I’ve been thinking this would be a perfect use case for Autonomi…
The idea would be to use Autonomi as a hoster, have a real-debrid like service to interface with it (is that even needed?), and then having a Kodi plugin to serve this to users.
Here’s the transcript from fleshing this out whith ChatGPT:
> Creating a service similar to **Real-Debrid** or a **premium hoster**, but operating on a **decentralized network like Autonomi** and then interfacing with **Kodi via a custom plugin**, involves multiple components: infrastructure, backend logic, integration with Autonomi, content resolver and cache layer, and finally the Kodi plugin.
1. Core Concepts Recap
- Real-Debrid is a multi-host downloader: it takes links from file hosts (e.g. Rapidgator, Mega, etc.) and resolves them into high-speed direct downloads.
- Premium hosters provide access to cloud-hosted media files (streamable/downloable).
- Autonomi Network is a decentralized storage/computation layer using peer-to-peer nodes and incentivized services (like IPFS/Filecoin, but with different mechanics).
- Kodi is an open-source media center, and supports plugins (Python-based).
2. Architecture Overview
A. Backend Service (Real-Debrid-like functionality)
Core Features:
- Account/User Authentication (with premium tiers)
- Link Resolver Engine: resolve links from hosts like Nitroflare, Rapidgator, Mega, etc.
- Download Management (can cache links or use remote APIs)
- Optional Caching/Storage on Autonomi (host files as persistent distributed blobs)
Stack:
- Node.js / Python FastAPI / Go backend
- PostgreSQL / KV store for user accounts
- Autonomi storage integration SDK (or IPFS/Filecoin if Autonomi isn’t directly suitable yet)
- Optional scraping modules or headless browser API (for resolving hosters without APIs)
B. Integration with Autonomi Network
Autonomi is a decentralized storage/computation platform. You’d leverage it like this:
Use Cases:
- Distributed Caching: once a file is resolved from a hoster, upload it to Autonomi as a cached blob (encrypted and unique per user if required).
- Metadata Layer: index video file metadata (filename, duration, codec, etc.) stored in a distributed DB (Autonomi, OrbitDB, etc.).
- Incentivization: You could tokenize access or bandwidth through micropayments or staking.
Implementation:
-
Use Autonomi’s SDK to:
- Upload files to Autonomi
- Retrieve file URIs
- Handle encryption & access control (e.g. user-specific decryption keys)
-
Ensure fast peer discovery (pre-pin or ensure data is replicated for fast retrieval)
C. Kodi Plugin (Python)
A Kodi plugin needs to:
Features:
- Authenticate user with your debrid service
- Take in magnet links or hoster links
- Resolve to direct video stream URL (ideally from Autonomi if cached)
- Present as a playable item in Kodi
Implementation:
-
Python add-on for Kodi (using
xbmcplugin,xbmcgui,requests) -
Token-based login flow
-
API calls to your backend:
/resolve→ gets a direct URL or Autonomi link/account/status→ check user subscription/sources→ return available cached links
-
If using Autonomi for delivery, you may need a gateway or stream proxy
3. Implementation Steps
Step 1: Backend API
Build endpoints like:
POST /auth/login # Login and retrieve token
POST /resolve # Submit magnet or hoster URL to resolve
GET /cached/<hash> # Check if already cached in Autonomi
GET /stream/<id> # Return streamable URL
You’ll also need link resolvers (e.g., for Rapidgator, Mega, etc.). Start with a few popular hosters.
Step 2: Autonomi Integration
-
Use Autonomi SDK to:
- Upload blobs
- Retrieve public or encrypted URIs
- Query metadata
-
You can optionally run a lightweight gateway node that streams video from Autonomi blobs (so that Kodi doesn’t need to understand Autonomi directly).
Step 3: Kodi Plugin
Basic structure:
# main.py
import xbmcplugin, xbmcgui, xbmcaddon
import sys, urllib, json, requests
BASE_API = "https://yourservice/api"
def resolve_link(link):
r = requests.post(BASE_API + "/resolve", json={"link": link}, headers={"Authorization": token})
return r.json()['stream_url']
def list_sources():
# Your Kodi UI to select files or links
pass
def play(url):
listitem = xbmcgui.ListItem(path=url)
xbmcplugin.setResolvedUrl(int(sys.argv[1]), True, listitem)
4. Testing & Scaling
- Start with 2-3 hosters and basic caching to Autonomi.
- Build a CLI or Postman collection to test APIs before connecting with Kodi.
- Use logging and throttling for scraper modules.
- If Kodi buffering is an issue, use a stream proxy server (e.g. NGINX or Node stream pipe).
5. Legal & Ethical Considerations
You’ll need to carefully assess:
- Legal risk of scraping/piracy-related hosters
- Use of distributed networks for hosting copyrighted content
- Monetization method (tokens, crypto payments, subscription, etc.)
Optional: Tokenization / Premium Access
If you want to tokenize the experience:
- Use smart contracts (EVM-compatible or substrate-based)
- Premium users sign a transaction or stake to unlock higher speed/resolution
Summary
| Component | Tech / Tool |
|---|---|
| Backend | Python FastAPI / Node.js + PostgreSQL |
| Link Resolvers | Python scripts / Puppeteer / 3rd party APIs |
| Autonomi Layer | Autonomi SDK for upload, fetch, access ctrl |
| Kodi Plugin | Python + xbmcplugin API |
| Stream Delivery | Autonomi gateway / custom stream proxy |
And here’s a refined conversation including the use of dweb and removing the idea of having a premium service:
Excellent — if you're **removing the premium service layer** and instead relying on **Autonomi Token (ANT)** to regulate access, bandwidth, or storage, you shift from a Real-Debrid-style **centralized gateway** to a **token-incentivized, decentralized media access network**.
In this model:
- There’s no central account or subscription.
- Users pay with ANT to access or stream content.
- All content is hosted on Autonomi, and the dWeb interface + Kodi plugin act as access points to the decentralized media library.
Core Concept (New Version)
You’re now building a fully decentralized, token-gated streaming network:
- Media is stored on Autonomi.
- Metadata and app logic are hosted on dWeb.
- Kodi plugin or browser dApp interfaces with this network.
- Users spend ANT to unlock or stream content.
- Optional: Nodes serving the content earn ANT in exchange for bandwidth/storage.
Revised Architecture Overview
+------------------+ +-----------------+ +------------------------+
| Kodi Plugin | <---> | dWeb App/API | <---> | Autonomi Storage & |
| (user frontend) | | (JS/WASM App) | | Tokenized CDN Layer |
+------------------+ +-----------------+ +------------------------+
⇵ ⇵ ⇵
ANT Token Wallet Token Access Logic Stream + Settle in ANT
Key Components
1. Media Storage (Autonomi)
- Files are stored as blobs in Autonomi.
- URIs follow Autonomi conventions (
autonomi://<CID>). - Files are optionally encrypted and must be decrypted client-side (or via a gateway).
- You don’t rehost or proxy, unless for caching or pre-decryption.
2. Indexing & Metadata Layer
-
A public index of available media:
- JSON file or distributed DB
- Stored in dWeb or Autonomi itself
- Includes title, genre, duration, poster, and CID
Example Metadata Entry:
{
"title": "Arrival",
"cid": "autonomi://bafybeibwxyz...",
"tokens_required": 0.2,
"duration": "1h 56m",
"poster": "autonomi://bafybeimg...jpg",
"description": "A linguist helps communicate with aliens."
}
3. Access Control via ANT Token
How it works:
-
The user must sign a transaction or spend ANT to access a file.
-
The network checks the wallet balance or payment record before granting access.
-
You could enforce access using:
- Smart contracts (locking ANT before decrypting)
- dWeb’s identity + wallet layer
- A gateway that verifies ANT payments and returns signed stream URLs or decryption keys
4. Kodi Plugin Logic (Token-Aware)
The Kodi plugin behaves like this:
-
Authenticate: User connects wallet (or loads a keypair).
-
Browse Catalog: Fetches metadata from dWeb or Autonomi-hosted JSON.
-
Select Title: Checks cost in ANT and user’s balance.
-
Access Check:
- If sufficient balance → proceed
- Else → show error / request top-up
-
Stream:
- Either direct stream from Autonomi URI (if decrypted/public)
- Or proxy/decryption gateway after payment
5. Payment Mechanism
You can use one of two token settlement models:
Option A: Client-side wallet
- User holds ANT tokens in a browser- or Kodi-integrated wallet.
- Kodi signs transactions via JSON-RPC or local bridge.
- On access request, Kodi pays the required ANT.
- Returns decryption key or access token.
Option B: Pay-per-access gateway
- Users send ANT to a gateway address.
- Gateway tracks ANT usage and serves content securely.
- Requires a trust layer unless it’s decentralized.
6. Incentivization (Optional)
If you want this to scale:
- Nodes that serve content via Autonomi earn ANT for fulfilling requests.
- Incentives encourage content replication, availability, and bandwidth sharing.
- Similar to IPFS/Filecoin, but streamlined for media streaming.
Example Flow (No Central Service, Token-Regulated)
- User opens Kodi plugin
- Plugin loads catalog from dWeb
- User selects a movie
- Plugin checks token balance (ANT)
- Plugin pays ANT via wallet or contract
- Plugin receives signed decryption key or stream URI
- Stream begins from Autonomi
Tools & Stack
| Component | Tech Stack |
|---|---|
| Media Storage | Autonomi Network (CID-based access) |
| Indexing | JSON on dWeb or Autonomi itself |
| Access Control | Smart contracts, signed URLs, ANT payment |
| Frontend (Kodi) | Python plugin with wallet bridge |
| Frontend (Web) | dWeb App + ANT Wallet support |
| Payments | ANT-compatible wallet (Ledger / JS) |
| Optional Gateway | Rust/Go/Node streaming proxy (verifies ANT) |
No-Premium = Purely Decentralized
Advantages:
- Censorship-resistant
- No central authority
- Clear economic incentives (via ANT)
- Fully peer-to-peer distribution
Challenges:
- Building reliable access/paywall tooling (wallets, smart contracts)
- Streaming performance from Autonomi (proxy may be needed)
- Kodi plugin + crypto wallet integration
Next Steps
Would you like help with:
- Creating a token-aware Kodi plugin skeleton?
- Designing the ANT smart contract access model?
- Building the stream gateway that enforces ANT payments?
Let me know which piece to prototype next.
Does this make any sense to any of you in the know @happybeing @riddim @oetyng @loziniak @Traktion
?