improved info status items for the playlist selector

[paraslash.git] / README

diff --git a/README b/README
index 967655fc196e82bd51443d3f5c588491480e8fa3..017bc0c31d71e4d984783d5d0a6a2e3a46a2fc14 100644 (file)
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -8,92 +8,95 @@ It contains the following programs:
 
 - para_server (obligatory):
 
 
 - para_server (obligatory):
 

-        This server listens on a specified tcp port and accepts the
-        usual commands such as play, stop, pause, next. However, there
-        are many more commands.
+       This server supports audio streaming of mp3, ogg vorbis and
+       aac files.  It listens on a tcp port and accepts commands
+       such as play, stop, pause, next from authenticated clients.

 
 

-       For audio streaming, at least one sender must be activated.
-       At the moment, paraslash contains two internal senders:
+       The audio stream may be sent over the network by three
+       different senders:

 
        The http sender is recommended for public streams that can
        be played by any player like mpg123, xmms, winamp...
 
 
        The http sender is recommended for public streams that can
        be played by any player like mpg123, xmms, winamp...
 

+       The dccp sender is experimental and requires kernel support
+       for the rather new datagram congestion control protocol.
+

        The ortp sender is recommended for LAN streaming and for
        private streams that require authentication.
 
        It is possible to activate more than one sender simultaneously.
        The ortp sender is recommended for LAN streaming and for
        private streams that require authentication.
 
        It is possible to activate more than one sender simultaneously.

-       All senders have the same set of commands that allow to
-       control the access permissions of the stream.

 
 

-       para_server needs a database tool to work, mainly to determine
-       which song to stream next. There are two database tools
-       available: mysql and dopey. The former is recommended as dopey
-       is only meant as a fallback and as a starting point for people
-       that want to write their own database tool for paraslash.
+       para_server needs an "audio file selector" to work, mainly
+       to determine which song to stream next. There are three
+       selectors available: random, playlist and mysql. The former
+       chooses audio files randomly and  playlist can handle, well,
+       playlists. Both are always supported.

 
 

-       The mysql database tool connects to a mysql server which
+       The optional mysql selector connects to a mysql server which

        holds information on your audio files. It has several unusual
        features, see README.mysql for details.
 
 - para_client (obligatory):
 
        holds information on your audio files. It has several unusual
        features, see README.mysql for details.
 
 - para_client (obligatory):
 

-        The client program to connect to para_server.
+       The client program to connect to para_server.

 
 - para_recv (optional)
 
 
 - para_recv (optional)
 

-       A command line http/ortp stream grabber.
+       A command line http/dccp/rtp stream grabber.

 
 - para_filter (optional)
 
 
 - para_filter (optional)
 

-       An filter program that converts from stdin and writes to
+       A filter program that converts from stdin and writes to

        stdout. This one is independent from the rest of paraslash,
        so it might be useful also for different purposes.
 
        stdout. This one is independent from the rest of paraslash,
        so it might be useful also for different purposes.
 

-       para_filter combines an mp3 decoder an oggvorbis decoder
+       para_filter combines several decoders (mp3, oggvorbis, aac)

        and a volume normalzer. New filters can be added easily due
        to the modular design. If more than one filter is specified,
        the given filters are 'piped' together in-memory, i.e. without
        calling any of the read(2)/write(2)/select(2) etc. functions.
 
        and a volume normalzer. New filters can be added easily due
        to the modular design. If more than one filter is specified,
        the given filters are 'piped' together in-memory, i.e. without
        calling any of the read(2)/write(2)/select(2) etc. functions.
 

-- para_play (optional)
+- para_write (obligatory)

 
 

-       A small wav/raw player for alsa.
+       A modular audio stream writer. It supports a simple file
+       writer output plugin and an optional wav/raw player for alsa.
+       Debian package: libasound2-dev

 
 - para_audiod (optional, but recommended):
 
 
 - para_audiod (optional, but recommended):
 

-       The local daemon that starts playback and collects information
-       from para_server to be forwarded to local clients.
-
-       para_audiod reads the audio stream from the network if
-       para_server indicates that there is a stream available. It may
-       be sent through any of the supported filters (see para_filter
-       above) before the result is fed to the output software
-       (default: para_play) which must be capable of reading from
-       stdin, but is not restricted otherwise.
+       The local daemon that collects information from para_server. It
+       starts an appropriate receiver, filter and player as soon
+       as para_server announces the availability (and the type) of
+       an audio stream. para_audiod listens on a local socket and
+       sends status information about para_server and para_audiod
+       to local clients on request.

 
 - para_audioc (optional, but recommended)
 
 
 - para_audioc (optional, but recommended)
 

-       A small client that can talk to para_audiod. Used to control
-       para_audiod and to receive status info. It can also be used to
-       grab the stream at any point in the filter chain. para_audioc
-       is needed by para_gui, para_sdl_gui and para_krell, see below.
+       The client program which talks with para_audiod. Used to
+       control para_audiod, to receive status info, or to grab the
+       stream at any point in the filter chain.

 
 

-- para_gui (optional, but recommended):
+       para_audioc (hence para_audiod) is needed by para_gui,
+       para_sdl_gui and para_krell, see below.

 
 

-        Themable ncurses-based gui. It calls para_audioc and presents
-        the obtained information in an ncurses window. para_gui
-        provides key-bindings for the most common commands and new
-        key-bindings can be added easily.
+- para_gui (optional):
+
+       Themable ncurses-based gui. It calls para_audioc and presents
+       the obtained information in an ncurses window. para_gui
+       provides key-bindings for the most common commands and new
+       key-bindings can be added easily.

 
 - para_sdl_gui (optional):
 
 
 - para_sdl_gui (optional):
 

-        SDL-based gui. Similar to para_gui but presents its output in
-        an X window (fullscreen mode is also available) and can display
-        jpg images on a per song basis. para_sdl_gui provides an input
-        prompt to enter arbitrary commands. However, it can also be used
-        non-interactively (e.g. as a screen saver) via the -i switch.
+       SDL-based gui. Similar to para_gui but presents its output
+       in an X window (fullscreen mode is also available) and can
+       display jpg images on a per song basis. para_sdl_gui provides
+       an input prompt to enter arbitrary commands. However, it
+       can also be used non-interactively (e.g. as a screen saver)
+       via the -i switch.

 
 

-- para_krell (optional, only useful in conjunction with the mysql dbtool):
+- para_krell (optional, only useful in conjunction with the mysql selector):

 
        A plugin for gkrellm which shows small pictures of the
        current song. It allows you to launch 27 different commands
 
        A plugin for gkrellm which shows small pictures of the
        current song. It allows you to launch 27 different commands


@@ -104,13 +107,13 @@ It contains the following programs:
 
        A (Linux-only) alarm clock and volume-fader.
 
 
        A (Linux-only) alarm clock and volume-fader.
 

-- para_dbadm (optional, only useful in conjunction with the mysql dbtool):
+- para_dbadm (optional, only useful in conjunction with the mysql selector):

 
        Very simple curses-based frontend which uses libmenu. Useful
        for quickly changing the attributes of the current song
        (e.g. from para_gui as an external command).
 
 
        Very simple curses-based frontend which uses libmenu. Useful
        for quickly changing the attributes of the current song
        (e.g. from para_gui as an external command).
 

-- para_slider (optional, only useful in conjunction with the mysql dbtool):
+- para_slider (optional, only useful in conjunction with the mysql selector):

 
        A small X application which shows a scrollbar for each
        attribute defined in the mysql database. It creates a stream
 
        A small X application which shows a scrollbar for each
        attribute defined in the mysql database. It creates a stream


@@ -127,11 +130,8 @@ REQUIREMENTS:
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 In any case you need
 
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 In any case you need
 

-       - gcc, the gnu compiler collection (shipped with distro): gcc-3
-       or newer is prefered, but gcc-2.95 is still supported. Note
-       that gcc-2.95 may spit out many warnings like unused function
-       parameters and missing initializers. These are all harmless
-       and may be ignored.
+       - gcc, the gnu compiler collection (shipped with distro): gcc-3.3
+       or newer is required.

 
        - openssl (needed by server, client): usually shipped with
        distro, but you might have to install the "development"
 
        - openssl (needed by server, client): usually shipped with
        distro, but you might have to install the "development"


@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ In any case you need
 
        - software mixing, e.g. ALSA and the direct mixing plugin (dmix)
 
 
        - software mixing, e.g. ALSA and the direct mixing plugin (dmix)
 

-If you want to use the mysql-based dbtool (recommended), you also need
+If you want to use the mysql-based audio file selector, you also need

 
        - mysql-server
        - mysql-client
 
        - mysql-server
        - mysql-client


@@ -160,13 +160,19 @@ make sure to install the corresponding development package as well.
 If you want to stream ogg vorbis files you'll need:
 
        - libogg, libvorbis, libvorbisfile, and a command line ogg vorbis
 If you want to stream ogg vorbis files you'll need:
 
        - libogg, libvorbis, libvorbisfile, and a command line ogg vorbis

-               player, e.g. para_filter or ogg123.
+       decoder, e.g. para_filter or ogg123.

 
                http://www.xiph.org/downloads/
 
 
                http://www.xiph.org/downloads/
 

-Note that para_audiod still works even if neither mp3 nor ogg support
-was compiled in. You'll have to use the --no_default_filters option
-in this case (and e.g. "mpg123 -" as the stream write command).
+Debian packages: libogg-dev libvorbis-dev
+
+For aac files (m4a) you'll need libfaad. Get it at
+
+       http://www.audiocoding.com/modules/wiki/?page=AAC
+
+Note that para_audiod still works even if no audio file support was
+compiled in. You'll have to use the --no_default_filters option in this
+case (and e.g. "mpg123 -" as the stream write command for mp3 streams).

 
 If you intend to use the optional ortp streamer:
 
 
 If you intend to use the optional ortp streamer:
 


@@ -207,12 +213,6 @@ LICENSE:
 ~~~~~~~~
 Distribution of paraslash is covered by the GNU GPL. See file COPYING.
 
 ~~~~~~~~
 Distribution of paraslash is covered by the GNU GPL. See file COPYING.
 

-LIMITATIONS:
-~~~~~~~~~~~~
-The mysql database tool assumes that the basenames of your audio files
-are unique. If this is not the case, don't use this database tool,
-rename your files, or create your own database tool.
-

 THE AUTHOR:
 ~~~~~~~~~~~
 Author: Andre Noll <maan@systemlinux.org>
 THE AUTHOR:
 ~~~~~~~~~~~
 Author: Andre Noll <maan@systemlinux.org>