Downloading/Offline Mode Roadmap

[LePips]

The status and progress of Downloading/Offline Mode are described below. Issues will not be accepted for this feature until Beta. Each stage will accompany design improvements.

Pre-Pre-Alpha

• basic downloading
• basic offline mode
• basic progress tracking
• read from local file if available for any item

Pre-Alpha

• Series+Season categorized downloads
• more stats on download progress: size downloaded and estimated time left
• split video view models into online/offline instead of a single one, class based
• properly intended offline experience with custom views

Alpha

• allow choosing what file downloaded instead of first listed on the item
• download external subtitles and have video player read them from Pre-Alpha video view model refactoring
• all download caches are cleared as expected

Beta

• all implemented as expected above, get bugs from testers
• take a look at downloading alternate versions and sizes from server, if available from hls streams (not the same as choosing what file to download)
• strings localized

[clapp-tv]

Would there be the possibility of putting some type of DRM or encryption so that it can only be played from the application itself? without being able to get the original file.

[LePips]

The only thing that we are able to do is adhere to the user permission to download media as set in the server. We can't do encryption or DRM, that's an entirely different technology of its own I can't learn due to time. The only thing that we'd be able to do would be to hide the downloads folder from the basic Files app but that can be easily circumvented. Even then, it's more appropriate to show the downloads and having a toggle on the app would completely beat the purpose.

[LordFransie]

I'd look into one of the Adobe media management tools if you want DRM. They're pricey but they do what you want.

[clapp-tv]

I'd look into one of the Adobe media management tools if you want DRM. They're pricey but they do what you want.

Could you provide a little more information on that? how could it be implemented in jellyfin?

[thornbill]

DRM of any kind is against the ideals of the Jellyfin Project and will not be implemented.

The Adobe suggestion is an alternative to using Jellyfin.

[LordFransie]

Yeah apologies if I wasn’t clear enough. You’re going to need to switch to a completely different piece of software and it’s going to be quite expensive. DRM is not a cheap tool.

[LordFransie]

Has this item made any progress?

[LePips]

Some, I had some work a while ago here #362. Just have to work on other stuff before I get back to it.

[balajeek]

Just installed on testflight and i have to say the app looks awesome and fluid. Keep the good work.
First i was looking is if i can download for offline viewing, and i can't seem to find any options, so i came here searching for and found this thread talking about Downloading. Is download option still in development ?

Until then i will test with direct play and let you know of any issues. Thank you.

[Sanfe]

A scheluder to download only at some hours would be a great feature. Some mobile operators let downloads unlimited at night.

[IrateNinja]

There appears to already exist at least some of this functionality, however it is currently hidden and undocumented.

On ConnectToServerViewModel.swift#L33 there is code that enable an otherwise hidden/undocumented defaults boolean .Experimental.downloads when the SHA256 hash of the server url matches a hardcoded value. When this defaults value is true, it adds a download button to the media page.

I've created a branch that adds a switch to the experimental section of the app settings to enable this for other servers that do not match the hard coded value. https://github.com/IrateNinja/Swiftfin/tree/feature/add-experimental-downloads-setting

[LePips]

To be clear, I added that for myself while I was traveling and didn't want to lose the work during my large PR. I highly do not recommend its usage unless you know exactly what it does.

[IrateNinja]

Understood. I created the branch for the same reason you implemented this in the first place, wanted to be able to access media while traveling and in offline environments.

I came with the intention of contributing some time towards this goal (supporting downloading/offline media), only to discover you had done some/most of/a lot of the work already. I did see #362, however, the changes involving .Experimental.downloads seem to be part of a huge commit that touches just about everything in the code base.

Can I get a breakdown of what work has been done, what needs testing, and what is still to do?

[dm3ch]

Are there any formalized things, that newbies can try to do, to help to implement this?

P.S. I'm not sure if there're any Swifters in this discussion, but maybe there's something even beginners can help with

[fidoriel]

Initially, I did not want to comment to make the situation worse. I also would love to see the feature soon. Writing this message, I know I am contributing to make the situation worse. I subscribed to receive PROGRESS on this feature and not messages from people asking for news or telling how much they are benefiting from this feature, how much they are anticipating it.

I am not a contributor of any Jellyfin related project, nor do I sell software in this space.
All Jellyfin creators do this in their spare time. This is visible sometimes, for example in this feature. You can use FinAmp (FOSS, https://apps.apple.com/de/app/finamp/id1574922594) for offline Music and Infuse (paid, https://firecore.com/infuse) for offline Video. Yes, Infuse is paid, so they can have some Devs for doing that. Jellyfin does not. I do only know a little bit about Swift, so I cannot help. There is also another issue wanting for download to be implemented in Jellyfin expo, the JS based Jellyfin app (jellyfin/jellyfin-ios#372). I will use the app that delivers this feature first.

But PLEASE stop asking for progress. It is finished when it is finished. The devs are doing this for free in their spare time. Therefor, they are also developing the features they want to use first. This spams the whole discussion. They will not finish sooner if they are receiving more messages, asking for it. Also, not if they are receiving 3 Messages within 3 weeks. Asking after some months is fine, but within weeks does not help anyone. I am annoyed despite not being a contributor/assignee to this issue/project, just someone interested, so it is in my best interest to not annoy the contributors from their work I am benefitting. Please post only constructive messages, contribute code, test something etc. (This includes also this message, sorry for that). I do want to receive an email from GitHub when something important happens, to see progress and not click it away, so I can identify when I can contribute something useful or use it if the issue closes. Not when the next person cannot listen to music or watch their TV show on a plain. Please use the arrow up to show your interest/consent with a Message.

Sorry for this message again.
Thank you to all the great contributors making this possible. I will only show up again if I can help with my knowledge or skill set in a productive way.

[ult1m8]

Just a quick note to say that I work in software development (not Jellyfin) and client feedback is exactly how we determine what to work on next... otherwise you are working on what you think the client wants instead of what the client actually wants.

Also I wanted to note, as someone that has been keeping an eye on Jellyfin for a long time, this feature is the last thing that is keeping me from moving from Plex.

[adiberk]

I work in the industry as well and I couldn’t agree more. In general open source work relies on feature requests and bug reporting to help prioritize what to work on next.
Having more people comment can help ensure it stays on their radar.
Also just to add. I think most people, when commenting or reporting issues/feature requests do so knowing that open source contributors are incredible and are heroes. But I appreciate your sentiment and the wish to convey gratitude! It is definitely an important reminder!

[fidoriel]

I do also work in the industry, therefor I know that money can make things faster, and it is possible to sponsor a Ticket or contribute if you know the stack.

There is a new app that does support downloads: https://github.com/fredrikburmester/streamyfin
there is also a promising PR in the pipe, the contributor just needs some time to make it shiny: #1065. Because he seems to have a live, he is on holiday, therefor it may take some time.

[EugenMayer]

infuse pro does support offline downloads with Jellyfin as backen, works far better then Plex, which has been broken all the time (10+ years plex user myself and switched recently)