[mythtv] high level view of project

[Joseph A. Caputo]

Jason Donmoyer wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> I'm currently evaluating several PVR/Media convergence projects like MythTV
> for my own personal use and have some general questions before jumping in.
> If anyone can fill in with some answers, it would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome aboard.

> Being a developer myself, I'm curious about the underlying architecture.
> Anyone have some general info regarding some of the assumptions behind
> MythTV?  What's the mechanism for adding functionality (plugins, modifying
> base code, etc)?

The TV/PVR functionality and the GUI/menu framework form the bulk of the 
base code.  Additional functionality can be added in various ways: 
mythmusic, mythvideo, etc. are plugins (very simple/limited plugin 
framework).  You can also launch other processes, and configure the menu 
screens via XML.

> I can't seem to view the CVS from the web this evening, so I'm curious what
> the bulk of the software is written in.

The core software is C++, based on the Qt library from Trolltech.

> What's the best way to make full use of Comcast digital cable.. to use the
> set top box, or bypass it completely (if this is the case, anyone have any
> experience about which tuner cards work best for such a setup?)?

Well, if you want Myth to be able to access all the channels you're 
paying for, you need to go through the set-top box.  You can also plug 
the cable directly into the tuner (in addition to the S-Video/Composite 
connection from the STB) as a 'backup' video source; that connection 
will give you channels < 125.

> Is there current/planned support to manage playlists and stream audio to
> other computers (of varying OS's, preferably controlled from the server...
> I'm thinking something like slimp3 (www.slimdevices.com) but with additional
> functionality) without the need for running a 'mythtv frontend'?

Lot's of chatter about different features, but nothing really concrete 
yet in that area (music, you mean?).  Someone has a working DirectShow 
filter for playing Myth recordings in Windows; someone else (I hear) is 
working on a Windows frontend.

-JAC