Be in your Stereo

A BeOS-centric system for controlling a database of audio files via HTTP, by Stephen van Egmond.

Table of contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Requirements
  3. Installation
    1. Building an mp3 database
    2. Making it run forever
  4. Usage
  5. Future work
  6. Getting and giving help
This software is freely redistributable in binary form. Source is not currently available. Further licensing to be worked out based on community response.

Introduction

This software was inspired by the need to scratch a particular itch -- in this case, the fact that my digital music collection was growing far quicker than my ability to store and organize it. With hundreds of CDs and an equivalent amount of MP3's, my environment was starting to get pretty disorganized. Did I keep those files on my firewall, Linux machine, Windows partition, BeOS machine at work, or my wife's system? Argh.

I noticed that my original BeBox -- which had long been collecting dust after a move -- could be used in building a solution. It has one fan (in the power supply), which makes it far quieter than my AMD-powered jet engine. I could imagine leaving it on, and not have the noise drive me nuts.

I undertook a survey of what was out there that would let me control the BeBox remotely.

Marco was kind enough to provide me with a more up-to-date version of the source to HTTP-UI, and I set to work deriving a BeOS-centric tool that could be used to easily navigate a large mp3 collection.

The problem of navigating a large amount of information is a tricky one. I don't think that what I've got here is perfect, but it's a start. Some of the ideas I've implemented:

There is nothing more depressing that having watching your software being used by others. It's also very insightful, and provides lots of information that can make the software better if you have the humility to learn the lessons. Therefore, I look to you to let me know how you're using this software, and what parts drive you nuts.

Requirements


next: installation