Transform MediaSession.kind into a set of bools/enums

[foolip]

The MediaSession kind corresponds to a number of behaviors (does it interrupt others, can it mix with others, etc.) that we could expose directly:

partial interface MediaSession {
  attribute boolean transient;
  attribute boolean mixable;
  attribute boolean pauseInBackground; // silly name
}

The content kind would correspond to all of these being false, while e.g. transient-solo is {transient: true, mixable: false }.

In this setup, kinds would be a matter for HTMLMediaElement only.

[avayvod]

Some combinations don't make sense, do they? E.g. { transient: false, mixable: true }

[richtr]

There's a certain simplicity in having a kind of media session.

As a web dev, I would much prefer to do new MediaSession('content') (or potentially even new MediaSession('music')) than new MediaSession({transient: false, mixable: false, pauseInBackground: false}).

These bools/enums also don't capture other behaviors like whether you want media key access or want to show interfaces in the notification or lock screen.

There is probably a compromise in here, where var session = new MediaSession('content') actually lists readonly properties of the media session as per your proposal (e.g. session.mixable === false, session.pauseInBackground === false, session.hasRemoteControls === true, etc).

[foolip]

For the combinations that don't make sense, we could throw an exception or (preferably) just coerce it into a state that does make sense, so new MediaSession({transient: false, mixable: true}) would give a session where both transient and mixable are false.

[foolip]

For some context, my concern here is that we'll have to double the number of kinds if a new aspect of media sessions are added, or have a mix of kind and bools. There is already one somewhat sensible thing we cannot express, namely a non-transient session that interrupts other playback, like content, but which also automatically pauses and resumes when it goes into the background, like ambient.

[doomdavve]

Fwiw, foolip's last use case is present and called SoloAmbient on iOS.

[richtr]

There is already one somewhat sensible thing we cannot express, namely a non-transient session that interrupts other playback, like content, but which also automatically pauses and resumes when it goes into the background, like ambient.

Something like ambient-solo?

Fwiw, foolip's last use case is present and called SoloAmbient on iOS.

But it is not called {transient: false, mixable: false: pauseInBackground: true}.

[foolip]

Since we have not been able to actually come up with something better here, I'm going to close this.

@domenic, I know you supported this idea, so if you have some ideas for improvement please just suggest it and we'll try it out.