aesthetic.computer / core
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core toolchain tv
17 files
actv-watchdog.service
actv-watchdog.timer
actv.service
chat-bridge.mjs
make-qrs.mjs
playout.mjs
README.md
rig.sh
sync-probe.sh
sync-test.html
tv-sync.sh
tvchat.service
watchdog.sh
wgtv-playout.service
wgtv-watchdog.service
wgtv-watchdog.timer
wgtv.service
README.md

toolchain/tv — the broadcast rig #

Turns a web page into a 24/7 YouTube live stream. First station: tv.whistlegraph.org → the whistlegraph YouTube channel ("the archive as broadcast", completed — the site itself is what airs). Runs on jasellite.

Pieces #

  • rig.sh <env-file> — the whole station in one process tree: Xvfb virtual screen + PulseAudio null sink + Chrome kiosk on the page + ffmpeg (x11grab + sink monitor → x264 → RTMP). ffmpeg is the foreground process, so process supervision of ffmpeg supervises the station.
  • wgtv.service — systemd user unit (Restart=always) for the 24/7 phase.
  • ../youtube/live.mjs — YouTube Live API plumbing (persistent stream key, broadcasts, status) using the same vault OAuth as yt.mjs (--as whistlegraph).

Setting up a station #

  1. Host needs: google-chrome, Xvfb, pulseaudio(+utils), xdotool, ffmpeg.
  2. node toolchain/youtube/live.mjs ensure-stream --title "Whistlegraph TV" \ --as whistlegraph --env-out wgtv.env → scp wgtv.env (0600) to the rig.
  3. node toolchain/youtube/live.mjs create-broadcast --title "…" \ --stream <id> --as whistlegraph --privacy unlisted [--no-auto-stop] — autoStart means it goes live when ffmpeg connects.
  4. Start rig.sh (or install the unit) and watch the youtu.be URL.

Hard-won details #

  • HEVC: the whistlegraph archive rips are HEVC; Chrome without a GPU can't decode it (black picture, working audio). tv.html detects HEVC-less viewers and serves -avc.mp4 H.264 twins (?avc forces it). New curated works need their twin generated: wgtv/avc-batch.sh pattern on the rig — transcode HEVC / remux H.264, upload beside the original in Spaces.
  • The unmute tap: tv.whistlegraph.org starts muted; first click enables sound, every later click changes channel. The page remembers sound-on in the profile, so rig.sh wipes its Chrome profile every boot to keep the single tap meaning "unmute".
  • GPU-less VMs need --disable-gpu --disable-accelerated-video-decode --disable-gpu-compositing or video composites black even when decodable.
  • YouTube wants keyframes ≤4s (rig uses 2s), 30fps 1080p at ~4.5Mbps.
  • Streams >12h don't archive as VODs — fine, the works are already uploads.