReview, Biography, MusicInfoSCR

[jezbo]

Indeed, but I gave licences for free to the people that input their comments and encouragement in the early stages. Nothing wrong with that!

I'd love to be able to develop cross-platform apps but my experience is all in Windows .NET ... maybe when I have time to learn some new technologies ...

[Kyle]

Indeed, but I gave licences for free to the people that input their comments and encouragement in the early stages. Nothing wrong with that!

Fair enough. No criticism on my part -- just an observation. If you develop something that adds value to my experience, I'll be happy to pay for it.