Frame

Automate video schedules with YAML.

Run from command line

Install

    pip3 install git+https://github.com/scztt/frame

Create a settings.yaml file containing:

    events:
        test_video:                                         # unique event name
            name: Test Video                                # descriptive name    
            type: PlayVideo                                 # Must be PlayVIdeo
            schedule: every().day.at("12:02:55")            # schedule string follows syntax of https://github.com/dbader/schedule                            
            # schedule: every(3).minutes
            url: file:///Users/fsc/Desktop/video.mp4       
            # url: http://artificia.org/jsjsjs.mp4          # remote urls should work also, but untested

    frame ~/Desktop/settings.yaml

Develop

Clone

    git clone https://github.com/forensic-architecture/frame

Create development environment through pipenv

    cd frame
    pipenv shell

Install dependencies

    pipenv install

Run in dev

    python frame/frame.py frame/settings.yaml

Production

Frame is designed for automating schedules in exhibition or exhibition-like contexts. You can package a particular config as a standalone Mac application, so that running the schedule in an exhibition context is as easy as double-clicking the icon on a dedicated Mac Mini, or equivalent.

When Frame is packaged, installation becomes as simple as sending a folder with the videos that your config plays (ensuring that they are at the same absolute paths as specified in the config you use to package Frame), and the Mac app file.

Packaging Mac app

Create a file at frame/default.yaml. Frame will default to using this config if no settings.yaml is explicitly provided as an argument.

Once this is created, you can build an application with that configuration embedded:

    cd application/mac
    pipenv run python setup.py py2app

The packaged application should now be in application/Mac/dist/frame.app.

Using a dedicated Mac

If you are using a dedicated Mac for the exhibition, follow these steps to ensure that Frame plays your video smoothly.

Allowing apps from unidentified developers

Given the way that the dedicated Mac app is being built, other Macs treat it suspiciously. If the app doesn't run immediately on double-click, go to:

System Preferences -> Security
At the bottom of the panel, where it says 'Allow apps downloaded from', allow the app as an exception.

Turning the computer on and off at night.

System Preferences -> Energy Saver -> Schedule..
Set to ‘Start up or wake’ at some time each day
Set to ‘Shut down’ at some time each day.

Automatic Login

System Preferences -> Users & Groups -> Login Options
From the 'Automatic Login' dropdown, select the user.

Note that you will not be able to configure automatic login for a User if FileVault or some other encryption at rest is used on the computer.

Startup Items

Add the Frame app as a Login Item for the user with automatic login.

Systems Preferences -> Users & Groups -> ‘+’, and add ‘Frame’. Make sure that you have no other startup items to ensure that the video plays.

forensic-architecture / frame