Jellyfin: Download Entire Seasons & Shows With One Click!
Hey Jellyfin fans! Have you ever wished you could just download an entire season or even a whole show with a single click? Well, you're not alone! This feature request is all about making that dream a reality. Imagine how much easier it would be to grab all those episodes for offline viewing on your tablet or phone for that long flight or road trip. No more tapping each episode individually! Let's dive into why this feature would be a game-changer and how it could be implemented.
Why a Bulk Download Feature is a Must-Have
Okay, let's be real, who hasn't wanted to download a whole season of their favorite show in one go? Currently, Jellyfin requires you to download each episode individually, which can be a real pain, especially for shows with tons of episodes.
- Convenience is key: Let's face it, in today's fast-paced world, we all crave convenience. Having a one-click download option for an entire season or show would save us a ton of time and effort. Instead of spending minutes (or even hours!) selecting and downloading each episode separately, we could simply hit one button and let Jellyfin do the rest.
- Offline viewing made easy: One of the biggest advantages of Jellyfin is the ability to watch your media offline. Whether you're commuting, traveling, or simply want to conserve data, offline viewing is a lifesaver. With a bulk download feature, preparing for offline viewing becomes incredibly simple. Just select the season or show you want, hit download, and you're good to go!
- Improved user experience: A more streamlined user experience is always a win. By adding a bulk download option, Jellyfin would become even more user-friendly and intuitive. This would not only attract new users but also keep existing users happy and engaged.
Proposed Solutions: Making the Dream a Reality
So, how can we actually make this bulk download feature a reality? Here are a few ideas:
1. Season and Show Download Buttons
This is the most straightforward approach. Simply add a download button at the season and show levels. When clicked, this button would initiate the download of all episodes within that season or the entire show. It could look something like this:
- Season View: Next to the season title, add a "Download Season" button.
- Show View: Next to the show title, add a "Download Show" button.
2. Context Menu Options
Another option is to add download options to the context menu (the menu that appears when you right-click or long-press on a season or show). This would keep the interface clean while still providing easy access to the bulk download feature.
- Right-click/Long-press: On a season or show, bring up the context menu and include options like "Download Season" and "Download Show."
3. Download Queue Management
To make the download process even smoother, consider implementing a download queue. This would allow users to add multiple seasons or shows to a queue and manage their downloads more effectively. The download queue could include features like:
- Progress tracking: Show the progress of each download.
- Pause/Resume: Allow users to pause and resume downloads.
- Priority: Let users prioritize certain downloads over others.
Enhanced Home Screen Integration: Download Section
But wait, there's more! The original feature request also suggested adding a download screen to the homepage, similar to collections. This is a fantastic idea that would further enhance the user experience. Imagine having a dedicated section on your Jellyfin homepage where you can easily access and manage all your downloaded content.
Benefits of a Download Section
- Quick access: No more digging through folders to find your downloaded episodes. The download section would provide quick and easy access to all your offline content.
- Organization: The download section could automatically organize your downloads by show and season, making it easy to find what you're looking for.
- Status updates: The download section could display the status of ongoing downloads, as well as notify you when new episodes have been downloaded.
Implementation Ideas
- Dedicated Tab: Add a "Downloads" tab to the Jellyfin homepage.
- Widget: Create a customizable widget that displays recent downloads and download progress.
- Integration with Existing Collections: Allow users to add downloaded content to their existing collections.
Community Input and Collaboration
Now, it's time for the Jellyfin community to weigh in! What do you guys think of these ideas? Do you have any other suggestions for implementing a bulk download feature or a download section on the homepage? Let's collaborate and make Jellyfin even better!
Key Considerations for Developers
If the Jellyfin developers decide to implement this feature, here are a few key considerations:
- Storage: Ensure that the downloaded content is stored in a logical and easily accessible location.
- Bandwidth: Provide options for users to limit download bandwidth to avoid hogging network resources.
- Error Handling: Implement robust error handling to gracefully handle download failures.
- Platform Compatibility: Ensure that the feature works seamlessly across all Jellyfin platforms (web, mobile, desktop).
Conclusion: Let's Make This Happen!
In conclusion, adding a bulk download feature and a download section to Jellyfin would be a major win for users. It would save time, simplify offline viewing, and improve the overall user experience. By working together and providing valuable feedback, we can help the Jellyfin developers make this dream a reality. So, let's keep the conversation going and push for these awesome new features! Who's with me?