Snakeoil Firmware 1.2.2 Testing Builds

[agent_kith]

The Music Player "tab".  Log not working.  Unable to use Upmpdcli because it is selects both server and player simultaneously.

The " tab" is an inefficient use of space. 

• Does Information require such a long blurb?
  
• Can Software and OK be combined as one?
  
• Rather than use the +/- to add a remove servers and players, suggest one box with columns, with a user able to pick and select the servers and players.  My reservation is that it may look too complex.  Or revert back to old layout?
  

What do you mean tab is inefficient use of space? Do you mean the zones? or the flip between running software & output devices?

The logs should say "Coming soon"? Is that text showing up in your setup?

Unfortunately, the old layout with fixed player combinations can't do what most people want these days. The problem is really the backend, not the webapp. De-coupling everything and just run a list of software is more scalable. This is an alpha build, basically to get everything "linked and hooked up". Once the big things are working, the GUI will be cleaned up to be more intuitive. Already have some ideas how to clean this up.

As for that information blob, personally I do not read that at all, because I am well aware of what the players are capable of, and how to set it up. Also, more importantly what works with each other.

However, most users today only want to spend 10 seconds to use something, if the information is not presented to them now, they will  claim the software isn't working. This is why that information panel is so prominent, and it will link back to the Wiki with even more information (in the future). Despite all this, I'm sure 95% of these same folks will not bother to read it anyway. So, .

Future versions of Snakeoil will have the option to disable the blob, and also the audiophile quotes.

Combining the OK and software information as one is possible. May do that for the small screens. Not sure need that for bigger screens though?
 

** Alternatively, have a simple music setup and keep the existing for advanced users. For simple setup, provide 2 options.  Option 1 of LMS + Squeezelite to access local music and streaming, Option 2 using MPD. **

That will be handled in the wizard mode (Coming soon). Users can also use the wizard to switch between this two.

That remind me. On a fresh setup, the LMS actually comes un-configured. I forgot to include a basic setup for LMS that pre-sets everything (path to playlist, music library). Creating a ticket before I forget. Something to consider in a future future -  if I should do this in the wizard too, to allow user the option to play DSD natively, or transcoded to PCM.

I think that 1.2.2 features has creped up more than expected. Just kept adding things as I went along. But hopefully it'll all be good in the long term.

Have made some changes on the GUI. Probably don't have the time to upload the code to demo site this morning, but will hopefully do this by mid week.

Don't really want to promise anything, but hopefully you and others can trust me.. When 1.2.2 is released, the GUI will definitely be more usable compared to before. The whole design is ultimately geared towards a future goal. Something which I will announce, when the kernel builder is done..  i.e.:
 1.2.3+: Kernel builder
 1.2.x: "new thing"

The "new thing" is just a simple frustration I have. It's not really Snakeoil per se, but it's something that has always bothered me...
Of course, to start on that new thing, I have to have a working kernel builder, and before that I have to finish 1.2.2 first . So eventually I will have to release 1.2.2 so can continue on the other massive stuffs.

I planned for 2 more alphas and 3 betas. So this alpha is still at it's infancy.

The new job times is working well - I have around 2 hours before work, and 1 hours after. That gave me max 3 hours of Snakeoil work/support on weekdays. That is, if I don't have family commitments, or other stuffs I need to work on. All things considered, I'm pretty happy with this arrangement. Just hope I can get an extension or a full role after my 6 months contract!

BTW, there will be a long Christmas break coming soon, really looking forward to use that time to work on this (With what's going on I'm not going to be on a holiday)...