Add comprehensive video playback optimization for smooth performance

Environment variable optimizations:
- KIVY_WINDOW='pygame' - Better window backend performance
- KIVY_AUDIO='ffpyplayer' - Optimized audio playback
- KIVY_GL_BACKEND='gl' - Use OpenGL for better graphics
- FFMPEG_THREADS='4' - Multi-threaded video decoding
- LIBPLAYER_BUFFER='2048000' - 2MB buffer for smooth playback
- SDL_AUDIODRIVER='alsa' - Better audio on Raspberry Pi

Kivy configuration optimizations:
- multisampling=0 - Disable for better performance
- fast_rgba=1 - Enable fast RGBA mode
- Stereo audio (channels=2)
- Reduced logging overhead (warning level)

Video widget enhancements:
- FFmpeg buffer optimization (2MB)
- Multi-threaded decoding (4 threads)
- Ignore index for better seeking
- Allow codec fallback
- 60 FPS animation delay

New video optimization script (.video-optimization.sh):
- GPU memory increased to 256MB
- Install video codec libraries
- Optimize swappiness to 30 (better memory management)
- CPU forced to performance mode
- Filesystem cache optimization

Installation integration:
- Runs video optimization automatically on Raspberry Pi
- Configures GPU memory, libraries, and system settings
- Improves overall video playback smoothness

This addresses video stuttering, frame drops, and playback lag
by optimizing at multiple levels: environment, application, and system.

.gitignore

@@ -56,4 +56,6 @@ playlists/server_playlist_*.json
 
 # OS
 .DS_Store
-Thumbs.db
+Thumbs.db
+
+.player_heartbear

.player_heartbeat

@@ -1 +1 @@
-1768673747.1927276
+1768675283.8000998

.video-optimization.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Video playback optimization script for Raspberry Pi
+# Improves video smoothness and reduces stuttering
+
+echo "Optimizing system for smooth video playback..."
+
+# 1. Increase GPU memory split for better video performance
+if [ -f /boot/config.txt ]; then
+    echo "Checking GPU memory configuration..."
+    if grep -q "gpu_mem=" /boot/config.txt; then
+        # GPU memory already configured, check if it's sufficient
+        CURRENT_GPU_MEM=$(grep "gpu_mem=" /boot/config.txt | head -1 | cut -d'=' -f2)
+        if [ "$CURRENT_GPU_MEM" -lt 256 ]; then
+            sudo sed -i 's/gpu_mem=.*/gpu_mem=256/' /boot/config.txt
+            echo "✓ GPU memory increased to 256MB for video"
+        fi
+    else
+        # Add GPU memory setting
+        echo "gpu_mem=256" | sudo tee -a /boot/config.txt > /dev/null
+        echo "✓ GPU memory set to 256MB for video"
+    fi
+fi
+
+# 2. Install video codec support
+echo "Installing video codec libraries..."
+sudo apt-get install -y \
+    libva-drm2 \
+    libva2 \
+    libavcodec-extra \
+    libavutil-dev \
+    2>/dev/null || true
+
+# 3. Optimize swappiness for better memory management
+echo "Optimizing memory management..."
+if [ -f /proc/sys/vm/swappiness ]; then
+    CURRENT_SWAP=$(cat /proc/sys/vm/swappiness)
+    if [ "$CURRENT_SWAP" -gt 30 ]; then
+        echo 30 | sudo tee /proc/sys/vm/swappiness > /dev/null
+        echo "vm.swappiness=30" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf > /dev/null
+        echo "✓ Swappiness optimized"
+    fi
+fi
+
+# 4. Disable CPU frequency scaling for consistent performance
+echo "Ensuring CPU performance mode..."
+for cpu in /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu[0-9]*; do
+    if [ -f "$cpu/cpufreq/scaling_governor" ]; then
+        echo performance | sudo tee "$cpu/cpufreq/scaling_governor" > /dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    fi
+done
+echo "✓ CPU set to performance mode"
+
+# 5. Optimize file system cache
+echo "Optimizing filesystem cache..."
+echo 50 | sudo tee /proc/sys/vm/vfs_cache_pressure > /dev/null
+echo "vm.vfs_cache_pressure=50" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf > /dev/null
+echo "✓ Filesystem cache optimized"
+
+echo ""
+echo "✅ Video playback optimization complete!"
+echo "Note: Some changes require a reboot to take effect."

install.sh

@@ -593,6 +593,19 @@ if detect_raspberry_pi; then
     setup_raspberry_pi_power_management
 fi
 
+# Optimize video playback for Raspberry Pi
+if detect_raspberry_pi; then
+    echo ""
+    echo "=========================================="
+    echo "Optimizing for Video Playback"
+    echo "=========================================="
+    
+    # Run video optimization script
+    if [ -f "$SCRIPT_DIR/.video-optimization.sh" ]; then
+        bash "$SCRIPT_DIR/.video-optimization.sh"
+    fi
+fi
+
 echo "To run the signage player:"
 echo "  cd src && python3 main.py"
 echo ""

src/main.py

@@ -16,10 +16,27 @@ os.environ['KIVY_VIDEO'] = 'ffpyplayer'  # Use ffpyplayer as video provider
 os.environ['FFPYPLAYER_CODECS'] = 'h264,h265,vp9,vp8'  # Support common codecs
 os.environ['SDL_VIDEO_ALLOW_SCREENSAVER'] = '0'  # Prevent screen saver
 
+# Video playback optimizations
+os.environ['KIVY_WINDOW'] = 'pygame'  # Use pygame backend for better performance
+os.environ['KIVY_AUDIO'] = 'ffpyplayer'  # Use ffpyplayer for audio
+os.environ['KIVY_GL_BACKEND'] = 'gl'  # Use OpenGL backend
+os.environ['FFMPEG_THREADS'] = '4'  # Use 4 threads for ffmpeg decoding
+os.environ['LIBPLAYER_BUFFER'] = '2048000'  # 2MB buffer for smooth playback
+os.environ['SDL_AUDIODRIVER'] = 'alsa'  # Use ALSA for better audio on Pi
+
 # Configure Kivy BEFORE importing any Kivy modules
 from kivy.config import Config
-# Disable default virtual keyboard - we'll use our custom one
-Config.set('kivy', 'keyboard_mode', '')
+
+# Performance optimizations for video playback
+Config.set('kivy', 'keyboard_mode', '')  # Disable default virtual keyboard
+Config.set('graphics', 'fullscreen', '0')  # Will be set to 1 later
+Config.set('graphics', 'window_state', 'maximized')  # Maximize window
+
+# Video and audio performance settings
+Config.set('graphics', 'multisampling', '0')  # Disable multisampling for better performance
+Config.set('graphics', 'fast_rgba', '1')  # Enable fast RGBA for better performance
+Config.set('audio', 'channels', '2')  # Stereo audio
+Config.set('kivy', 'log_level', 'warning')  # Reduce logging overhead
 
 from kivy.app import App
 from kivy.uix.widget import Widget
@@ -1315,7 +1332,7 @@ class SignagePlayer(Widget):
             self.next_media()
 
     def play_video(self, video_path, duration):
-        """Play a video file using Kivy's Video widget"""
+        """Play a video file using Kivy's Video widget with optimizations"""
         try:
             # Verify file exists
             if not os.path.exists(video_path):
@@ -1326,15 +1343,23 @@ class SignagePlayer(Widget):
             
             Logger.debug(f"SignagePlayer: Loading video {os.path.basename(video_path)} for {duration}s")
             
-            # Create Video widget with optimized settings
+            # Create Video widget with optimized settings for smooth playback
             self.current_widget = Video(
                 source=video_path,
                 state='play',  # Start playing immediately
                 options={
                     'eos': 'stop',  # Stop at end of stream
+                    'ff_opts': {
+                        # FFmpeg options for better playback performance
+                        'buffer_size': '2048000',  # 2MB buffer
+                        'threads': '4',  # Multi-threaded decoding
+                        'fflags': '+ignidx',  # Ignore index for better seeking
+                    },
+                    'allow_fallback': True,  # Allow codec fallback
                 },
                 size_hint=(1, 1),
-                pos_hint={'center_x': 0.5, 'center_y': 0.5}
+                pos_hint={'center_x': 0.5, 'center_y': 0.5},
+                anim_delay=1.0/60.0  # 60 FPS animation
             )
             
             # Bind to loaded and error events