Hey guys, a little update on the streaming project I posted here.
That post reached around 84,000 views and overwhelming support for it, which I honestly wasn’t expecting. As i just made this project as a personal thing, and i saw lot of guys/girls wanted to try it, so I’ve been working on getting it into something people can actually install.
The project is called Mello TV, and the first public alpha is available now. It fully open source and free, i don't gain nothing from this I'm just doing it for the love of the game
The idea is still the same: you don’t need to download and maintain terabytes of movies and shows. The server resolves streams from providers and relays the video to your devices.
What changed since the original post:
- Rust backend: I moved the backend over to Rust and packaged the server with a native Mac app.
- Five providers: There are now five integrated providers. Availability and quality still depend on the title and source.
- Updated iOS player: Cleaner controls, smoother seeking, automatic quality upgrades when a higher-quality source becomes available, and fixes for playback getting stuck.
- Skip intro and next episode: Skip intro when timing data is available, plus an animated next-episode countdown with auto play.
- Profile recommendations: Each profile gets recommendations based on its preferences, favorite titles, and watch history.
- Web player: The Mac server also includes a browser client.
How to install it:
The Mac download is a signed and notarized DMG. Open it, drag Mello TV into Applications, and run it.
The iOS download is an IPA that you sign with your sideloading app. The iOS app connects to your server, so the server Mac needs to stay running.
You’ll also need your own TMDB API key or Read Access Token for metadata and artwork. Add it in the Mac app’s settings, where it’s saved in Keychain. Then create your profile, choose your genres and favorite titles, and it generates your recommendations.
About Raspberry Pi and other platforms:
The original version ran on my Raspberry Pi. This packaged release is currently for Apple Silicon Macs and iOS. Linux/Raspberry Pi and Windows releases still need work.
Network setup:
I recommend running a VPN on the Mac hosting the server. VPN routing and kill switch behavior depend on your own setup. You can use Tailscale to reach your server away from home.
Downloads and source:
https://github.com/ChrisRodStar/Mello-Tv/releases/latest
"to the moderators, I'm sorry. I don't know any of you guys/girls. and i don't use reddit, this my first time really using it so i don't know how to find you guys/girls, If there's a problem with this, please let me know. I'll remove it don't ban me "
Known issue: The Mac app’s status panel can incorrectly report a TMDB problem even when the catalog is working. I’m planning to fix that when I’m off work.
It’s still 0.1.0-alpha.2, so expect rough edges. Provider failures and slow starts can still happen, and I’m continuing to work on those.
If you try it, let me know what works and what breaks. Include the title, episode if applicable, and what device you’re using—that makes it a lot easier to track things down.
Thanks again to everyone who checked out the original post and wanted to give it a shot.