cmyflix

cmyflix is a lightweight, DIY Netflix-style media server implemented in C. It scans a filesystem for movies and TV shows, retrieves metadata, generates JSON databases and static HTML pages, and provides a simple web UI and HTML5 video playback suitable for low-resource devices and NAS setups.

Key Features

• Scans media directories and builds JSON databases describing movies and TV shows
• Generates static HTML pages from metadata for serving via any web server
• Uses TMDB metadata for titles, covers and descriptions (requires an API key)
• Supports HTML5-friendly video formats (mp4, mkv, ogv, webm) for direct playback
• Generates thumbnails and works with tools like ffmpeg and ImageMagick for media processing
• Minimal dependencies and a small C codebase optimized for low-power devices; buildable with make and installable via a prebuilt package

Use Cases

• Run a lightweight media catalogue and player on a Raspberry Pi or NAS to stream files to browsers on the local network
• Generate a static, browsable movie/TV library that can be served from any web server or static hosting on constrained hardware
• Maintain a simple media index for families or small teams without deploying a heavyweight media server solution

Limitations and Considerations

• Requires a TMDB API key for rich metadata; basic operation is limited without it
• No built-in transcoding; streaming is limited to formats supported by client HTML5 players
• Assumes a strict folder structure for TV shows and movies; organization mismatches may require manual fixes

cmyflix is suited for users who want a minimal, fast media catalog and playback frontend with low resource usage. It prioritizes simplicity and performance over advanced server features and heavy integrations.