Getting Started

MyMedia is actually two pieces of software

Disclaimer

Following these instructions could break your computer or your Roku. I don’t think anything bad will happen and I’ve been careful but it’s a very real possibility that something could break. Don’t hold me responsible if they do. If this breaks something for you, I’m sorry, and if you ask nice I may try to help you. No promises, no warranty.

Security Warning

The way the server works essentially exposes all of the mp3’s in your music folder to an outside user with intimate knowledge of this program. Definitely don’t run this unless your local network is somehow isolated from the internet at large — ie, you’re behind a router.

In other words: If your IP address isn’t something like 192. ? . ? . ? or 10 . ? . ? . ? — for the love of your data, PLEASE don’t run the server.

Installation

  1. Download and install python for your platform
  2. Download MyMedia
  3. Put your Roku into developer mode
  4. Run springboard to install the channel on your Roku and start the server

Python

The software that runs on your computer is written in a language called python and must be run by another program called an interpreter. There is a version of the python interpreter for most operating systems.

Linux Users

You probably already have python installed. It’s pretty standard. Type python and if it starts up press Ctrl+D to quit and skip this section.

Ubuntu users:

sudo aptitude install python

Windows Users

Go to http://www.python.org/download and select the Windows installer that suits your platform (32 or 64 bit.) Run it, accept all the defaults,

OSX

You already have it!

Put your Roku into developer mode

Here’s some more legal hairy-ness. Based on the SDK agreement with Roku, I’m not sure what I’m allowed to tell you here… so you’ll have to discover it for yourself.

Search the web for “roku SDK” and hit the first link (the roku developers site.) Agree to everything, download the sdk, and in the documentation directory you’ll find a document called the developers guide which starts out with instructions for putting your player into development mode. Do that stuff. Write down the IP address of your player.

Run springboard.py to install…

Run the automated client/server installation tool.

Linux

cd installation_dir/server
python springboard.py

Windows

Double click on springboard.vbs or springboard_debug.bat.

Or, if that doesn’t work (because you put python somewhere weird):

Start | Programs | Python | IDLE
Menu: File | Open
Navigate to where you put roku_media_player
Open springboard.py
Menu: Run | Run Module (or press F5)

None of the included batch files or vbs scripts will work if you put python somewhere other than C:\Python26. If you installed python somewhere else then update the scripts you want to use as well.

OSX

Check out czarjosh’s excellent HOWTO

All Users: Configuration Options

Set all configuration variables in the tool. Click on “Install Client” to update your Roku (at the IP address you specified) and click on “Start Server” to start the server. Note that sometimes the Roku will automatically launch the client after you upload it. If this happens you’ll need to go back to the home screen and then launch it again after you’ve started the server.

You’re done!

Troubleshooting

For more help

There’s an active and growing community of users eager to help you. Drop by the forum http://forums.rokulabs.com/viewtopic.php?p=159473 or shoot me an email and hopefully we can work through whatever ails you.

Using the Channel

Fire up your personal music channel. You should find it on your home channel listing. The new channel is called “Music Player” and has the subtitle “Play music from your local network.” It should very quickly give you a listing of the mp3’s and the subdirectories in the music directory you configured. Navigate your collection using the arrow keys and the enter button and press enter to start a song. The up arrow will take you up one level in your collection and the Home button will exit the channel.

Good luck!!

Epilogue

Credits

(alphabetized)

Initial development by:
Brian Taylor (el.wubo@gmail.com)
Copyright 2010

License

The server code in this package is to be distributed under the terms of the GPL. The client code is also GPL but with a special attribution exception for the Roku business entity (per their SDK license agreement.)

Some third party code is also included in the web, simplejson, and eyeD3 folders. Each of these are distributed under their author’s original license (look in their source to see what they are.)

The folder icon is distributed under the creative commons. All other channel theming artwork is Copyright 2010 umbighouse. Channel artwork is free for non-commercial use. Contact the original author if you would like to use the art under different terms.
This is a work in progress. I welcome feedback from your experiences. Let’s make this readme file much better.

-B