[mythtv-users] tv guide line-up free

[David Brodbeck]

On Sep 5, 2007, at 4:24 PM, Robert Current wrote:
> But if the overhead outweighs the benefits, I'd listen to other ideas.

I don't have any good ones for you.  I'm just suggesting that the  
start-up overhead of BitTorrent is likely to take longer than the  
actual transfer, for files that are only a few megabytes in size.

> One, Distribution.  Bittorrent?  USENET plugin for myth?  Would people
> be less likely to post the data fearing the traceability and legal
> liability?  What are the benefits and detriments of each?

BitTorrent is probably more traceable than USENET.  The BitTorrent  
tracker, by definition, knows who's serving what files at all times.

If you really want something untraceable, then you have to start  
looking at onion routers like Tor.  They're not fast, though.
>

> Second, data standard?  Would these data files best be XMLTV, or
> straight MySQL dumps?

XMLTV, all the way.  Two reasons:

- It provides a stable API across different versions.  MythTV's  
database schema can and does change with little warning.

- It lets the data be used with other software.  xawtv, for example,  
can use it to give program information.


While you say that you don't care if it's legal or illegal, I would  
point out that using a data source against its ToS does greatly  
increase the chances that they'll pull the plug on you and leave you  
high and dry.  You might want to have a diverse backup plan so your  
coding efforts don't go to waste if that happens with any one  
provider.  My understanding is that this is what "Shepherd" is all  
about -- it aggregates data from a number of sources so the breakage  
of one isn't catastrophic.