Kodi Addon: Enhancement Ideas & Feature Requests

Hello there! As a fresh user diving into the world of Kodi addons, I've been exploring the Lunatixz addon and have a few suggestions that I believe could significantly enhance the user experience. Beyond the bug fix that was recently reviewed and merged, I've identified several areas ripe for improvement. I'm eager to share these ideas, and if there's interest, I'm more than willing to submit a pull request with the implementations I'm currently developing in my fork.

Image Cycle Optimization

One of the primary enhancements I propose revolves around the image cycling mechanism. Currently, the addon seems to redraw images quite frequently, leading to a repetitive viewing experience where the same image reappears within a short sequence of 2-3 images. To address this, I suggest implementing a rotation algorithm that ensures each image is displayed before any image is repeated. This would create a more diverse and engaging visual experience for users, preventing the feeling of repetition and maximizing the enjoyment of the addon. By prioritizing the display of unseen images, we can ensure that users are constantly exposed to fresh content, making the screensaver or image slideshow feel more dynamic and less predictable.

To achieve this, the system could maintain a list of images that have been displayed and prioritize the selection of images that haven't been shown yet. Once all images have been displayed, the cycle can reset, and the rotation begins anew. This approach not only enhances the viewing experience but also optimizes the use of available images, ensuring that users get the most out of the content provided by the addon. Furthermore, the implementation of such a feature could be relatively straightforward, involving modifications to the image selection logic within the addon's codebase. The benefits, however, would be substantial, leading to a noticeable improvement in the overall user satisfaction and engagement with the addon.

Picture Location Overlay

Another valuable addition to the addon would be the inclusion of a picture location overlay. This feature would display the location or source of the image at the bottom of the screen, providing users with valuable context and information about the visuals they are viewing. Imagine seeing a stunning landscape and instantly knowing where it was captured – this adds a layer of depth and appreciation to the experience. To maintain user flexibility and cater to individual preferences, I propose this feature be implemented as a checkbox option within the addon's settings. This allows users to easily toggle the overlay on or off, depending on their viewing preferences.

Implementing this feature involves fetching the location data associated with each image and overlaying it onto the display. This could be achieved by retrieving metadata from the image file or accessing relevant information from the image source API. The overlay itself could be designed to be unobtrusive, perhaps using a semi-transparent background and subtle text, ensuring that it doesn't detract from the visual appeal of the image. The option to enable or disable the overlay in the settings provides users with the control to customize their viewing experience, making the addon more versatile and user-friendly. This simple addition can significantly enhance the educational and informational value of the addon, transforming it from a mere image viewer into a window to the world.

Default Images Per Request Setting

To optimize the addon's performance and ensure efficient data retrieval, I recommend setting the default number of images per request to 30. This is based on my understanding that 30 is the maximum allowed per request from the Unsplash API, which appears to be a primary source of images for the addon. By aligning the default setting with this limit, we can minimize the number of API calls required to fetch images, thereby reducing network overhead and improving the overall responsiveness of the addon. This optimization is particularly crucial for users with slower internet connections or those who want to minimize data usage.

Setting the default to the maximum allowed images per request is a simple yet effective way to streamline the image loading process. It ensures that the addon is making the most efficient use of the API, retrieving the maximum amount of data with each call. This not only improves performance but also reduces the likelihood of encountering API rate limits, which can occur if too many requests are made in a short period. This change would be largely transparent to the user, requiring minimal effort to implement while providing tangible benefits in terms of speed and efficiency. It's a practical optimization that demonstrates a commitment to providing a smooth and responsive user experience.

Advanced Ideas for Future Enhancements

Beyond these immediate suggestions, I've also been contemplating some more complex features that could further elevate the Lunatixz addon. These are longer-term ideas that I may explore after implementing the initial enhancements.

Local Image Cache

One such idea is implementing a local cache where requested images are saved. This cache could then be utilized during subsequent rotations or screensaver starts, reducing the need to fetch the same images repeatedly from the internet. This would be particularly beneficial for users who frequently use the addon, as it would significantly decrease loading times and bandwidth consumption. To provide users with control over their storage usage, this feature could be offered as an option in the settings, allowing them to specify the maximum size of the local cache.

The implementation of a local cache would involve creating a system for storing downloaded images on the user's device. This could be done using the local file system or a dedicated database. When the addon needs to display an image, it would first check the cache to see if the image is already available. If it is, the image can be loaded directly from the cache, bypassing the need to download it again. If the image is not in the cache, it would be downloaded from the internet and then added to the cache for future use. The settings for the local storage size would allow users to balance the benefits of caching with the available storage space on their device. This feature would not only improve performance but also enhance the addon's usability in offline scenarios, where users may not have access to the internet.

Image Resolution Filtering

Another area for improvement is addressing the issue of low-resolution or poor-quality images. Some images sourced by the addon may not meet the desired quality standards, resulting in a less-than-ideal viewing experience. To mitigate this, I propose implementing a mechanism for checking image resolution and potentially sorting out images that fall below a certain threshold. This could involve analyzing the image dimensions or other quality metrics to identify and filter out substandard images.

This feature would require the addon to analyze the properties of each image before displaying it. This could be done by examining the image's metadata or by performing more advanced image analysis techniques. Images that are deemed to be of insufficient quality could be excluded from the rotation or displayed with a warning. The specific criteria for determining image quality could be configurable in the settings, allowing users to customize the filtering based on their preferences. This enhancement would ensure that users are consistently presented with high-quality visuals, improving the overall aesthetic appeal of the addon.

Conclusion

I believe these suggestions, ranging from immediate improvements to more complex features, have the potential to significantly enhance the Lunatixz Kodi addon. I'm eager to hear your thoughts on these ideas and would be thrilled to contribute to their implementation. Let me know if you're interested in a pull request, and I'll gladly share the progress I've made in my fork. By working together, we can make this addon even better!

For more information on Kodi addon development, you can visit the official Kodi Wiki. This resource provides comprehensive documentation and guidance for developers looking to create or enhance Kodi addons.