Next Release Coming at end of May 2025

Hi Guys,

I'm well into the next release now, and working on a few new features plus some small bug fixes that have been reported to me in recent weeks. A great idea from one of our user base is to include custom backgrounds when the normal grey application background is present.

With the application so polished now in my view with most features I had in my vision implemented then I'm reaching out for the next ideas and what you'd like to see. So here are a few ideas that I'd like some steer on in terms of whether they'll be worth exploring.

1. Elasticsearch - Implementing an option indexing system to cater for huge collections. Here I'm looking for feedback as to where those with large collections are finding the application slow.

2. API/SDK - An OpenAPI that allows functionality to be accessed by a RESTful API, this would be editing content, indexing, etc. Ideal for those that are interested in integrating with the application and have a level of coding ability!

3. Local Packing - Here for each index I'd propose to allow the user to opt to create an auto package (a zip maybe) of all the info, tags and artwork that belongs to that index. The idea then would be if you have a fresh install of the app, or another install then if the indexer sees a "package" then it will use this to import the data and then do a light scan. Beauty of this would be the package would act as a backup for that folder.

4. Metadata Cloud - Using the file signature identities, I could implement a library in the cloud that allows uses to match content other users may have already got and tagged etc..

5. DLNA/Screen casting support - I've been looking at this alot, still struggling but its an idea that was in v1 and you could cast to Kodi. I'm thinking something a bit more generic list ChromeCast or DLNA here. Essentially you'd be able to cast the content from the app to a living room tv for example.

6. Analytics - More info about the stats of your collection i.e. % of tags, most common tags, disk usage, index age, etc...

7. Tagging in Media Player - this is something I've wrestled with on another branch of the code and its pretty tricky to get right, but if everyone is seeing as the best use of time to get right then I'm happy to keep pushing this area. Would love some ideas around UI/UX on how best it could work!

So here's just 7 ideas I have for next releases. Let me know if you have some better ones or alternatives. Also let me know about any bugs as I'm still keen to keep polishing existing features!

As always thanks for the support on this awesome project, my two favourite hobbies combined into one project - couldn't wish for anything better!