Jellyseerr Watchlist: Bug Fix & Feature Request

by Alex Johnson 48 views

Introduction

This article addresses a bug and a feature request related to automatically adding requested media to a user's watchlist within the Jellyseerr media management system. Many users rely on Jellyseerr to streamline their media requests and keep track of what they want to watch. The current system has a bug where the automatic addition to the watchlist feature doesn't work as expected. Additionally, there's a feature request to expand this functionality to include all requested media, regardless of how the request was initiated. This article will delve into the specifics of the bug, the proposed feature, and potential solutions to enhance the user experience.

Current Bug: Automatic Add to Watchlist Not Working

The primary issue at hand is that the automatic add-to-watchlist feature in Jellyseerr is not functioning correctly. Users have reported that media requested through various methods, such as direct requests in Jellyseerr, Automatic Advance Season requests, and the Jellyfin Enhanced search, are not being automatically added to their watchlists. This problem is frustrating for users who expect a seamless experience in managing their media requests and keeping track of their desired content. Understanding the root cause of this bug is crucial for providing a fix that restores the intended functionality.

To further elaborate on this issue, let’s consider the different scenarios where users expect the automatic watchlist addition to work:

  • Direct Requests in Jellyseerr: When a user searches for a movie or TV show within Jellyseerr and makes a direct request, the expectation is that the requested item will be automatically added to their watchlist. This is a fundamental feature that simplifies the process of tracking desired media.
  • Automatic Advance Season Requests: For TV shows, users often set up automatic requests for new seasons. When a new season is requested through this feature, it should ideally be added to the watchlist, ensuring the user is notified when the content becomes available.
  • Jellyfin Enhanced Search: The Jellyfin Enhanced search is designed to integrate seamlessly with Jellyseerr, allowing users to request media directly from their Jellyfin interface. Requests made through this method should also trigger the automatic addition to the watchlist.

The failure of these scenarios highlights a significant gap in the current functionality. Users are forced to manually add requested media to their watchlists, which defeats the purpose of having an automated system. This not only adds extra steps to the process but also increases the likelihood of users missing out on content they've requested.

Potential Causes of the Bug

Several factors could be contributing to the malfunctioning automatic add-to-watchlist feature. Here are some potential causes:

  1. Event Handler Issues: It's possible that the event handler responsible for triggering the watchlist addition is not working correctly. Event handlers are crucial components in software systems that listen for specific events (such as a media request) and execute corresponding actions. If the event handler is not properly configured or is encountering errors, it may fail to add the requested media to the watchlist.
  2. API Integration Problems: Jellyseerr interacts with various APIs to manage media requests and watchlist updates. If there are issues with the API integration, such as authentication problems or incorrect API calls, the watchlist addition process may fail.
  3. Database Errors: The watchlist data is stored in a database, and any issues with the database connection or data storage could prevent the automatic addition of media. This could include database corruption, permission errors, or other database-related problems.
  4. Configuration Errors: Incorrect configuration settings within Jellyseerr could also lead to the watchlist feature not working as expected. This might involve settings related to watchlist integration, user permissions, or other relevant configurations.
  5. Software Conflicts: Conflicts with other software or plugins installed on the system could interfere with Jellyseerr's functionality. This is a common issue in complex software environments, where interactions between different components can sometimes lead to unexpected behavior.

Identifying the specific cause of the bug is essential for developing an effective solution. Developers will need to investigate the system logs, debug the code, and potentially use diagnostic tools to pinpoint the root cause of the problem.

Feature Request: General Watchlist Addition for All Requested Media

In addition to addressing the bug, there's a feature request to broaden the scope of the automatic watchlist addition. The proposal is to ensure that any media requested by a user is added to their watchlist, regardless of the method used to initiate the request. This would provide a more comprehensive and user-friendly experience, ensuring that users don't miss out on any content they've requested.

The rationale behind this feature request is simple: if a user takes the time to request a movie or TV show, it's highly likely they want to watch it. Adding the requested media to their watchlist automatically ensures that it stays on their radar and they are notified when it becomes available. This eliminates the need for users to manually add each item to their watchlist, saving time and effort.

Benefits of the Feature

Implementing this feature would offer several key benefits:

  • Improved User Experience: Automatically adding all requested media to the watchlist simplifies the media management process for users. It reduces the number of steps required to track desired content and ensures that nothing is missed.
  • Enhanced Content Discovery: By keeping all requested media in the watchlist, users are more likely to remember and watch the content they've requested. This can lead to a better overall entertainment experience.
  • Consistency: A consistent approach to watchlist management ensures that users can rely on the system to track their requests, regardless of how those requests were made.
  • Reduced Manual Effort: Users won't have to manually add each requested item to their watchlist, which saves time and reduces the potential for errors.

Proposed Implementation

To implement this feature, there are a couple of approaches that could be considered:

  1. Enhance the Existing Event Handler: The current event handler could be modified to ensure that it captures all media requests, regardless of the source. This would involve expanding the scope of the event listener to include all relevant request methods and ensuring that the watchlist addition process is triggered consistently.
  2. Scheduled Task Approach: An alternative solution would be to create a scheduled task that periodically checks all user requests and adds them to the respective watchlists. This approach would involve setting up a task that runs at regular intervals, such as every hour or every day, to scan the request database and update the watchlists accordingly.

Both approaches have their merits and trade-offs. Enhancing the event handler might provide a more immediate response to requests, while the scheduled task approach could be more robust and less prone to issues related to individual event triggers. The choice of implementation would depend on factors such as system performance, complexity, and maintainability.

Potential Solutions

Addressing the bug and implementing the feature request may involve a combination of solutions. Here are some potential strategies:

1. Debugging and Fixing the Event Handler

The first step in resolving the bug is to thoroughly debug the event handler responsible for adding media to the watchlist. This involves:

  • Reviewing the Code: Carefully examine the code to identify any potential errors or inconsistencies in the event handling logic.
  • Analyzing Logs: Check the system logs for any error messages or exceptions that might indicate the cause of the problem.
  • Testing: Conduct thorough testing with different request methods to ensure that the event handler is triggered correctly in all scenarios.

2. Implementing a Scheduled Task as a Fallback

To provide a more robust solution, a scheduled task could be implemented as a fallback mechanism. This task would periodically check for any media requests that have not been added to the watchlist and add them accordingly. This approach can help to catch any requests that might have been missed due to event handler issues or other unforeseen problems.

3. Improving API Integration

If API integration issues are identified as a potential cause of the bug, steps should be taken to improve the reliability and stability of the API connections. This might involve:

  • Re-evaluating Authentication Methods: Ensure that the authentication methods used to access the APIs are secure and properly configured.
  • Implementing Error Handling: Add robust error handling to the API integration code to gracefully handle any errors or exceptions that might occur.
  • Monitoring API Performance: Monitor the performance of the APIs to identify any potential bottlenecks or issues that could affect the watchlist addition process.

4. Database Optimization

If database issues are suspected, steps should be taken to optimize the database performance and ensure data integrity. This might involve:

  • Checking Database Connections: Verify that the database connections are stable and properly configured.
  • Optimizing Queries: Review the database queries used to add media to the watchlist and optimize them for performance.
  • Implementing Database Backups: Ensure that regular database backups are performed to prevent data loss in case of a failure.

5. Providing a Configuration Option for Watchlist Addition

To address the feature request for general watchlist addition, a configuration option could be added to Jellyseerr that allows users to choose whether or not all requested media should be automatically added to their watchlist. This would provide users with flexibility and control over their watchlist management.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of the automatic add-to-watchlist feature not working correctly in Jellyseerr needs to be addressed to provide a seamless user experience. The feature request to add all requested media to the watchlist further enhances the system's usability. By debugging the existing event handler, implementing a scheduled task, improving API integration, optimizing the database, and providing a configuration option, Jellyseerr can become an even more powerful tool for managing media requests and watchlists.

Addressing these issues will not only improve the functionality of Jellyseerr but also enhance user satisfaction. A reliable and user-friendly media management system is crucial for anyone looking to streamline their entertainment experience. By prioritizing these fixes and enhancements, Jellyseerr can continue to be a top choice for media management.

For more information on Jellyseerr and related topics, you can visit the official Jellyseerr GitHub Repository. This is a great resource for staying up-to-date with the latest developments, bug fixes, and feature implementations.