Current Status of all the Kodi add-ons

[TeamB 2414]

This post contains status info on the 4 Kodi add-ons that support Emby playback in Kodi.

Kodi Media Source Info

There are two main ways for Kodi to display media items:

• From its internal database using native c/c++ (Syncing)
• As a list of ListItems generated by an add-on in Python querying an external server (Dynamic)

There are advantages and disadvantages with both of there when dealing with external sources.

From the internal DB (Syncing)

Pros

• Uses the native Kodi internal display mechanisums
• Fast access and display, as fast as it is ever going to get
• All local data from the local DB
• Other Kodi add-ons can use the data form the DB

Cons

• Can be problematic to sync data to and from external sources
• Keeping data in sync, data can get out of sync
• Large data changes or constantly changing data on the external source will cause lots of sync triggers
• Getting syncing correct is not trivial

As a list of ListItems generated by an add-on (Dynamic)

Pros

• No DB sync task is needed
• Data is loaded from external source when it is needed (like a web page)
• Data will always be the latest from the external source
• Changes on the external source show up immediately on next request

Cons

• Add-on (Python) data processing is not as fast or local DB and c++ code
• External server query speed becomes part of the delay in displaying items
• Other add-ons can not access items

Add-ons use different approaches:

EmbyCon :- uses only dynamic add-on generated views

Emby for Kodi :- uses a combination of DB sync and dynamic

Emby Next Gen :- uses a combination of DB sync and dynamic

Kodi MediaImport :- uses only syncing

 

Add-On status:

EmbyCon
Status : Maintained by community members (TeamB)
Kodi 18 : Stable
Kodi 19 : Stable
Source : https://github.com/faush01/plugin.video.embycon

Emby for Kodi
Status : Not supported, end of life
Kodi 18 : Stable
Kodi 19 : Not Supported
Source : https://github.com/MediaBrowser/plugin.video.emby

Emby Next Gen
Status : Maintained by Team Emby (quickmic)
Kodi 18, 19 : Not Supported
Kodi 20, 21 : Stable and Beta
Source : https://github.com/MediaBrowser/plugin.video.emby/tree/next-gen-dev-python3

Kodi MediaImport
Status : Maintained by Kodi team and Emby community (Montellese, LongMan)
Kodi 18: Not Supported
Kodi 19: Beta, under active development from Kodi team member
Source : https://github.com/Montellese/mediaimporter.emby

 

 

Edited February 19 by quickmic

[prydda 2]

Out of curiosity: Do Python 3 has better performance than py2? 

follow-up: Will embycon be faster while kodi 19 Matrix is in stable state? 

[TeamB 2414]

Like all question about performance, it will depend on a lot of factors.

EmbyCon has performance profiling built in but I have not done any comparisons yet.

Once the beta of Kodi 19 is released I will switch efforts to that branch but for now Kodi 18 is where I am still working.

[peffe 4]

Is the development on Emby for Kodi discontinued?

[TeamB 2414]

I don't think it is discontinues but it looks like the main dev has stepped away for a while. The last release and code commit was 6 months ago.

I am not sure what it means for the future of Emby for Kodi, the latest current version should still be working but moving to Kodi 19 looks doubtful if no project maintainer steps up.

[Luke 40065]

Quote

moving to Kodi 19 looks doubtful if no project maintainer steps up.

We'll be hiring someone to help ensure Kodi 19 compatibility when it releases, so nothing to worry about there.

[peffe 4]

That's good news! Thank you.

 

Personally I like the way of syncing more because of easier / better integration with all the kodi addons and skins.

[feerlessleadr 160]

I'm really happy to hear that both E4K & EmbyCon will be available and working for Kodi 19. 

[TeamB 2414]

And don't forget in Kodi 19 you will also have MediaImport

[feerlessleadr 160]

yeah, good call. I haven't done much testing on 19 yet, mostly because I'm waiting for CoreELEC to update to a beta, but I might start playing around with 19 on my spare shield to see how it works. 

[TeamB 2414]

It is still early days for Kodi 19, it still has a long way to go.

Edited June 24, 2020 by TeamB

[blublub 10]

moving to Kodi 19 looks doubtful if no project maintainer steps up.

We'll be hiring someone to help ensure Kodi 19 compatibility when it releases, so nothing to worry about there.
That's great. Although I would love to have a basic version a beta earlier[emoji6]

[quickmic 1607]

emby for kodi: It's not that hard, migrating to python 3. I already fiddled around with that, and looks promising.

[blublub 10]

1 hour ago, quickmic said:

emby for kodi: It's not that hard, migrating to python 3. I already fiddled around with that, and looks promising.

Sounds promising, thy for your work it is much appreciated.

[Popeye2468 35]

it says embycon works with kodi 19 so which one do install as the one in beta repo does not

[TeamB 2414]

You should be able to use the beta version of embycon, i have not tested it with the latest kodi 19 beta so it might have issues, I will test tonight.

[TeamB 2414]

Latest EmbyCon Beta v1.10.6 should now work again with Kodi 19

[Audiomixer 368]

I’ve been playing with v1.10.9 and Kodi 19 beta one. Seems to be working well.

[TeamB 2414]

Kodi 19 Release Candidate 1 (RC1) has been released:

https://kodi.tv/article/kodi-19x-matrix-release-candidate

This is usually where things start to get serious with a stable release just around the corner so I would expect releases like libreelic etc to have a build in the next few weeks with kodi 19.

It looks like all three main plugins are in good shape for Kodi 19, we have beta for EmbyCon and the new emby-next-gen plus the Media import project still being worked on so you have plenty of options.

If you are testing and find issues it would be best to start a new thread so we can better track the issues.

Have fun testing.

[somy 25]

Hello, just installed Kodi 19 and find the page here. Looks like Emby for Kodi doesn't work for 19? Is there any plan to migrate that to 19?

 

[quickmic 1607]

It is already migrated, but you need to install it from beta repository, called "Emby-next-gen"

 

Edited February 20, 2021 by quickmic

[somy 25]

Will give a try, thanks!

Why do we have both kodi for Emby and Emby next gen? Is next gen going to replace Emby for kodi?

 

Edited February 21, 2021 by somy

[Kodi_Newcomer 27]

On 2/21/2021 at 8:34 AM, somy said:

Will give a try, thanks!

Why do we have both kodi for Emby and Emby next gen? Is next gen going to replace Emby for kodi?

 

Thats my Same Quest. After KODi ist updated to 19 without my Wish i have seen that emby for kodi did not Work anymore.

Here i read that emby next gen works with kodi 19. So is this the next level from the emby for kodi addon ?

Has emby next gen the same Features like emby for kodi, works it same as the emby for kodi addon ?

Where i can get the emby Beta repo for kodi ?

[quickmic 1607]

Yes, next gen is the replacement. It has (almost) the same features like the old one. Some features are not added yet, like multiserver support.

[CharleyVarrick 283]

Having been thru this myself a few weeks ago, dedicated detailed pinned thread would be appropriate.

Thread title could be modified to: Kodi v19 now requires Emby-Nex-Gen

 

 

Edited March 14, 2021 by CharleyVarrick