Add episode thumbnails and playlist player

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 1.5.0 - 2026-09-15
+
+- Replaced inline episode video players with clickable episode cards using cached animated WebP thumbnails generated by ffmpeg.
+- Added automatic missing episode thumbnail generation during library scans, including newly added episodes.
+- Added fullscreen playback for episode cards and a `Play all` playlist flow that advances through a movie or series.
+- Removed redundant helper copy from the main website interface.
+
 ## 1.4.2 - 2026-09-15
 
 - Hid display title and thumbnail path from the read-only metadata view; those fields now appear only while editing metadata.

README.md

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ h-player is a small local web app for browsing a folder-based private video coll
 
 The sidebar holds app navigation, search, and rescanning controls. Movies and series appear in the main collection grid, similar to Jellyfin-style library browsing. Selecting a collection card opens that movie or series folder with its metadata, seasons, episodes, and playable files.
 
+Episodes are shown as thumbnail cards. h-player generates cached animated WebP thumbnails with `ffmpeg` when a thumbnail does not already exist, including thumbnails for newly added episodes discovered during scans. Clicking an episode opens it in the fullscreen player. `Play all` starts a playlist for the selected movie or series and advances through each episode in order.
+
 ## Folder Layout
 
 Place media in this shape:

VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.4.2
+1.5.0

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "h-player",
-  "version": "1.4.2",
+  "version": "1.5.0",
   "private": true,
   "description": "A small private web app for browsing a folder-based video collection.",
   "scripts": {

public/assets/app.js

@@ -7,12 +7,20 @@ const state = {
 
 const els = {
   libraryBadge: document.querySelector("#libraryBadge"),
-  libraryPath: document.querySelector("#libraryPath"),
   backBtn: document.querySelector("#backBtn"),
   rescanBtn: document.querySelector("#rescanBtn"),
   searchInput: document.querySelector("#searchInput"),
   details: document.querySelector("#details"),
-  titleCardTemplate: document.querySelector("#titleCardTemplate")
+  titleCardTemplate: document.querySelector("#titleCardTemplate"),
+  playerOverlay: document.querySelector("#playerOverlay"),
+  playerVideo: document.querySelector("#playerVideo"),
+  closePlayerBtn: document.querySelector("#closePlayerBtn"),
+  playerNowPlaying: document.querySelector("#playerNowPlaying")
+};
+
+const player = {
+  playlist: [],
+  index: 0
 };
 
 function bytes(value) {
@@ -39,7 +47,6 @@ async function api(path, options = {}) {
 async function loadLibrary() {
   const data = await api("/api/library");
   state.titles = data.titles;
-  els.libraryPath.textContent = data.libraryDir;
   els.libraryBadge.textContent = `${state.titles.length} title${state.titles.length === 1 ? "" : "s"}`;
   if (!state.titles.some((title) => title.id === state.activeId)) {
     state.activeId = "";
@@ -123,6 +130,7 @@ function renderDetails(title) {
             <button id="editMetaBtn" type="button">Edit</button>
             <button id="fetchMetadataBtn" type="button">Metadata</button>
             <button id="makeThumbBtn" type="button">Thumbnail</button>
+            <button id="playAllBtn" class="primary" type="button">Play all</button>
           </div>
         </div>
         <div id="metaView" class="meta-view">
@@ -139,10 +147,16 @@ function renderDetails(title) {
     </div>
   `;
 
+  wireEpisodeCards(title);
+
   document.querySelector("#editMetaBtn").addEventListener("click", () => {
     renderMetadataForm(title);
   });
 
+  document.querySelector("#playAllBtn").addEventListener("click", () => {
+    startPlaylist(flattenVideos(title), 0);
+  });
+
   document.querySelector("#makeThumbBtn").addEventListener("click", async (event) => {
     event.currentTarget.disabled = true;
     event.currentTarget.textContent = "Working";
@@ -220,19 +234,65 @@ function renderSeason(season) {
       <h3>${escapeHtml(season.name)}</h3>
       <div class="episodes">
         ${season.videos.map((video) => `
-          <article class="episode">
+          <button class="episode" type="button" data-video-id="${escapeAttr(video.id)}">
-            <div>
+            <span class="episode__thumb">
-              <strong>${escapeHtml(video.name)}</strong>
+              <img src="${escapeAttr(video.thumbnail)}" alt="" loading="lazy" onerror="this.hidden=true">
-              <span>${escapeHtml(video.relativePath)} · ${bytes(video.size)}</span>
+              <span class="episode__play">Play</span>
-            </div>
+            </span>
-            <video controls preload="metadata" src="/video/${encodeURIComponent(video.id)}"></video>
+            <span class="episode__name">${escapeHtml(video.name)}</span>
-          </article>
+            <span class="episode__meta">${escapeHtml(video.relativePath)} · ${bytes(video.size)}</span>
+          </button>
         `).join("")}
       </div>
     </section>
   `;
 }
 
+function flattenVideos(title) {
+  return title.seasons.flatMap((season) => season.videos);
+}
+
+function wireEpisodeCards(title) {
+  const videos = flattenVideos(title);
+  document.querySelectorAll("[data-video-id]").forEach((node) => {
+    node.addEventListener("click", () => {
+      const index = videos.findIndex((video) => video.id === node.dataset.videoId);
+      startPlaylist(videos, Math.max(index, 0));
+    });
+  });
+}
+
+function startPlaylist(videos, index = 0) {
+  if (!videos.length) return;
+  player.playlist = videos;
+  player.index = index;
+  els.playerOverlay.classList.remove("hidden");
+  playCurrent();
+  const fullscreenTarget = els.playerOverlay;
+  if (fullscreenTarget.requestFullscreen) {
+    fullscreenTarget.requestFullscreen().catch(() => {});
+  }
+}
+
+function playCurrent() {
+  const video = player.playlist[player.index];
+  if (!video) {
+    closePlayer();
+    return;
+  }
+  els.playerVideo.src = `/video/${encodeURIComponent(video.id)}`;
+  els.playerNowPlaying.textContent = `${video.name} · ${player.index + 1} / ${player.playlist.length}`;
+  els.playerVideo.play().catch(() => {});
+}
+
+function closePlayer() {
+  els.playerVideo.pause();
+  els.playerVideo.removeAttribute("src");
+  els.playerVideo.load();
+  els.playerOverlay.classList.add("hidden");
+  if (document.fullscreenElement) document.exitFullscreen().catch(() => {});
+}
+
 function initials(value) {
   return value.split(/\s+/).slice(0, 2).map((part) => part[0] || "").join("").toUpperCase();
 }
@@ -262,6 +322,19 @@ els.backBtn.addEventListener("click", () => {
   render();
 });
 
+els.closePlayerBtn.addEventListener("click", closePlayer);
+
+els.playerVideo.addEventListener("ended", () => {
+  player.index += 1;
+  playCurrent();
+});
+
+document.addEventListener("fullscreenchange", () => {
+  if (!document.fullscreenElement && !els.playerOverlay.classList.contains("hidden")) {
+    closePlayer();
+  }
+});
+
 els.rescanBtn.addEventListener("click", async () => {
   els.rescanBtn.disabled = true;
   els.rescanBtn.textContent = "Scanning";

public/assets/styles.css

@@ -246,28 +246,6 @@ label {
   letter-spacing: 0.08em;
 }
 
-.sidebar-note {
-  display: grid;
-  gap: 6px;
-  border: 1px solid var(--line);
-  border-radius: 18px;
-  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.03);
-  padding: 14px;
-}
-
-.sidebar-note__label {
-  color: #ddd0ff;
-  font-size: 11px;
-  font-weight: 800;
-  text-transform: uppercase;
-  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
-}
-
-.sidebar-note p {
-  color: var(--muted);
-  font-size: 13px;
-}
-
 .collection-grid {
   display: grid;
   grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(150px, 1fr));
@@ -524,41 +502,108 @@ label {
 
 .episodes {
   display: grid;
-  gap: 0.9rem;
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(220px, 1fr));
+  gap: 12px;
 }
 
 .episode {
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: minmax(180px, 1fr) minmax(280px, 520px);
+  gap: 10px;
-  gap: 1rem;
+  align-items: start;
-  align-items: center;
+  min-height: auto;
-  padding: 0.85rem;
+  padding: 12px;
+  text-align: left;
   box-shadow: none;
 }
 
-.episode div {
+.episode:hover {
-  display: grid;
+  border-color: var(--line-strong);
-  gap: 0.25rem;
+  background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(38, 28, 64, 0.94) 0%, rgba(19, 14, 32, 0.98) 100%);
-  min-width: 0;
 }
 
-.episode strong,
+.episode__thumb {
-.episode span {
+  position: relative;
+  aspect-ratio: 16 / 9;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(157, 123, 255, 0.16);
+  border-radius: 14px;
+  background:
+    radial-gradient(circle at top, rgba(157, 123, 255, 0.22), transparent 44%),
+    linear-gradient(180deg, #221734 0%, #0c0915 100%);
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+.episode__thumb img {
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+  object-fit: cover;
+  display: block;
+}
+
+.episode__play {
+  position: absolute;
+  right: 10px;
+  bottom: 10px;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.18);
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  padding: 5px 9px;
+  color: var(--text);
+  background: rgba(9, 6, 17, 0.74);
+  font-size: 12px;
+  font-weight: 800;
+}
+
+.episode__name {
+  color: var(--text);
+  font-weight: 800;
+}
+
+.episode__meta {
+  color: var(--muted);
+  font-size: 13px;
+}
+
+.episode__name,
+.episode__meta {
   overflow-wrap: anywhere;
 }
 
-video {
+.player-overlay {
+  position: fixed;
+  inset: 0;
+  z-index: 20;
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-rows: 1fr auto;
+  place-items: center;
+  gap: 12px;
+  padding: 24px;
+  background: #050308;
+}
+
+.player-video {
   width: 100%;
-  max-height: 320px;
+  max-width: min(100%, 1600px);
+  max-height: calc(100vh - 120px);
   border: 1px solid var(--line);
   border-radius: 16px;
   background: #050308;
 }
 
+.player-close {
+  position: fixed;
+  top: 18px;
+  right: 18px;
+  z-index: 21;
+}
+
+.player-now-playing {
+  color: var(--muted);
+  font-size: 13px;
+  text-align: center;
+}
+
 @media (max-width: 980px) {
   .app,
-  .hero,
+  .hero {
-  .episode {
     grid-template-columns: 1fr;
   }
 

public/index.html

@@ -26,17 +26,12 @@
           <span>Search collection</span>
           <input id="searchInput" type="search" placeholder="Title, folder, file" autocomplete="off">
         </label>
-        <div class="sidebar-note">
-          <span class="sidebar-note__label">Library view</span>
-          <p>Browse folders from the main collection grid.</p>
-        </div>
       </aside>
 
       <main class="layout">
         <header class="toolbar">
           <div>
             <h2>Collection</h2>
-            <p id="libraryPath" class="muted"></p>
           </div>
           <button id="backBtn" class="ghost hidden" type="button">Collection</button>
         </header>
@@ -44,12 +39,17 @@
         <section id="details" class="details">
           <div class="empty">
             <h2>No titles found</h2>
-            <p>Mount or create a Library folder with one folder per movie or series.</p>
           </div>
         </section>
       </main>
     </div>
 
+    <div id="playerOverlay" class="player-overlay hidden">
+      <button id="closePlayerBtn" class="player-close" type="button">Close</button>
+      <video id="playerVideo" class="player-video" controls autoplay></video>
+      <div id="playerNowPlaying" class="player-now-playing"></div>
+    </div>
+
     <template id="titleCardTemplate">
       <button class="title-card" type="button">
         <span class="title-card__poster">

server.js

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ const AUTH_PASSWORD = process.env.AUTH_PASSWORD || "";
 const ANIDB_CLIENT_NAME = process.env.ANIDB_CLIENT_NAME || "";
 const ANIDB_CLIENT_VERSION = Number(process.env.ANIDB_CLIENT_VERSION || 1);
 const THUMB_DIR = path.join(DATA_DIR, "thumbnails");
+const VIDEO_THUMB_DIR = path.join(DATA_DIR, "episode-thumbnails");
 const CACHE_DIR = path.join(DATA_DIR, "cache");
 const DB_FILE = path.join(DATA_DIR, "library.sqlite");
 const LEGACY_META_FILE = path.join(DATA_DIR, "metadata.json");
@@ -40,6 +41,8 @@ const MIME_BY_EXT = {
 
 let db;
 let lastScan = [];
+const pendingVideoThumbs = new Set();
+const failedVideoThumbs = new Set();
 
 function send(res, status, body, type = "application/json") {
   const payload = type === "application/json" ? JSON.stringify(body) : body;
@@ -102,6 +105,7 @@ function slugFor(value) {
 
 async function ensureStorage() {
   await fsp.mkdir(THUMB_DIR, { recursive: true });
+  await fsp.mkdir(VIDEO_THUMB_DIR, { recursive: true });
   await fsp.mkdir(CACHE_DIR, { recursive: true });
   db = new DatabaseSync(DB_FILE);
   db.exec(`
@@ -323,6 +327,7 @@ async function scanLibrary() {
     const meta = getTitleMetadata(id, entry.name);
 
     const seasons = groupSeasons(videos);
+    await attachVideoThumbnails(id, titlePath, videos);
     titles.push({
       id,
       folder: entry.name,
@@ -342,6 +347,66 @@ async function scanLibrary() {
   return lastScan;
 }
 
+async function attachVideoThumbnails(titleId, titlePath, videos) {
+  for (const video of videos) {
+    const outputName = `${titleId}-${video.id}.webp`;
+    const output = path.join(VIDEO_THUMB_DIR, outputName);
+    video.thumbnail = `/episode-thumbs/${outputName}`;
+    try {
+      await fsp.access(output, fs.constants.R_OK);
+    } catch {
+      scheduleVideoThumbnail(titleId, titlePath, video);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function scheduleVideoThumbnail(titleId, titlePath, video) {
+  const key = `${titleId}:${video.id}`;
+  if (pendingVideoThumbs.has(key) || failedVideoThumbs.has(key)) return;
+  pendingVideoThumbs.add(key);
+  generateVideoThumbnail(titleId, titlePath, video)
+    .catch((err) => {
+      failedVideoThumbs.add(key);
+      console.error(`Episode thumbnail failed for ${video.relativePath}: ${err.message}`);
+    })
+    .finally(() => pendingVideoThumbs.delete(key));
+}
+
+async function generateVideoThumbnail(titleId, titlePath, video) {
+  const source = path.resolve(titlePath, video.relativePath);
+  if (!isInside(titlePath, source)) throw new Error("Invalid video path");
+
+  const output = path.join(VIDEO_THUMB_DIR, `${titleId}-${video.id}.webp`);
+  const tmpOutput = `${output}.part`;
+  try {
+    await fsp.unlink(tmpOutput);
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (err.code !== "ENOENT") throw err;
+  }
+
+  await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const ffmpeg = spawn("ffmpeg", [
+      "-y",
+      "-ss", "00:00:12",
+      "-t", "4",
+      "-i", source,
+      "-vf", "fps=6,scale=360:-1:flags=lanczos",
+      "-loop", "0",
+      "-an",
+      "-f", "webp",
+      tmpOutput
+    ], { stdio: "ignore" });
+
+    ffmpeg.on("error", reject);
+    ffmpeg.on("close", (code) => {
+      if (code === 0) resolve();
+      else reject(new Error("ffmpeg could not generate an animated thumbnail"));
+    });
+  });
+
+  await fsp.rename(tmpOutput, output);
+}
+
 function groupSeasons(videos) {
   const groups = new Map();
   for (const video of videos) {
@@ -686,6 +751,19 @@ async function serveThumbnail(res, name) {
   }
 }
 
+async function serveEpisodeThumbnail(res, name) {
+  const filePath = path.resolve(VIDEO_THUMB_DIR, safeDecode(name));
+  if (!isInside(VIDEO_THUMB_DIR, filePath)) return send(res, 403, { error: "Forbidden" });
+  try {
+    const data = await fsp.readFile(filePath);
+    res.writeHead(200, { "content-type": "image/webp", "cache-control": "private, max-age=86400" });
+    res.end(data);
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (err.code === "ENOENT") send(res, 404, { error: "Not found" });
+    else throw err;
+  }
+}
+
 async function streamVideo(req, res, videoId) {
   const match = findVideo(videoId);
   if (!match) return send(res, 404, { error: "Video not found" });
@@ -733,6 +811,7 @@ async function route(req, res) {
   if (pathname === "/" || pathname === "/index.html") return serveStatic(req, res, "/index.html");
   if (pathname.startsWith("/assets/")) return serveStatic(req, res, pathname);
   if (pathname.startsWith("/thumbs/")) return serveThumbnail(res, pathname.slice("/thumbs/".length));
+  if (pathname.startsWith("/episode-thumbs/")) return serveEpisodeThumbnail(res, pathname.slice("/episode-thumbs/".length));
 
   if (pathname === "/api/library" && req.method === "GET") {
     return send(res, 200, { libraryDir: LIBRARY_DIR, titles: await scanLibrary() });