Bump to 1.0.1

Every rebuild since 1.0.0 kept the same version, so the ipk filename
and repo.json content never changed even though the contents did --
indistinguishable from a stale cache to both Homebrew Channel's
update check and any HTTP cache sitting between the release and the
TV. Bumping the version changes the ipk's filename outright, which
sidesteps that ambiguity regardless of what's caching what.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

README.md

@@ -116,6 +116,9 @@ native/        the webOS service: capture, DSP, sinks, Luna API (C)
 frontend/      the on-TV app (plain HTML/CSS/JS, no framework)
 servicefiles/  services.json, package.json and the boot script
 host/          the receiver and loopback setup for the HyperHDR machine
+docker/        the receiver, packaged as a container (e.g. for Unraid)
+unraid/        the plugin for the one part a container can't do: the
+               ALSA loopback kernel module, persisted across reboots
 tools/         build, packaging, asset generation, on-TV probe
 test/          host-side tests: wire formats, the capture pipeline, the UI
 docs/          the longer explanations

docker/Dockerfile

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Runs host/lgtv-audiocap-receiver.py as a container instead of a systemd
+# unit — for setups (e.g. Unraid) where Docker is the native way to run
+# anything, but the ALSA loopback itself still has to be loaded on the real
+# host kernel first (see unraid/lgtv-audiocap-loopback.plg or
+# host/install-loopback.sh --method alsa, whichever fits the host).
+#
+# Build from the repo root, not this directory, so the image always tracks
+# the same receiver the systemd install path uses — no second copy to drift:
+#   docker build -f docker/Dockerfile -t lgtv-audiocap-receiver .
+FROM alpine:3.20
+
+RUN apk add --no-cache python3 alsa-utils
+
+COPY host/lgtv-audiocap-receiver.py /usr/local/bin/lgtv-audiocap-receiver.py
+COPY docker/entrypoint.sh /entrypoint.sh
+RUN chmod +x /usr/local/bin/lgtv-audiocap-receiver.py /entrypoint.sh
+
+EXPOSE 5004/udp
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["/entrypoint.sh"]

docker/entrypoint.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# Maps environment variables onto lgtv-audiocap-receiver.py's flags, since
+# that's how Unraid (and most container UIs) expose configuration — nobody
+# wants to hand-edit a CLI in the "extra parameters" box.
+set -eu
+
+args="--port ${PORT:-5004} --bind ${BIND:-0.0.0.0}"
+args="$args --output ${OUTPUT:-aplay} --device ${DEVICE:-hw:Loopback,0,0}"
+args="$args --rate ${RATE:-48000} --channels ${CHANNELS:-2}"
+args="$args --latency-ms ${LATENCY_MS:-80} --prebuffer-ms ${PREBUFFER_MS:-60}"
+args="$args --max-gap ${MAX_GAP:-200} --reset-after ${RESET_AFTER:-5.0}"
+args="$args --stats ${STATS:-30}"
+
+[ -n "${MULTICAST:-}" ] && args="$args --multicast $MULTICAST"
+[ -n "${IFACE:-}" ] && args="$args --iface $IFACE"
+[ "${FILL_SILENCE:-1}" = "0" ] && args="$args --no-fill-silence"
+
+# Anything passed on the "docker run" command line (or Unraid's "Extra
+# Parameters") is appended last, so it can override an env-derived flag —
+# and so plain `--help` works instead of silently starting the daemon.
+echo "lgtv-audiocap-receiver.py $args $*"
+# shellcheck disable=SC2086
+exec python3 /usr/local/bin/lgtv-audiocap-receiver.py $args "$@"

docs/development.md

@@ -27,8 +27,20 @@ Everywhere else, build the native part in a container:
 That bakes the SDK into an image, so it downloads once and later builds start
 immediately. There are aarch64 and x86_64 SDK builds and the image picks
 whichever matches the container, so on Apple Silicon it runs natively rather
-than under emulation. Only the compile happens in the container; packaging and
+than under emulation. Only the compile happens in the container; deployment
-deployment run on the host, where the TV is reachable.
+runs on the host, where the TV is reachable.
+
+Packaging (`ares-package`) also runs in a container by default — pinned to
+Node 18, not whatever Node the host has. This isn't optional hygiene: on a
+newer Node (v22+, confirmed on v25) `ares-package`'s own dependencies
+(`fstream`/`tar`, last touched around 2017-2019) silently zero out every
+timestamp in the ipk instead of erroring. The archive still parses fine
+everywhere generic tools look, so nothing here fails — the TV's installer is
+what eventually rejects it, as an opaque `-5: ipk verify failed` with no
+indication why. If Docker isn't available, `build.sh` falls back to the host's
+own Node with a warning; if installs fail mysteriously in that mode, this is
+the first thing to suspect — checked by unpacking `data.tar.gz` from the ipk
+and confirming the timestamps aren't 1970-01-01.
 
 Register the TV with ares once, using the Homebrew Channel's ssh (port 9922,
 root):
@@ -113,29 +125,37 @@ or ssh — the app installs itself once the TV can reach a URL.
 ### Your own repository (no review, no waiting)
 
 The Homebrew Channel's *Settings → Repositories → Add repository* accepts any
-URL that returns `{"packages": [...]}`, where each entry is the same manifest
+URL that returns `{"packages": [...]}`. Each entry needs its own `id`/
-[`make-manifest.py`](../tools/make-manifest.py) already writes. Point one at
+`title`/`iconUri` for the Browse grid, plus the full manifest nested under a
-your own git host's release assets and the app shows up in Browse with no
+`manifest` key for the details screen — [`make-manifest.py`](../tools/make-manifest.py)
-submission process at all — this is what `--repo-out` (on by default) is for.
+builds exactly that shape. Point one at your own git host's release assets and
+the app shows up in Browse with no submission process at all — this is what
+`--repo-out` (on by default) is for.
 
 1. Bump `version` in `frontend/appinfo.json`, `servicefiles/package.json` and
    `package.json`.
 2. Build the ipk: `./tools/docker-build.sh && ./tools/build.sh package` (or
    `./tools/build.sh` on Linux with the NDK installed).
-3. Create a release tagged e.g. `v1.0.0` and attach three files to it: the
+3. Create a release — note the **exact tag** Gitea/GitHub gives it, `1.0.0` or
-   ipk, `frontend/assets/icon.png`, and a repo index generated with
+   `v1.0.0`, whichever it actually is — and attach three files: the ipk,
-   `--base-url` set to that release's asset URL:
+   `frontend/assets/icon.png`, and a repo index generated with `--base-url`
+   set to that release's real download URL:
 
    ```sh
    python3 tools/make-manifest.py \
-     --base-url https://git.crylia.de/Crylia/lgtv_audio_cap/releases/download/v1.0.0
+     --base-url https://git.crylia.de/Crylia/lgtv_audio_cap/releases/download/1.0.0
-   # -> out/manifest.json (one app entry)
+   # -> out/manifest.json (one app entry, for the official-repo route below)
-   # -> out/repo.json     (that entry wrapped as {"packages": [...]})
+   # -> out/repo.json     ({"packages": [{id, title, iconUri, manifest: {...}}]})
    ```
 
+   A mismatched tag in `--base-url` doesn't error — it just makes the icon and
+   ipk links inside `repo.json` 404 silently, which looks identical to "the
+   details screen hangs" from the client's point of view. If the app was
+   already added and only the tag was wrong, re-run with the fixed tag and
+   re-upload `repo.json`; no need to touch the "Add repository" entry itself,
+   since its URL didn't change.
    Attach `out/repo.json` itself too — its own download URL is what you paste
-   into the TV, and it must match `--base-url` exactly or the ipk/icon links
+   into the TV.
-   inside it point at the wrong place.
 4. On the TV: Homebrew Channel → gear icon → *Add repository* → paste the
    `repo.json` release URL → back out to Browse → find *Audio Cap* → Install.
 

docs/hyperhdr.md

@@ -40,6 +40,40 @@ sudo modprobe snd-aloop index=10 pcm_substreams=1 id=Loopback
 ./host/lgtv-audiocap-receiver.py --output aplay --device hw:Loopback,0,0
 ```
 
+### On Unraid
+
+Unraid boots from a read-only USB image, so nothing here can be "just a
+systemd service" — the loopback and the receiver need to be split into the
+one part that genuinely needs the bare-metal kernel and the part that doesn't.
+
+**The loopback (bare metal):** install
+[`unraid/lgtv-audiocap-loopback.plg`](../unraid/lgtv-audiocap-loopback.plg) —
+*Plugins → Install Plugin*, paste the raw URL to that file. It loads
+`snd-aloop` immediately and adds one line to `/boot/config/go` so it survives
+a reboot; *Plugins → Uninstall* removes exactly that line and nothing else.
+
+**The receiver (a normal container):** build
+[`docker/Dockerfile`](../docker/Dockerfile) and add it like any other Unraid
+container — *Docker → Add Container*:
+
+| Setting | Value |
+| --- | --- |
+| Repository | your image, e.g. `192.168.0.4:5000/lgtv-audiocap-receiver` |
+| Network Type | Bridge (or Host, either works — it only ever listens on one UDP port) |
+| Port | `5004` UDP → `5004` |
+| Extra Parameters | `--device /dev/snd:/dev/snd` |
+
+It's entirely configured through environment variables — see
+[`docker/entrypoint.sh`](../docker/entrypoint.sh) for the full list
+(`PORT`, `DEVICE`, `RATE`, `CHANNELS`, `LATENCY_MS`, …). The default `DEVICE`
+is already `hw:Loopback,0,0`, so nothing needs setting for the common case.
+
+Point the **HyperHDR container** at the loopback the same way: add
+`--device /dev/snd:/dev/snd` to its extra parameters too, then use
+`hw:Loopback,1,0` in its Sound Capture settings. Both containers reach the
+same host kernel device, so no networking between them is needed for this
+part — only the TV needs to know the host's IP, for the RTP stream itself.
+
 ### On the TV
 
 *Outputs → HyperHDR audio (RTP/L16)*

frontend/appinfo.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "id": "org.webosbrew.audiocap",
-  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "version": "1.0.1",
   "vendor": "Homebrew",
   "type": "web",
   "main": "index.html",

frontend/js/app.js

@@ -188,6 +188,49 @@
     };
   }
 
+  // Typing a PulseAudio source name blind, off a diagnostics dump you can
+  // only read on the TV itself, is exactly the kind of thing a D-pad picker
+  // exists for. Parsed from the same "pactl list short sources" text that
+  // System > Run diagnostics already fetches — nothing new to ask the
+  // service for. Format is tab-separated: index, name, driver, sample_spec,
+  // state.
+  function pulseSourceOptions() {
+    var diag = state.diagnostics && state.diagnostics.system;
+    var text = diag && diag.pactlSources;
+    var out = [{ value: '', label: 'Automatic (@DEFAULT_MONITOR@)' }];
+    if (!text) {
+      return out;
+    }
+    text.split('\n').forEach(function (line) {
+      var cols = line.split('\t');
+      var name = cols[1];
+      if (!name) {
+        return;
+      }
+      var running = cols[4] ? ' — ' + cols[4] : '';
+      out.push({ value: name, label: name + running });
+    });
+    return out;
+  }
+
+  // alsaCapturePcms lines look like "00-01: ALC1220 Analog : ... : capture 1"
+  // — "00-01" is card 0, device 1, so hw:0,1. Best-effort: a line that does
+  // not start with that pattern is skipped rather than guessed at.
+  function alsaDeviceOptions() {
+    var diag = state.diagnostics && state.diagnostics.system;
+    var lines = (diag && diag.alsaCapturePcms) || [];
+    var out = [{ value: '', label: 'Automatic (default)' }];
+    lines.forEach(function (line) {
+      var m = /^(\d+)-(\d+):\s*(.*)$/.exec(line);
+      if (!m) {
+        return;
+      }
+      var hw = 'hw:' + parseInt(m[1], 10) + ',' + parseInt(m[2], 10);
+      out.push({ value: hw, label: hw + ' — ' + m[3] });
+    });
+    return out;
+  }
+
   var CAPTURE_FIELDS = [
     {
       path: 'capture.backend', label: 'Backend', type: 'choice',
@@ -199,7 +242,26 @@
       when: backendIs(['auto', 'pulse', 'alsa']),
       placeholder: 'blank = default monitor',
       hint: 'PulseAudio source name, or an ALSA PCM such as hw:0,0. '
-        + 'Run diagnostics to see what this TV has.',
+        + 'Run diagnostics, then use the picker below instead of typing.',
+    },
+    {
+      path: 'capture.device', label: 'Pick a discovered source', type: 'choice',
+      rebuild: true, wide: true,
+      when: function (s) {
+        return backendIs(['auto', 'pulse'])(s) && pulseSourceOptions().length > 1;
+      },
+      options: pulseSourceOptions,
+      hint: 'From the last diagnostics run. Press Enter to cycle through '
+        + 'every source this TV reported; picking one fills the Device field above.',
+    },
+    {
+      path: 'capture.device', label: 'Pick a discovered device', type: 'choice',
+      rebuild: true, wide: true,
+      when: function (s) {
+        return backendIs(['alsa'])(s) && alsaDeviceOptions().length > 1;
+      },
+      options: alsaDeviceOptions,
+      hint: 'From the last diagnostics run.',
     },
     {
       path: 'capture.server', label: 'PulseAudio server', type: 'text', wide: true,
@@ -714,6 +776,10 @@
 
   function runDiagnostics() {
     Luna.getDiagnostics(function (reply) {
+      state.diagnostics = reply;
+      // The Capture panel's device pickers are built from this same reply,
+      // so refresh it if that's the panel currently open.
+      renderCapture();
       var copy = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(reply));
       delete copy.returnValue;
       showOutput(JSON.stringify(copy, null, 2));

frontend/js/mock.js

@@ -173,7 +173,14 @@
             },
             binaries: { parec: false, pactl: true, pacat: false, arecord: true },
             pulseSockets: ['/var/run/pulse/native'],
-            pactlSources: 'mock output',
+            // Realistic shape: a TV that mixes several per-app sinks down to
+            // one common output, the case the device picker exists for.
+            pactlSources: [
+              '0\ttpcm_output.monitor\tmodule-combine-sink.c\ts16le 2ch 48000Hz\tRUNNING',
+              '1\ttpmedia.monitor\tmodule-alsa-card.c\ts16le 2ch 48000Hz\tIDLE',
+              '2\ttpeffects.monitor\tmodule-alsa-card.c\ts16le 2ch 48000Hz\tIDLE',
+              '3\ttptts.monitor\tmodule-alsa-card.c\ts16le 2ch 48000Hz\tSUSPENDED',
+            ].join('\n'),
             alsaCards: ['0 [Loopback]: Loopback - Loopback'],
             alsaCapturePcms: ['00-01: Loopback PCM : playback 1 : capture 1'],
           },

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "lgtv-audio-cap",
-  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "version": "1.0.1",
   "private": true,
   "description": "Captures audio on an LG webOS 5/6 TV and streams it out \u2014 HyperHDR first, plus raw UDP, TCP and HTTP.",
   "keywords": [

servicefiles/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "id": "org.webosbrew.audiocap.service",
-  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "version": "1.0.1",
   "description": "Captures TV audio and streams it to HyperHDR and other receivers",
   "main": "audiocap-service"
 }

test/run-tests.sh

@@ -64,6 +64,21 @@ echo "== Capture pipeline end to end"
 "$CC" "${CFLAGS[@]}" -o "$OUT/engine_smoke" test/engine_smoke.c "${SOURCES[@]}" -lpthread -lm
 "$OUT/engine_smoke"
 
+echo
+echo "== Unraid plugin"
+python3 test/verify_unraid_plugin.py
+
+echo
+echo "== Receiver container"
+if command -v docker >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  docker build -f docker/Dockerfile -t lgtv-audiocap-receiver:test-run . >/dev/null 2>&1
+  docker run --rm lgtv-audiocap-receiver:test-run --help >/dev/null
+  echo "  ok   image builds and forwards --help"
+  docker rmi lgtv-audiocap-receiver:test-run >/dev/null 2>&1
+else
+  echo "  SKIP: docker is not installed"
+fi
+
 echo
 echo "== Frontend"
 if command -v node >/dev/null 2>&1; then

test/ui_smoke.js

@@ -191,6 +191,10 @@ async function main() {
   eq('stops again', $('state-pill').textContent, 'Stopped');
 
   console.log('diagnostics');
+  // Diagnostics run once automatically at boot, so the picker is already
+  // there — the user should not have to press the button first.
+  check('device picker already present from the boot-time diagnostics run',
+    !!doc.querySelector('[data-path="capture.device"].choice'));
   click($('run-diagnostics'));
   await wait(200);
   check('diagnostics output shown',
@@ -200,6 +204,17 @@ async function main() {
   await wait(200);
   check('log output shown', $('output').textContent.indexOf('browser mock') >= 0);
 
+  console.log('device picker');
+  const picker = doc.querySelector('[data-path="capture.device"].choice');
+  check('device picker appears once sources are known', !!picker);
+  eq('picker starts on Automatic', picker.textContent, 'Automatic (@DEFAULT_MONITOR@)');
+  click(picker); // Automatic -> tpcm_output.monitor
+  await wait(600);
+  eq('picking a source reaches settings',
+    window.App.state.settings.capture.device, 'tpcm_output.monitor');
+  eq('the plain device field reflects the pick',
+    doc.querySelector('input[data-path="capture.device"]').value, 'tpcm_output.monitor');
+
   console.log('navigation');
   fakeLayout(window);
   const tabs = doc.querySelectorAll('.tab');

test/verify_unraid_plugin.py

@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Checks unraid/lgtv-audiocap-loopback.plg without needing an Unraid box.
+
+Verifies the plugin is well-formed XML (a CDATA-free bash script anywhere in
+it means a stray "&" or "<" one edit away from breaking the DOCTYPE entity
+expansion Unraid's installer relies on), that entities substitute the way
+Unraid's installer would substitute them, that both embedded scripts are
+syntactically valid bash, and that the install/remove pair is idempotent and
+symmetric against a scratch go-file.
+"""
+
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import os
+import xml.dom.minidom as minidom
+
+HERE = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+PLG = os.path.join(HERE, os.pardir, "unraid", "lgtv-audiocap-loopback.plg")
+
+passed = 0
+failed = 0
+
+
+def check(condition, description):
+    global passed, failed
+    if condition:
+        print("  ok   %s" % description)
+        passed += 1
+    else:
+        print("  FAIL %s" % description)
+        failed += 1
+
+
+def bash_syntax_ok(script):
+    result = subprocess.run(["bash", "-n"], input=script, text=True,
+                             capture_output=True)
+    return result.returncode == 0, result.stderr
+
+
+def main():
+    doc = minidom.parse(PLG)
+
+    plugin = doc.getElementsByTagName("PLUGIN")
+    check(len(plugin) == 1, "exactly one PLUGIN element")
+    attrs = dict(plugin[0].attributes.items()) if plugin else {}
+    for key in ("name", "author", "version", "pluginURL", "min"):
+        check(bool(attrs.get(key)), "PLUGIN has a non-empty %s attribute" % key)
+    check(attrs.get("name") == "lgtv-audiocap-loopback", "name matches the filename's stem")
+    check(attrs.get("pluginURL", "").endswith(attrs.get("name", "\0") + ".plg"),
+          "pluginURL points at this same file's name")
+
+    files = doc.getElementsByTagName("FILE")
+    check(len(files) == 2, "exactly two FILE blocks (install + remove)")
+
+    install_script = remove_script = None
+    for f in files:
+        inline = f.getElementsByTagName("INLINE")
+        check(len(inline) == 1, "FILE (Method=%s) has one INLINE child" % (f.getAttribute("Method") or "install"))
+        script = inline[0].firstChild.data if inline and inline[0].firstChild else ""
+        ok, stderr = bash_syntax_ok(script)
+        check(ok, "FILE (Method=%s) script is valid bash%s" % (
+            f.getAttribute("Method") or "install", "" if ok else ": " + stderr.strip()))
+        if f.getAttribute("Method") == "remove":
+            remove_script = script
+        else:
+            install_script = script
+
+    check(install_script is not None, "found the install script")
+    check(remove_script is not None, "found the remove script")
+    check("lgtv-audiocap-loopback" in (install_script or ""),
+          "&name; entity actually expanded inside the install script (not left literal)")
+
+    # The plugin appends to /boot/config/go; redirect that at a scratch file
+    # to exercise the real install/remove logic end to end, not just parse it.
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp:
+        go = os.path.join(tmp, "go")
+        with open(go, "w") as fh:
+            fh.write("#!/bin/bash\n/usr/local/sbin/emhttp\n")
+        original = open(go).read()
+
+        # modprobe isn't run for real here; the script already tolerates that
+        # (it warns and continues), so there's nothing to stub out beyond
+        # keeping its stderr out of /tmp.
+        env_script = install_script.replace("GO=/boot/config/go", "GO=%s" % go)
+        env_script = env_script.replace("/tmp/${NAME}.err", os.path.join(tmp, "err"))
+        subprocess.run(["bash", "-c", env_script], check=True)
+        after_install = open(go).read()
+        check(after_install != original, "install actually appended something to go")
+        check("modprobe snd-aloop" in after_install, "the modprobe line ended up in go")
+
+        subprocess.run(["bash", "-c", env_script], check=True)
+        after_second_install = open(go).read()
+        check(after_second_install == after_install, "installing twice does not duplicate the block")
+
+        env_remove = remove_script.replace("GO=/boot/config/go", "GO=%s" % go)
+        env_remove = env_remove.replace("/sbin/rmmod snd_aloop 2>/dev/null || true", "true")
+        subprocess.run(["bash", "-c", env_remove], check=True)
+        after_remove = open(go).read()
+        check(after_remove == original, "remove restores go to its original contents exactly")
+
+    print()
+    print("%d/%d checks passed" % (passed, passed + failed))
+    return 0 if failed == 0 else 1
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())

tools/build.sh

@@ -68,17 +68,55 @@ EOF
   echo "$toolchain"
 }
 
-check_ares() {
+PACKAGER_NODE_IMAGE="${PACKAGER_NODE_IMAGE:-node:18-bookworm-slim}"
-  command -v ares-package >/dev/null 2>&1 || cat >&2 <<'EOF'
-error: ares-package is not on PATH
 
-  npm install -g @webosose/ares-cli
+check_ares() {
+  [ -f "$ROOT/node_modules/@webosose/ares-cli/bin/ares-package.js" ] && return 0
+  command -v ares-package >/dev/null 2>&1 && return 0
+  cat >&2 <<'EOF'
+error: ares-cli is not installed
+
+  npm install
 
 Then register the TV once (developer mode or the Homebrew Channel's ssh):
 
   ares-setup-device --add tv --info "{'host':'192.168.1.20','port':9922,'username':'root'}"
 EOF
-  command -v ares-package >/dev/null 2>&1
+  return 1
+}
+
+# ares-package's own packaging code (ar-async/fstream/tar, all last touched
+# around 2017-2019) silently mishandles file metadata on very new Node
+# releases: every mtime in the ipk comes out as 1970-01-01 instead of the real
+# date. The archive still parses, so nothing here errors — the TV's installer
+# is what eventually rejects it, as "ipk verify failed" with no clue why.
+# Running the same ares-cli under a pinned, known-good Node avoids the whole
+# class of bug regardless of what's on the host.
+run_ares_package() {
+  local ares_js="$ROOT/node_modules/@webosose/ares-cli/bin/ares-package.js"
+  if [ -f "$ares_js" ] && command -v docker >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    # Arguments are host paths under $ROOT; rewrite them to the container's
+    # mount point since nothing outside $ROOT is visible in there.
+    local args=() a
+    for a in "$@"; do
+      args+=("${a/#$ROOT//src}")
+    done
+    docker run --rm \
+      --volume "$ROOT:/src" \
+      --workdir /src \
+      --user "$(id -u):$(id -g)" \
+      --env HOME=/tmp \
+      "$PACKAGER_NODE_IMAGE" \
+      node /src/node_modules/@webosose/ares-cli/bin/ares-package.js "${args[@]}"
+    return
+  fi
+  if [ -f "$ares_js" ]; then
+    say "warning: no docker, running ares-package on the host's own Node ($(node --version 2>/dev/null))"
+    say "         if the ipk fails to install with a vague error, re-run with docker installed"
+    node "$ares_js" "$@"
+    return
+  fi
+  ares-package "$@"
 }
 
 build_native() {
@@ -132,7 +170,7 @@ package() {
   step "Packaging"
   mkdir -p "$OUT_DIR"
   rm -f "$OUT_DIR"/${APP_ID}_*.ipk
-  ares-package "$STAGE_APP" "$STAGE_SERVICE" -o "$OUT_DIR"
+  run_ares_package "$STAGE_APP" "$STAGE_SERVICE" -o "$OUT_DIR"
 
   local ipk
   ipk="$(ls -t "$OUT_DIR"/${APP_ID}_*.ipk | head -1)"

tools/make-manifest.py

@@ -6,15 +6,27 @@ The manifest (out/manifest.json) is one app entry: id, ipkUrl, ipkHash, and so
 on. It is what you submit to webosbrew/apps-repo to get into the official
 store.
 
-The repo index (out/repo.json) is that same entry wrapped as
+The repo index (out/repo.json) is `{"packages": [...]}`, which is the format
-`{"packages": [...]}`, which is the format the Homebrew Channel's own
+the Homebrew Channel's own "Add repository" dialog expects (Settings ->
-"Add repository" dialog expects (Settings -> Repositories -> Add repository).
+Repositories -> Add repository). Host it anywhere static, paste its URL in,
-Host it anywhere static, paste its URL in, and the app shows up in Browse —
+and the app shows up in Browse — no submission, no review, no shell access to
-no submission, no review, no shell access to the TV at all.
+the TV at all.
+
+Each package entry embeds the full manifest under a "manifest" key. That is
+not decoration: the app's details screen (DetailsPanel.refresh(), read
+straight from its source) only ever uses entry.manifest directly, or fetches
+entry.manifestUrl if entry.manifest is absent. Ship a repo.json without either
+one and the details view calls resolveURL(undefined, ...), throws, and spins
+on "Loading" forever with no error shown. Embedding beats a manifestUrl
+because there is only one file to keep in sync.
 
     python3 tools/make-manifest.py \\
         --base-url https://git.example/you/lgtv-audio-cap/releases/download/v1.0.0
 
+--base-url must be the exact release download URL, tag and all — the icon and
+ipk links are absolute, so a tag typo (v1.0.0 vs 1.0.0) 404s silently rather
+than falling back to anything.
+
 Defaults to the newest ipk in out/ and writes out/manifest.json + out/repo.json.
 """
 
@@ -91,9 +103,23 @@ def main():
     print("\nwrote %s" % os.path.relpath(args.out, ROOT), file=sys.stderr)
 
     if args.repo_out:
+        # The grid view (BrowserPanel) reads id/title/iconUri straight off the
+        # package entry. The details view (DetailsPanel) only ever looks at
+        # entry.manifest directly, or fetches entry.manifestUrl if that is
+        # missing — never the entry's own top-level fields. Skipping
+        # manifestUrl (a second file, a second URL to keep in sync) by
+        # embedding the manifest here means DetailsPanel takes its
+        # already-ready fast path and never issues that fetch at all.
+        package_entry = {
+            "id": manifest["id"],
+            "title": manifest["title"],
+            "iconUri": manifest["iconUri"],
+            "shortDescription": manifest["appDescription"],
+            "manifest": manifest,
+        }
         os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(args.repo_out) or ".", exist_ok=True)
         with open(args.repo_out, "w") as fh:
-            json.dump({"packages": [manifest]}, fh, indent=2)
+            json.dump({"packages": [package_entry]}, fh, indent=2)
             fh.write("\n")
         print("wrote %s" % os.path.relpath(args.repo_out, ROOT), file=sys.stderr)
 

unraid/lgtv-audiocap-loopback.plg

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes"?>
+<!DOCTYPE PLUGIN [
+  <!ENTITY name      "lgtv-audiocap-loopback">
+  <!ENTITY author    "Crylia">
+  <!ENTITY version   "2026.08.26">
+  <!ENTITY pluginURL "https://git.crylia.de/Crylia/lgtv_audio_cap/raw/branch/main/unraid/&name;.plg">
+]>
+
+<!--
+This plugin does exactly one thing: load the ALSA loopback (snd-aloop) that
+the LG TV Audio Cap RTP receiver plays into, and make that persist across an
+Unraid reboot. Everything else - actually receiving the TV's audio and
+writing it into the loopback - runs as a normal Docker container (see
+docker/Dockerfile in the project repo), because that part doesn't need
+bare-metal access. Only the kernel module load does: Unraid boots from a
+read-only USB image each time, so anything not re-applied via /boot/config/go
+or a plugin is gone on the next boot, and a container can't load a host
+kernel module for itself.
+
+  hw:Loopback,0,0 - playback end, feed this to the receiver container
+  hw:Loopback,1,0 - capture end, point HyperHDR's sound capture at this
+-->
+
+<PLUGIN name="&name;" author="&author;" version="&version;" pluginURL="&pluginURL;" min="6.9.0">
+
+<CHANGES>
+###2026.08.26
+- Initial release.
+</CHANGES>
+
+<FILE Run="/bin/bash">
+<INLINE>
+set -e
+NAME="&name;"
+MARK="# ${NAME}: load ALSA loopback for LG TV Audio Cap (do not remove this line by hand)"
+LOAD_CMD="/sbin/modprobe snd-aloop index=10 pcm_substreams=1 id=Loopback"
+GO=/boot/config/go
+
+echo "Installing ${NAME} &version;"
+
+if ! $LOAD_CMD 2>/tmp/${NAME}.err; then
+  echo "warning: snd-aloop failed to load, see /tmp/${NAME}.err"
+  echo "         this Unraid build's kernel may not include it"
+fi
+
+if ! grep -qF "$MARK" "$GO" 2>/dev/null; then
+  {
+    echo "$MARK"
+    echo "$LOAD_CMD"
+  } >> "$GO"
+  echo "Added the loopback load to $GO -- it will now load on every boot."
+else
+  echo "$GO already loads the loopback; left it alone."
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "Done. Check: cat /proc/asound/cards | grep -i loopback"
+echo "In your receiver container's device settings, use hw:Loopback,0,0."
+echo "In HyperHDR's sound capture settings, use hw:Loopback,1,0."
+</INLINE>
+</FILE>
+
+<FILE Run="/bin/bash" Method="remove">
+<INLINE>
+set -e
+NAME="&name;"
+MARK="# ${NAME}: load ALSA loopback for LG TV Audio Cap (do not remove this line by hand)"
+GO=/boot/config/go
+
+if [ -f "$GO" ]; then
+  if grep -qF "$MARK" "$GO"; then
+    awk -v mark="$MARK" '
+      $0 == mark { skip = 1; next }
+      skip > 0 { skip--; next }
+      { print }
+    ' "$GO" > "${GO}.tmp"
+    mv "${GO}.tmp" "$GO"
+    echo "Removed the loopback load from $GO."
+  fi
+fi
+
+/sbin/rmmod snd_aloop 2>/dev/null || true
+echo "${NAME} removed. The loopback will not load on the next boot."
+</INLINE>
+</FILE>
+
+</PLUGIN>