linearvoid/README.md

# Linear Void

[Linear Void](https://linearvoid.tv) is a self-managed **24/7 linear video channel** for a primarily US audience. It runs a continuous playlist of self-owned videos with true/near-true synchronization, a custom lightweight viewer SPA (hls.js player + chat), and full independence from third-party platforms (YouTube, Twitch, etc.).

**Repository**: [git.allucanget.biz/zwitschi/linearvoid](https://git.allucanget.biz/zwitschi/linearvoid)

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[![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-blue.svg)](LICENSE)
[![Gitea](https://img.shields.io/badge/Gitea-1.27.1-blue)](https://git.allucanget.biz)

## Architecture

The architecture (detailed in [`docs/architecture/README.md`](docs/architecture/README.md)) uses:

- Hetzner Ashburn VPS for playout (FFmpeg + MediaMTX/SRS) and chat.
- Cloudflare R2 + CDN with aggressive immutable caching of HLS `.ts` segments ($0 egress).
- Lightweight static frontend and WebSocket chat backend.
- Gitea self-hosted CI/CD (Actions) and Container Registry.

See [`docs/architecture/adr/`](docs/architecture/adr/) for the full set of decision records (ADR-001 through ADR-007) covering architecture, storage calculations, cache rules, cost model, module structure, tech stack, admin interfaces, data storage, and caching strategy.

## Key Features

- Continuous synchronized playback from a playlist (standard HLS, 15–35s latency).
- Self-hosted custom SPA with embedded chat (public rooms + private 1:1 DMs, moderation).
- Extreme cost efficiency via Cloudflare R2 edge caching.
- Video normalization, monitoring, fallback slate, and easy playlist management.
- US-centric performance (Ashburn origin + Cloudflare POPs).

## Project Structure

```text
linearvoid/
├── frontend/                  # Static Single-Page Application (HTML/CSS/JS)
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── components/        # Video player, chat sidebar, now-playing overlay
│   │   ├── js/                # hls.js integration, WebSocket client, UI logic
│   │   └── styles/            # Tailwind / custom CSS
│   ├── index.html
│   └── package.json           # Build tools (Vite recommended)
├── backend/
│   ├── playout/               # Continuous HLS generation from playlist
│   │   ├── src/               # FFmpeg orchestration, playlist manager
│   │   ├── config/
│   │   └── Dockerfile
│   ├── chat/                  # Real-time WebSocket service
│   │   ├── src/               # Rooms, DMs, moderation, presence (Node/Go)
│   │   ├── config/
│   │   └── Dockerfile
│   └── shared/                # Common utilities, types, normalization helpers
├── infrastructure/            # Deployment, IaC, Cloudflare configs
│   ├── docker-compose.yml     # Local/dev orchestration
│   ├── nginx/                 # Proxy, static serving, HLS delivery
│   ├── cloudflare/            # Cache rule examples, Workers
│   └── terraform/             # (optional) provisioning
├── scripts/                   # Automation scripts
│   ├── normalize-video.sh     # Pre-process MP4s (codec, keyframes, CRF)
│   ├── sync-to-r2.sh          # Upload segments/manifests to R2
│   └── backup.sh
├── monitoring/                # Dashboards, alerts, logging
│   ├── grafana/
│   └── prometheus/
├── docs/
│   └── architecture/
│       ├── README.md          # arc42 template (fully populated)
│       └── adr/
│           ├── ADR-001.md             # Consolidated decision record
│           ├── ADR-002-module-structure.md
│           ├── ADR-003-tech-stack.md
│           ├── ADR-004-admin-video.md
│           ├── ADR-005-admin-moderation-analytics.md
│           ├── ADR-006-data-storage.md
│           └── ADR-007-redis-usage.md
├── .env.example
├── .gitignore
├── docker-compose.yml         # Top-level for dev (playout + chat + nginx)
├── README.md
└── LICENSE
```

### Folder Explanations

- **`frontend/`**: The viewer experience — minimal, modern SPA with Tailwind + Alpine.js (or vanilla). Uses `hls.js` for playback and a WebSocket client for chat.
- **`backend/playout/`**: Core linear engine. FFmpeg consumes a normalized playlist and outputs continuous HLS. Includes normalization validation.
- **`backend/chat/`**: Independent WebSocket service (Node.js/Socket.io or Go). Handles public rooms, private DMs, presence (Redis), persistence (PostgreSQL/SQLite), rate limiting, and moderation.
- **`backend/shared/`**: Reusable code (types, utils, video validation).
- **`infrastructure/`**: Everything needed to deploy and configure the stack (Docker, Nginx, Cloudflare rules, future Terraform).
- **`scripts/`**: One-off and CI-friendly scripts for video preparation, R2 sync, backups, and playlist management.
- **`monitoring/`**: Grafana dashboards, Prometheus rules, logging configuration.
- **`docs/architecture/`**: Complete arc42 documentation + ADRs 001-007 (the single source of truth for all architectural decisions).

This structure directly reflects the building blocks, runtime flows, deployment view, and cross-cutting concepts defined in the arc42 documentation.

## Getting Started

```bash
git clone https://git.allucanget.biz/zwitschi/linearvoid.git
cd linearvoid
cp .env.example .env
docker compose up --build
```

Full setup guide: [`SETUP.md`](SETUP.md).

See the [architecture docs](docs/architecture/README.md) for detailed architecture and ADRs.

## Development

- Use Docker Compose for local development (playout + chat + frontend).
- Public production host model: `https://linearvoid.tv` for viewer/admin/chat and `https://media.linearvoid.tv` for HLS delivery.
- Normalize all source videos before adding to playlist (see ADR-001 for exact codec/fps/keyframe requirements).
- Monitor cache hit ratio and R2 operations closely — they determine real cost.

## Architecture Documentation

The architecture is fully documented using the [arc42 template](docs/architecture/README.md) (with populated sections, Mermaid context and building-block diagrams, deployment view, cross-cutting concepts, quality goals, risks, and glossary).

**Decision Records** (in `docs/architecture/adr/`):

- **[ADR-001](docs/architecture/adr/ADR-001.md)**: Overall system architecture, HLS + Cloudflare R2 caching strategy, storage calculations, cost model, risks, and implementation plan.
- **[ADR-002](docs/architecture/adr/ADR-002-module-structure.md)**: Chosen project folder/module structure (frontend, backend/playout, backend/chat, infrastructure, scripts, monitoring) and mapping to arc42 building blocks.
- **[ADR-003](docs/architecture/adr/ADR-003-tech-stack.md)**: Technology stack, language choices per module (TypeScript for frontend, Go preferred for chat and playout wrapper, Bash/Python for scripts), Docker-first approach, and all implicit assumptions.
- **[ADR-004](docs/architecture/adr/ADR-004-admin-video.md)**: Video admin web interface (upload, playlist management, schedule overrides, normalization enforcement).
- **[ADR-005](docs/architecture/adr/ADR-005-admin-moderation-analytics.md)**: Web admin interfaces for user management, moderation dashboard, analytics, and system configuration.
- **[ADR-006](docs/architecture/adr/ADR-006-data-storage.md)**: Data storage strategy (SQLite vs PostgreSQL for v1, migration path, admin interface capabilities).
- **[ADR-007](docs/architecture/adr/ADR-007-redis-usage.md)**: Redis usage (exact use cases, TTL policies, persistence, fallback behavior, admin configuration).

See the [architecture README](docs/architecture/README.md) for the big-picture view and the individual ADR files for detailed rationale, alternatives, and consequences.

Contributions, issues, and further evolution (LL-HLS, ABR, multi-channel, E2EE) should reference the architecture documentation.

## Resources

- [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md) - Version history and completed features.
- [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) - Guidelines for contributing to the project.
- [SETUP.md](SETUP.md) - Complete setup guide with prerequisites, environment configuration, running the application, and troubleshooting.
- [Architecture Documentation](docs/architecture/README.md) - Full arc42 template with diagrams and decisions.
- [ADRs](docs/architecture/adr/) - Detailed decision records (ADR-001 to ADR-007).

**CI/CD**: [View workflows](https://git.allucanget.biz/zwitschi/linearvoid/actions) on Gitea Actions.

**Container Registry**: `git.allucanget.biz/zwitschi/linearvoid/<service>:latest`

The project is ready for use. See [`SETUP.md`](SETUP.md) for detailed installation instructions.