---
date: 2021-11-29T22:45
tags:
  - timeline
  - software
  - notes
---

# a self-hosted podcast playback station

## components

### hardware

- raspberry pi 3
- wired speakers

### software

- [raspberry pi os](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/)
  - packages:
    - `python-pip`
    - `libglib2.0-dev`
    - `libxml2-dev`
    - `libcurl4-openssl-dev`
    - `libid3-3.8.3-dev`
    - `vim`
- [`mopidy`](https://mopidy.com/)
  - extensions:
    - [`mopidy-m3u`](https://docs.mopidy.com/en/latest/ext/m3u/)
    - [`mopidy-local`](https://github.com/mopidy/mopidy-local)
    - [`mopidy-musicbox-webclient`](https://github.com/pimusicbox/mopidy-musicbox-webclient)
    - [`mopidy-mpd`](https://github.com/mopidy/mopidy-mpd)
    - [`mopidy-stream`](https://docs.mopidy.com/en/latest/ext/stream/)
- [`castget`](https://castget.johndal.com/)

## general setup

1. set up headless raspbian, connect wifi, set up user acct, and podcast dir
```bash
sudo raspi-config
mkdir -p /home/pi/podcasts/{playlists,podcast1,podcast2,podcast3}
```
2. [install `mopidy`](https://docs.mopidy.com/en/latest/installation/debian/) +
   extensions (see links above for installation info)
```bash
# edit /etc/mopidy/mopidy.conf
[local]
enabled = true
media_dir = /home/pi/podcasts
scan_timeout = 10000

[file]
enabled = false

[http]
enabled = true
hostname = 0.0.0.0
port = 6680

[mpd]
enabled = true
hostname = 0.0.0.0
port = 6600

[logging]
verbosity = 1

[m3u]
enabled = true
playlists_dir = /home/pi/podcasts/playlists
```
3. compile and install `castget` (see link above for installation info)
```bash
# edit /home/pi/castgetrc

# note, the keys in this config should correspond with the podcast dirs
# created in step 1 above

[podcast1]
url=http://url.to/podcast1
spool=/home/pi/podcasts/podcast1
filename=%(date) %(title).mp3

[podcast2]
url=http://url.to/podcast2
spool=/home/pi/podcasts/podcast2
filename=%(date) %(title).mp3

...
```
4. create `sync.sh` script with the following content (ymmv, use at your own
   risk):
```bash
#!/usr/bin/env bash

set -e

# fetch podcasts
/usr/local/bin/castget -C /home/pi/castgetrc -1 "$1"

playlist="/home/pi/podcasts/playlists/$1.m3u"
files=(/home/pi/podcasts/$1/*.mp3)

# remove stale playlist
if [ -f "$playlist" ]
then
  rm "$playlist"
fi

# build new playlist with newest entries _first_
for (( i=${#files[@]}-1; i>=0; i-- ))
do
  fp="${files[$i]}"
  fn=$(basename -- "$fp")

  # next, we'll make these all relative fps
  quoted=$(python -c "from urllib import parse, sys; print(parse.quote(sys.argv[1]))" "$fn")
  echo "local:track:$1/$quoted" >> "$playlist"
done

sudo mopidyctl local scan
```
5. add cron jobs
```bash
5 * * * * /home/pi/sync.sh podcast1 >> /path/to/podcast1.log
0,15,30,45 15,16,17 * * * /home/pi/sync.sh podcast2 >> /path/to/podcast2.log
0 0 * * 5 /home/pi/sync.sh podcast3 >> /path/to/podcast3.log
```
6. add any additional internet radio streams into one or more playlist files
   in `/home/pi/podcasts/playlists`.
7. enjoy!