readme.md

Raspberry Pi Video Looper

This is a simple app that when started with node app.js will play it's video on a loop using omxplayer's --loop option. It is NOT perfect, but is pretty good for longer files well-rendered.

How to use

Start the app using node app.js and navigate to http://[pi ip]:3000 to upload a video file.

How to install NodeJS on a Raspberry Pi 3

wget https://nodejs.org/dist/v7.6.0/node-v7.6.0-linux-armv7l.tar.xz
tar -xzf node-v7.6.0-linux-armv7l.tar.xz
cd node-v7.6.0-linux-armv7l
sudo cp -R * /usr/local/

For other Pi's, substitute armv7l accordingly (find the one needed by running uname -a) Then to install dependencies, just do npm install from the app directory.

To do (short term)

• Ability to file manage previously uploaded files and choose which is active
• Ability to delete uploaded files
• Ability to set Pi output format through web ui
• New web control UI and upload progress monitor
• Ability to react if files fail (possibly testing files to make sure they play through before making it the 'go to' file because upload might have failed)
• Security, obviously

To Do (long term)

• Set up a .sh file to completely set up the Pi

Setting up the Pi in the best way for this use

Start with Raspbian Jessie

• Using sudo raspi-config, make the following tweaks

  • Change the boot options to Console Autologin
  • Enable SSH (and change your password from the default)
  • In advanced options, set the Memory Split to a decent amount (512MB on a Pi 3 works well)

• Reboot the Pi

• Install NodeJS as above

• git clone this repository and cd into it

• Install dependencies using npm install

• Set up launching on boot using PM2

sudo npm install -g pm2
pm2 startup
#This asks you to run the following command
sudo env PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin /usr/local/lib/node_modules/pm2/bin/pm2 startup systemd -u pi --hp /home/pi
pm2 start app.js
pm2 dump #this saves PM2's configuration to reload on next boot