Stupid question, I really like this, but (sorry), is there any way for the docker not to be so massive, its like 8gb because of all the included browsers and DRM stuff and features, etc...
If I wanted a version that was "lite" with more of the basics is that possible, or even a way to pick/choose which features I wanted showing me something like a checkbox, feature name and what it does + size, etc?
I do agree this thing got a little bigger than originally anticipated (your guys fault for feature requests 
.. I am improving in next version the source list view to make it easier to see on/off sources.
but maybe someday a lite version will be possible. problem is hard to separate out what dependency is necessary vs not.
I think the growth is a sign of it's popularity, functionality and overall community support, all positives and you should be proud!
I have to agree, and have had that opinion for some time now. FASTChannels has become quite bloated.
Now it has TVE, bridge....bunch of other sources, and things i not even know what they are or can make use of.
Expanding on the available free FAST sources is one thing, welcome. Inline with what program is for.
Even adding in custom channels, for a user to make their own "FAST" channel, within the scope.
But, all this other stuff, for TVE, and DRM related, needing additional hardware or other advanced setup, beyond the scope of what i wanted this for. I just wanted a reliable, and easy to manage and explore my available options for free FAST sources. And leave TVE source support to CDVR devs who know it so well in how to make it work for their own prodcut.
That being said.
There are other projects by community members/users of CDVR that is a more all-in-one product. OliveTin and other Docker based setups.
I can see the appeal of adding in such additional features to FASTChannels, as that allows those who already have FAST setup, and are familiar with it, to be able to explore those other options, or a new way to do something, without having to figure out how to setup and then later deal with updating an additional program.
Personally, i do not have storage or RAM constraints in the PC that is running Docker, but many do run such a thing on low spec hardware with such constraints. And, considering today's cost to upgrade such hardware, may not even be an option to upgrade for some.
As long as the added features do not impact performance, cause bugs with long established and stable core features, and can be disabled if not needed, I have no issue with FAST as it is.
A "Lite" version of FAST may be welcome for some.
Though, perhaps, if making, and then having to support 2 independent versions of this project; could their be "Lite" mode toggle in the FAST that will just disable all but the core FAST sources and features? Or give a toggle list of things to disable? Could that accomplish the same end goal?
Perhaps, maybe a different approach, though i assume would mean a full revamp of how the project is architectured. Modularize things, so that each feature, is something that is install-on-demand. You install the base core, that gives you the normal FAST sources and related features, that we have had since the early days. Then options to install the add-ons to enable the more advanced features, DRM, bridge, TVE etc.
Just a thought.
I have no clue which method is possible or easier and better way to go about doing such a thing.
Good feedback guys…. I did start this whole project with “simple” in mind, and may have slipped away from me a bit.
I don’t think it’d be wise to maintain two separate versions, but I will commit to shrinking the container size, and maybe some UX improvements to turn on/off bridge stuff (and hide those scrapers). It’ll allow for a simpler view for those only interested in FAST vs all the other cool stuff.
Isn't this the same as
Let's not forget,
Eventually, a lot of the channels we like watching are going to add DRM to their streams.
It's not a matter of if but when.
When the DRM happens, the bridge options will be needed for folks to watch content. the project is quite popular and susre beats running separate containers.
The idea of making each source a plugin would be a good option.
You don't want it, you just don't install it.
How about building in support for downloading the additional components at run-time instead of packaging them into the image from the get-go? You'd still have a single image to maintain and still leave room for infinite feature growth.
I have a nice compromise in the works. It's a "lite" mode for you non-bridge DRM folks. you'll like it - i promise. easy on/off.
already shaved the container image down quite a bit, too. Camofoux is still required for some sources and unfortunately it's the biggest data eater (1.5 gigs). but went from like 5.5 gigs to expected ~2 gigs. Fair in my opinion.
I’m a big fan of the Unix philosophy of writing software that does one thing and does it well. I’m honestly impressed at how stable this is considering the rapid development of new features.
We used to say "Storage is cheap". Still, relative to the space use on a typical system FastChannels is still very small percentage wise and it's such a useful app. I feel your time is better spent doing other things.
FastChannels has grown to nearly 60 sources, and a lot of them (TV Everywhere sign-ins, DRM, the bridge) are a lot to face on day one if you just want free channels in your DVR. So there are now two modes:
New installs start in Lite. If you're updating, nothing changes: you stay in Advanced.
Switch any time with the new Lite mode / Advanced mode menu at the top right of every admin page, next to the theme menu. It only changes what the admin UI shows. No source, channel, feed or playlist changes, and your M3U/EPG output is identical in both modes. Anything you already use stays visible in Lite too, so an enabled DirecTV source or a configured bridge won't disappear on you.
New sourcesChannel numbers are now worked out in one place, stored, and read by everything else. Most of the renumbering bugs over the last few releases came from numbers being recalculated on every build. Your existing numbers carry over unchanged. We tested on three real databases and no channel moved. The one exception: where two channels already shared a number in a Gracenote playlist, the duplicate gets a free number.
Smaller imageThe Docker image is about 2.3 GB smaller (5.14 GB down to 2.83 GB). One side effect: DirecTV email/password sign-in no longer falls back to a full Chrome browser when the quick sign-in fails. It tells you to use Sign in with a code instead, which was already the more reliable way. Code sign-in and renewals are unaffected.
Fixesdocker compose pull && docker compose up -d. The database updates itself. FastChannels Player is unchanged this release (still 5.2.13).
It's been a while on this Shaka error, but I'm not sure what changes, if any, you did on the internal player config... but the Adult Swim channels are working now with the internal player.
So thank you very much for this fix...
It may have been fixed in an earlier version, but I thought up to about a week ago, I tried and it had failed with the same Shaka 4042 error.
Anyway, again, much thanks for the 5.9.0 version.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Why would you build this? You said you'd look into it, and in that time I built my own lite version for VOD and cobbled it together with Dispatcharr to include Live TV... now I have to revisit yours because it's likely superior!!! WORST.DAY.EVAR! 
Still setting this up with ah4c for the first time but seem to have most things working. Also update to 5.9.0 Disney login worked, so thanks for that!
The two issues I have run into that I would appreciate some help with:
@KineticMan or anyone else -- any ideas on what I am doing wrong? Any help would be appreciated.
Yes, Use MPEG
Odd... works fine for me, but worth trying on admin/bridge, there is an Audio setting that defaults to AUTO. Try selecting Stereo, then if still no dice, try Decode to PCM. Change kicks in after next tune. Keep me posted on that.
Thanks - bridge settings fixed it.
@KineticMan Thanks for the B1G+ addition!
You may have to make static channels or something. I am showing 4 live events in the B1G+ app, however, in the FastChannels guide and CDVR, it's only showing 1. Unless I have something configured incorrectly???
@KineticMan you think it's possible to add a front end like I built for my 1-off (Meerr) Simple .STRM Link Creator into fastchannels?
This doesn't do VOD Series and Movies right, just the live TV?
Mine pulls the metadata locally, generates the list from the source for the user to pick the content from and can instantly add/prune the Channels DVR libraries?
I was thinking combine that with this including a Discover page. I mean basically it's recreating something like Seerr/JustWatch but without all the noise where it pushes the content into Movies/Series in Channels.
Unsure either. Let me watch it over next few days to make sure I didn’t miss something.
Did you see the events in the admin/channel page? Or just not in CDVR?