thelinuxlink.net

So we're going to build a pod browser/catcher based on python from the ground up. What are the best features from other podcast browsing/catching applications that you'd like to see in this new app? I'll start:
- a tabbed interface (one tab for most recent downloads, another tab for RSS feeds, another for bittorrent feeds)
- bittorrent support
- automatically delete old files after a certain time (14 days, 30 days)
- option to group downloads by date or artist/show
- by default only download the newest episode of a particular feed the first time it runs
- have the ability to check off all or some of the episodes of a particular feed for download
- import and export of feed lists (XML format?)
- run in the background at regular intervals (every 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours)

Although I use and love Bashpodder, I do think there is a need for something like this. Three thoughts:

Support video podcast downloads, too

Patrick wrote:- run in the background at regular intervals (every 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours)

Along these lines, I like to run apps that have a notification area icon. If it runs in the background, a little notification area icon that tells you when new podcasts have been download and where you can right click to easily change preferences etc. would be nice.

Please make it GTK2.

Chess wrote:

Patrick wrote:- run in the background at regular intervals (every 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours)

Along these lines, I like to run apps that have a notification area icon. If it runs in the background, a little notification area icon that tells you when new podcasts have been download and where you can right click to easily change preferences etc. would be nice

I'm with you on this one chess, if something is running in the background, I would like to know when it downloaded something afterward. Sometimes I forget what exactly is running in the background.

I also want to put a vote later down the road for a crap brown Ubuntu skin for the gui. also integration with my "superior apple product". just kidding . It sounds like a cool idea Pat, I wish I could help out, however python is not a language I know. I will definately try it out on release.

I'd like to see this app done in Qt, and maybe even with KDE integration, but just a Qt app is good for me.

From a quick search I found gpodder http://perli.net/projekte/gpodder/ which is GTK based and written in Python. Looks like it's coming along. Last release is 0.8, which came out in July.

As I recall Peapod http://www.peapodpy.org/ was the first Python based bashpodder clone. Works, but still command line.

I'm sure there are more out there, but maybe one of these will give you some code to start with.

Tsuroerusu wrote:I'd like to see this app done in Qt, and maybe even with KDE integration, but just a Qt app is good for me.

I second that
I haven't used PyQT but I could learn it so I could help you guys with development some if you need it.

CptnObvious999 wrote:

Tsuroerusu wrote:I'd like to see this app done in Qt, and maybe even with KDE integration, but just a Qt app is good for me.

I second that

For once we agree on something!

Tsuroerusu wrote:I'd like to see this app done in Qt, and maybe even with KDE integration, but just a Qt app is good for me.

*gasp* But QT is non-Free!

(just kidding, just kidding)

Seriously, though, doesn't Amarok already fill the podcatcher need in KDE? I have not used it much, so I could be wrong, but from what I hear, it sounds like it does everything already. On the other hand, it seems a good GTK2 podcatcher is lacking, although I have not checked out gpodder.

But what I do know? I use Bashpodder!

Tsuroerusu wrote:I'd like to see this app done in Qt, and maybe even with KDE integration, but just a Qt app is good for me.

Have you tried Kpodder:
http://www.leonscape.co.uk/linux/kpodder/

I used kpodder for some time and eventually it was not working quite right. I went to Castpodder after that. Anyone still using kpodder?

Chess wrote:

Tsuroerusu wrote:I'd like to see this app done in Qt, and maybe even with KDE integration, but just a Qt app is good for me.

*gasp* But QT is non-Free!

(just kidding, just kidding)

Listen to the recent TLLTS interview with Mr. Richard M. Stallman, founder of the free software movement, you'll hear him clearly say that Qt is free software.

(Just practicing the answer I'm gonna throw in the face of ignorant-ass GNOME people that still argue that Qt is not free).

Chess wrote:Seriously, though, doesn't Amarok already fill the podcatcher need in KDE? I have not used it much, so I could be wrong, but from what I hear, it sounds like it does everything already.

Amarok is very close to the point where I would use it, but the problem I have had is that it sometimes butches the filename of the files it downloads because of these awfully frustrating redirects that a lot of podcast feeds uses to track how many people download a given show. I havn't had that problem with CastPodder.

Also there are some people, I'm not one of them, who don't use Amarok but wants a podcatching client.

Chess wrote:On the other hand, it seems a good GTK2 podcatcher is lacking, although I have not checked out gpodder.

Check out the latest version of Banshee, it has a really cool podcatching plugin.

Chess wrote:But what I do know? I use Bashpodder!

Keepin' it real are we?
(Urban Dictionary: "To not be fake. Be yourself.")

Patrick wrote:

Tsuroerusu wrote:I'd like to see this app done in Qt, and maybe even with KDE integration, but just a Qt app is good for me.

Have you tried Kpodder:
http://www.leonscape.co.uk/linux/kpodder/

I used kpodder for some time and eventually it was not working quite right. I went to Castpodder after that. Anyone still using kpodder?

I'm not really into the BashPodder kind of podcatching solution, I've been using CastPodder for like forever, and it's really nice, although I'd wish it was a Qt/KDE app, that would be truly awesome.

I think you might find some of this code from the castpodder wiki useful. It was the number 6 hit from a google search on castpodder.

Mind you if you get redirected to a porn site don't blame the castpodder guys. They've locked down their wiki to prevent vandalism.

On a more serious note, why don't you just take the last GPL rev of CastPodder and start from there.

1. It seems to have most of the features you want.
2. It's apparently written in the language you want to use.
3. Lots of people use it already.
4. The GPL project has been discontinued and needs a new maintainer.

chuck wrote:On a more serious note, why don't you just take the last GPL rev of CastPodder and start from there.

1. It seems to have most of the features you want.
2. It's apparently written in the language you want to use.
3. Lots of people use it already.
4. The GPL project has been discontinued and needs a new maintainer.

It is written to use wxPython and not Qt
Also it is hard to take existing code and greatly change/improve upon it but if you start from scratch you know exactly how it works and where everything is. I think it would be better to start clean and can always use bits and pieces of the code if needed.

Patrick wrote:

Tsuroerusu wrote:I'd like to see this app done in Qt, and maybe even with KDE integration, but just a Qt app is good for me.

Have you tried Kpodder:
http://www.leonscape.co.uk/linux/kpodder/

I used kpodder for some time and eventually it was not working quite right. I went to Castpodder after that. Anyone still using kpodder?

I use Kpodder, I like it, it works pretty well. Occasionally it will download an episode twice, and it doesn't have any option to skip a feed if the server is down. That is one little annoyance. If a server is down, it will just hang forever. I would use CastPodder, but that seems to be problematic to install on certain distros.

I give my vote for a lightweight application. I would even go for a ncurses program (which I don't believe one exists yet) with the features discussed. I like to run old hardware, and would probably keep using bashpodder if the client was too resource hungry.

This is the reason that I don't use Amarok, it seems to resource hungry for me. XMMS and bashpodder are a great combination for me.

The feature list that is being talked about is neat. However, we already have a QT vs. GTK2 war, and the that seems to be the most important feature to the majority of folks here, the interface.

Whatever you decide, have fun!