Random slideshow and the ability to randomly display all resources

[RouHim]

Discussed in #152

^{Originally posted by joe128 December 17, 2024}

Problem

If the config RANDOM_SLIDESHOW is enabled, a random image is fetched for each slideshowTick. So there is a very high chance that an image will be displayed twice before all resources have been displayed.
This behaviour isn't suitable if you want to display a slideshow over a small number of images.
(I have mentioned this issue and my usecase under #138 (comment))

Solution

Perhaps we could introduce a config that allows a kind of "shuffle and display all resources" (SHUFFLE_ALL)?
Another possibilities

• refactor the existing config RANDOM_SLIDESHOW
• introduce a config SHOW_ALL (with optional RANDOM_SLIDESHOW)

I have already implemented a POC and tested it with a small set of images.

Minimal config example to reproduce:

rm -rf testresources \
  && mkdir testresources \
  && rm -rf devdatafolder \
  && mkdir devdatafolder \
  && wget -O testresources/pic1.jpg https://picsum.photos/500/500 \
  && wget -O testresources/pic2.jpg https://picsum.photos/500/500 \
  && RESOURCE_PATHS=testresources DATA_FOLDER=devdatafolder RANDOM_SLIDESHOW=true SLIDESHOW_INTERVAL=3 ./this-week-in-past

[RouHim]

RANDOM_SLIDESHOW now plays an actually shuffled slideshow.

[joe128]

Thanks a lot, but why the limitation to 1000 images? I think it should be at least 10.000.
Unfortunately, during the Christmas holidays I discovered the next missing feature: Display all images chronologically. Last week I described a solution in discussion #152 with a SHOW_ALL parameter, perhaps this approach can also be considered?

[RouHim]

There should be definitely a limitation, which value do you think could be a good idea?

[RouHim]

If you have the time, you could raise a feature request for your chronological sorting feature.

[RouHim]

@joe128

There should be definitely a limitation, which value do you think could be a good idea?

1000 should be more than fine, because after the default refresh interval, which is 1 hour per default, and a default slideshow interval of 30 seconds, we just need 120 images right?

But this should not be hardcoded, thus it should be calculated by this formula:
(60/SLIDESHOW_INTERVAL)*REFRESH_INTERVAL
Optional: * 10% buffer

Related PR: #155

[joe128]

I think this approach works well, thank you.