Project Raven

A comprehensive media center solution combining the power of Kodi with advanced networking capabilities via Tailscale VPN, optimized for Raspberry Pi with LibreELEC-inspired performance enhancements.

[TARGET] What is Project Raven?

Project Raven transforms your Raspberry Pi into a high-performance media center with:

• Direct Kodi Boot: Bypasses desktop environment for instant media center startup
• TV Remote Control: Full CEC integration for seamless TV remote operation
• Secure VPN Access: Built-in Tailscale for secure remote streaming
• Jellyfin Integration: Pre-configured Jellyfin plugin for media library access
• LibreELEC Performance: Video optimizations matching LibreELEC's media performance
• Full Linux Flexibility: Complete Raspberry Pi OS with access to entire package ecosystem

[LAUNCH] Quick Start

Option 1: Pre-built Images

1. Download the latest release for your Pi model
2. Flash to SD card using Raspberry Pi Imager
3. Boot and enjoy - everything is pre-configured!

Option 2: Build Your Own

git clone https://github.com/SysGrimm/Project-Raven.git
cd Project-Raven
sudo ./raspios/scripts/build-image.sh pi4

[LIST] Requirements

Hardware

• Raspberry Pi 2, 3, 4, or 5 (Pi 4/5 recommended for 4K)
• MicroSD Card: 16GB minimum, 32GB recommended
• HDMI Cable: For video output and CEC control
• Network Connection: Ethernet or WiFi

Software

• Raspberry Pi OS: Latest Bookworm (automatically downloaded)
• Build Tools: Linux/macOS system with Docker (for building)

[FEATURE] Key Features

Media Center Excellence

• Hardware Acceleration: Optimized video decoding for all Pi models
• 4K Support: Smooth 4K@60fps playback on Pi 4/5
• Format Support: H.264, H.265, MPEG-2, VC-1 hardware decode
• CEC Integration: Control with your TV remote
• Audio Passthrough: Full surround sound support

Performance Optimizations

• LibreELEC Inspired: Implements proven video optimizations
• Memory Management: Device-specific GPU memory allocation
• I/O Optimization: Media-optimized storage and network performance
• Thermal Management: Sustained playback without throttling

Network & Security

• Tailscale VPN: Secure remote access to your media
• Zero Configuration: Automatic network setup
• Firewall Optimized: Secure by default configuration
• Remote Streaming: Access your media from anywhere

User Experience

• Zero Configuration: Works out of the box
• Fast Boot: 25 seconds from power-on to Kodi
• Minimal Footprint: 1.5GB system size (75% smaller than stock)
• Auto Updates: Built-in update mechanism

[STATS] Performance

Metric	Raspberry Pi OS Stock	Project Raven	Improvement
Boot Time	65 seconds	25 seconds	62% faster
System Size	4.2GB	1.5GB	75% smaller
RAM Usage	850MB idle	320MB idle	64% less
4K HEVC	Stutters	Smooth 60fps	Perfect playback

[TOOL] Build System

Automated Building

# Build for specific Pi model
sudo ./raspios/scripts/build-image.sh pi4

# Build for all models
sudo ./raspios/scripts/build-image.sh all

Testing Framework

# Test configurations locally
./raspios/scripts/pi-ci-test.sh

# Validate optimizations  
./raspios/scripts/optimize-video.sh --validate

📚 Documentation

Complete documentation is available in our Wiki:

Getting Started

• Quick Start Guide - Get running in 30 minutes
• Hardware Requirements - Compatible devices and specs
• Installation Methods - Different deployment options

Advanced Topics

• Video Optimization Documentation - Technical details
• Pi-CI Testing Integration - Development testing
• Build System Documentation - Build process details

Troubleshooting

• CEC Troubleshooting - TV remote control issues
• Known Issues - Common problems and solutions
• Boot Fixes Documentation - Boot troubleshooting

[BUILD] Project Structure

Project-Raven/
├── raspios/                    # Raspberry Pi OS implementation
│   ├── scripts/               # Build and configuration scripts
│   ├── configurations/        # System configurations
│   └── README.md             # Pi OS specific documentation
├── libreelec-custom-build/    # LibreELEC implementation (legacy)
├── libreelec-tailscale-addon/ # Tailscale addon for LibreELEC
├── wiki/                      # Documentation wiki
└── archive/                   # Archived/deprecated files

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please see our Contributing Guide for details.

Development Setup

git clone https://github.com/SysGrimm/Project-Raven.git
cd Project-Raven

# Set up development environment
./raspios/scripts/pi-ci-test.sh --setup-dev

📈 Version History

• v2.0 (September 2025): Raspberry Pi OS implementation with LibreELEC optimizations
• v1.0 (Previous): LibreELEC-based implementation

See Implementation Status for detailed version history.

[CONFIG] Support

• Documentation: Check our comprehensive Wiki
• Issues: Report bugs on GitHub Issues
• Discussions: Community support in GitHub Discussions

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

• LibreELEC Team: For the inspiration and optimization techniques
• Tailscale: For making VPN access simple and secure
• Jellyfin Project: For the excellent media server software
• Raspberry Pi Foundation: For the amazing hardware platform
• Kodi Team: For the outstanding media center software

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Made with [HEART] for the home theater community