Chromecast Local Player

A simple Python server with web UI to control Chromecast, play local media files via Chromecast.

Archived

Archived because I basically don't use Chromecast anymore.

If you somehow find this useful, you can fork the repo.
Or use the code as long as it's non-commercial.

Requirements

pip install -r requirements.txt:

• bottle: fast and simple micro-framework for python
• pychromecast: version 14.0.1 needs Python 3.11+
• requests: used to get media content-type from url
• waitress: default server, optional, you can use another server

How to use

1. Run chromecast_control.py:

usage: chromecast_control.py [-h]
    [--server SERVER] [--host HOST] [--port PORT] [--open]
    [--under UNDER] [--home HOME] [--static STATIC] [--partial PARTIAL] [--disable]

An HTTP server to control Chromecast & cast local media

options:
  -h, --help         show this help message and exit
  --server SERVER    server to use (default: waitress)
  --host HOST        address to bind to (default: 0.0.0.0)
  --port PORT        port to bind to (default: 8080)
  --open             open browser (default: no)
  --under UNDER      limit access under path (default: no limit)
  --home HOME        home path (default: user's home dir)
  --static STATIC    max static file size (default: 16MiB)
  --partial PARTIAL  default range length (default: 4MiB)
  --disable          disable streaming server (default: no)

2. It would print something like this, visit the "internal IP URL":

Listen on: http://0.0.0.0:8080
Local URL: http://localhost:8080
Internal IP URL: http://192.168.XXX.XXX:8080

3. Wait until the search is done, then select a chromecast to connect to.
4. Click the "Cast" button.
5. Paste media URL to cast; or click the "File" button to browse local files.
6. In the file explorer, you can navigate and filter. Click a file to cast.

Hot keys

• Left / Space / Right: seek -10s / pause,play / seek +10s
• P / S / N: previous / stop / next
• M / Down / Up: mute / volume down / volume up

Docker

I wrote Dockerfile.
I guess it would work, but it's never tested.

Screenshots

• Main UI

• Cast UI

• File Explorer

How it works

streaming_server.py and file_explorer.tpl form a simple HTTP server
which supports streaming (HTTP range requests, 206 Partial Content).
You can run it on your computer, and access files on another device within same LAN.

chromecast_control.py and chromecast_control.html form a Chromecast controller.
chromecast_control.html gets chromecast status every 500ms, and updates the UI.

To do

• better front-end
  • icons?
  • avoid changing input values when user interacting
  • remember status & check some preconditions?
  • better theme?
  • better layout?
• more testing