Alexandria's DB features are built on top of a database-agnostic ORM layer, so you may want to set it up with an Oracle cluster :)
I might, if you would just release it allready 
I’m starting to think this whole plex nine thing is just a big social experiment about hyping a non existant product. Regardless, some good has come of it, as others snatch your ideas and implement it in their own software. So kudos for that :-)))
Thanks for your kind words. If you're trying to get on our short list of new alpha testers, it's working! And on my Christmas list!
I sense I stepped on some toes and that certainly wasnt the intention. I do believe the ideas you guys have for Plex nine are great. I do think Plex is superior to Xbmc in many ways (cache handeling seems better, mouse cursor is hidden etc.). But truthfully, I have lost faith in plex nine ever becoming reality. I do hope Im proven wrong, hence I check in here every now and then for updates. Until then, im glad some of the features im really exited about in plex nine come to life elswhere. Running an SQL might not be an alternative to Alexandria, but it certainly beats symlinks for centralized library.
Now Im okay with not being on your selected list of alpha testers. But all I want for Christmas is the new Plex, so Id be really greatful if you include me there
I'm sorry to hear that, and I accept the blame full on my own shoulders, primarily for not communicating better about progress and status. I can assure you, however, that your conclusion is not a correct one. Plex/Nine is not Duke Nukem :)
The fact is that the changes in Plex/Nine are the biggest and most far-reaching to date that we've taken on. It's not easy to rip out thousands of lines of code and teach a monolithic program to act like a thin client. However, we strongly believe that the changes - while not being the easier - were the best decision for the future of Plex.
We reject the kitchen sink.
Hi all. I have been using Plex for quite some time now and I’m really looking forward towards the new database since I heavily use metadata added to my mp4 files. Anyway, I just had a small wondering about how the decentralized library will work with a NAS/Server. I have Plex installed on my living room mini but a all my videos and music is served by my linux server via afp. If I use, say Plex in the bedroom connected to the database in the living room, how well will my videos be streamed? Will the second Plex client fetch them directly from my linux server or will they have to pass the central Plex living room mini as well? Is there any way to compile the Plex Media server for linux or is it very Mac specific?
Keep up the great work and I just wish I had more time to get more involved, with skin development for example.
phindus’s question is essentially the same as mine. I have 2 mini’s and a HP Mediasmart Server (boooooo hiss booo I know :lol: )
The setup can be flexible. As an example, consider my test set up:
Mac Mini: Running Plex, connected to the TV, connected to Drobo.
Mac Pro: Running Plex Media Server, development tools.
On the Mac Pro, I’ve added a few sections to the Plex Media Server which refer to data on the Drobo (via AFP shares).
On the Mini, the sections appear, and I can play them fine.
Of course, this situation is silly because the Media Server is streaming from the Mini to the Pro and then back to the Mini, but this is an artificial case for development purposes, and, more to the point, it works perfectly without any real configuration. Gigabit wired FTW.
Yet another in the same boat. My current configuration is a central Linux file server with gobs of disk space hosting all of my video content. Right now I have net mounts configured on my minis (I have one in the living room hooked up to the entertainment center, and the other is my main mac, so right now I only run Plex on that when I’m hacking a skin or playing with the configuration). I’m pretty tight on time right now due to a death march at work, but if there is any way to get the Alexandria server running under Linux, I’d love to see it happen.
I finally read Elan’s blog post about Alexandria this morning (yeah, I do a great job keeping up on things these days), and I think the idea is incredibly powerful and compelling. Is it possible to aggregate other resources into the library, like streaming resources?
I think that the vaporware feeling is starting to creep in on a lot of avid Plex users.
I think you should be far more open as to when to expect a 0.9.0 release. With all due respect: This is not a super secret project in a deep lair in Cupertino. I believe that the majority of the commenters in these forums will fully understand if the release may be postponed... We've been hearing "surely before end of the year (2009)", "before too long", "in the not too distant future" for a while now. Today, billyjoe in the chat said that Plex/Nine is very much in the alpha stages - rather discougaring...! So I think you should give us a more firm schedule: Are we a week, a month or several month away from a release?
Also, why not release the alpha builds to more people or even publicly? You know, just to keep the public entertained... :)
I should of course prefix all of the above: I know that this a hobby of a few dedicated people and that we are all enjoying the hard work of the developers (for free). And at this point Plex 8 Series is the best media center solution for the Mac by far (it is getting a bit old, though, and several important fixes/additions seems to be long overdue). However, I feel that your integrity is high enough to cope with the increasing critisism...
When I'm a full-time software guy being paid to work on a project, the joke used to be that my time estimates were off by a factor of PI.
When we're a ragtag bunch of people working in the cracks of life, you can't realistically expect anything more than "when it's done".
We aim to do this, absolutely, once it meets a minimum level of functionality.
The level of functionality appears to be high judged by your recent posts in this threads...? :)
I don't "expect" anything. However, I just appreciate honesty (perhaps not the best choice of word) and I'm mature enough (as I believe most people here are) to accept that you (and the ragtag bunch) may not deliver on any specific date. I really think you should give us a time frame - we won't invade Maui and steel your board if you can't keep up with the schedule, though ;)
And/or maybe try to adapt something like this:
http://culturedcode.com/status/
Please stop crying “are we there yet?” so daddy Elan can get his eyes back on the road. We all want our Plex 9, but bugging the developers is hardly constructive. They’ve been more than forthcoming and have dropped quite a few hints and actual facts. I’m sure getting my money’s worth.
</backseat modding>
Well, daddy Elan is apparently very much capable of both coding and interacting with the community, without which Plex would be pointless. Frustratingly, by reading through this and other threads it seems that many users are worried about Plex. My major problem is that there are bugs left in Plex 8 that are long overdue for a fix (in fact the fixes are ready for a 0.8.6 release) likely because 0.9 is taking all the time...
And to be fair, daddy Elan has already acknowledged that communication has been lagging. So, what I was suggesting was to give a time frame so that people's expectations would be set a reasonable level. And yes, "Before too long" is a time frame but as I wrote, that has been the phrase used for several months now...
Communication, yes.
Timeframe, no.
Well, that is of course your decision. I think it is a mistake. I've previously stated that my patience is indefinite. It still is. But please consider the 0.8.6 (or 0.8.5.1) bugfix release if it is not too much of a problem...
Happy coding!
Let me try to explain why I think it’s a losing proposition to name a date, or a specific timeframe (I apologize for my previous short reply, I was in the middle of fixing a bug):
If we name a date and then miss it, people will ■■■■■ like crazy (the most likely scenario).
If we name a date that’s far enough out to give a high probability of being able to be met, it’s likely way longer than the real date, and people will get turned off by how far away it is.
What are the bugs you’re most looking to be fixed?
(Thanks for all the quick replies. I really don't mean to bug you (or any other developers).)
With all respect: I think you are underestimating the userbase. Why would anyone ■■■■■ about you missing a date when you are doing for something to benefit us all? And even if some will in fact ■■■■■ about it, who cares? On the other hand, by not being open about the status of the coding and by not giving a time frame, you risk alienating avid users who are just showing their entusiasm. I sense that you realize that ("communication, yes"); now take to the next level of community vs. developer trust and be open about the time frame (please!) ;)
If your estimate in fact is several months (scenario 2) I think it is most fair to the entusiasts to acknowledge that. And if so, the request for another .8 release is even more valid.
Off the top of my head, the fixes I'm missing: Soft subtitles in mov/m4v/mp4 files and the return of automatic scraping of local fanart (which you BTW "promised" me a long time ago...).
Let's be honest here, the Plex devs are in a no win situation with regards to a release for .9
Yes it's frustrating not knowing when we're going to see it, but if I was Elan the negativity here would just encourage me to be LESS forthcoming, code in secret and then release to an unsuspecting public and blow us all away.
If you were paying for Plex, and Elan et al relied on it for income to live on then it would be an entirely different story. But it isn't and they don't, they're giving up their free time to code Plex for themselves and us and as such, really, owe us nothing.
Now leave them alone so they can stop having to answer "When are we getting it?" posts and get cracking on coding it! ;)
We're making awesome progress. As soon as we have something worth sharing we will, promise.
I'll have to look more into the MP4 subtitles one, it'll probably get lumped for now into an MP4 metadata agent.
As for the scraping of local fanart, you're right, I did promise that. How about this: In order to make this right, when I finish up the local fanart support for Plex/Nine (on the list, probably an hour's work or so), I will personally give you a link for a Plex/Nine build so that you can test it on your local fanart? For clarification, it's not at the top of the list :)
To help me out, why don't you list the naming format in which your local fanart is in.
