Installing Kodi in Debian/Ubuntu
by Wintermute0110
- Installing Kodi using Ubuntu packages
- Installing Kodi using them Team Kodi PPA
- Compiling Kodi from source
- Launching Kodi automatically at boot time
- Controlling Kodi
- (Optional) Using Kodi Retroplayer to play your games
- (Optional) Using files and media stored in a NAS
- (Optional) Configure Kodi to use VA-API hardware acceleration
- (Optional) Music configuration
- (Optional) Movies/video configuration
- (Optional) Pictures configuration
- (Optional) Configuring IPTV Simple
Installing Kodi using Ubuntu packages
TODO Is it really recommended to use the Ubuntu official Kodi packages?
Installing Kodi using them Team Kodi PPA
Follow the instructions on the Kodi wiki: HOW-TO:Install Kodi for Linux.
Kodi wiki: Official Ubuntu PPA
Compiling Kodi from source
If you choose to compile Kodi you can follow the instruction of my Kodi-Install Github repository.
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The advantages of compiling Kodi yourself is that you can install the version you want and also the Retroplayer cores that for some reason are not available in the Team Kodi PPA repository.
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The only actual disadvantage is that the compilation may require several hours to complete, specially on low-end machines.
If you follow this approach use the next configuration options:
| Name | Directory |
|---|---|
| Kodi executable | /home/kodi/bin-kodi/lib/kodi/kodi-x11 |
| Kodi user data directory | /home/kodi/.kodi/ |
| Kodi log file | /home/kodi/.kodi/temp/kodi.log |
Launching Kodi automatically at boot time
Edit the file /home/kodi/.config/openbox/autostart and at the end append:
# File /home/kodi/.config/openbox/autostart
# Other configuration you may have in autostart...
# Launchg a terminal emulator
# lxterminal &
# Start Kodi. Restart in case it crashes.
$KODI=/home/kodi/bin-kodi/lib/kodi/kodi-x11
$KODI --standalone
while [ $? -ne 0 ]; do
$KODI --standalone
done
openbox --exit
Note that compared with the default autostart file created in the Linux-installation-and-configuration section here we disable the execution of lterminal and instead execute Kodi.
Controlling Kodi
If you have a USB keyboard and mouse attached to your HTPC they should work out of the box. Refer to the Kodi wiki: Keyboard controls page to learn about the default keys. Don’t be overwhelmed by the vast numbers of controls, this table summarizes the basic controls you will use 99.9% of the time:
| Key name | Main action |
|---|---|
Arrow keys |
Navigate the graphical interface |
Enter |
Select |
Backspace |
Back |
Escape |
Previous menu OR Home screen |
Tab |
Fullscreen playback |
C |
Open context menu |
I |
Open info menu |
P |
Start playing |
X |
Stop playing |
Space bar |
Pause/Play |
- minus |
Volume down |
+ plus |
Volume up |
Note that in Kodi some keys change their meaning depending on wheter you are on the Home screen, or watching a movie (movie playback) or listening to music (music visualization). When watching a movie or listening to music you can always return to the Home screen pressing Tab and your media will keep playing in the background. Press Tab again to return to your media. Kodi uses massively the context menu which changes depending on the item you have selected. For example, the context menu when you are selecting a movie has options relevant for movies. You will use the C key a lot.
Kodi can be controller with almost any remote control there is. However, I think the best controller for Kodi is an Xbox 360-like gamepad, which in addition will allow you to play your retrogames in your HTPC. Note that in Kodi Leia a gamepad is required to run games using Kodi Retroplayer.
Configure a gamepad to control Kodi
TODO: Rewrite this. In Kodi Leia the joystick buttons and axes are automapped in the GUI. However, the actions must be configured using an XML file.
Kodi needs a joystick mapping file. There are some examples in /usr/share/xbmc/. The appropiate file should be copied to ~/.xbmc/userdata/keymaps/joystick.SOMENAME.xml. In my case I used joystick.Logitech.RumblePad.2.xml.
(Optional) Using Kodi Retroplayer to play your games
TODO
(Optional) Using files and media stored in a NAS
TODO
(Optional) Configure Kodi to use VA-API hardware acceleration
TODO See Kodi forum post
(Optional) Music configuration
Album covers
By default, XBMC only recognises folder.jpg as the album cover. In order to expand this list, advancedsettings.xml should be changed:
<musicthumbs>
<add>cover.png|cover.jpg|Cover.png|Cover.jpg|front.png|front.jpg|Front.png|Front.jpg</add>
</musicthumbs>
Increase number of “recently added” albums
Add this to advancedsettings.xml
<musiclibrary>
<recentlyaddeditems>100</recentlyaddeditems>
</musiclibrary>
Kodi wiki: Advancedsettings.xml
(Optional) Movies/video configuration
TODO
(Optional) Pictures configuration
TODO
(Optional) Configuring IPTV Simple
TODO