DASH HD playback — WIP behind TORTTUBE_DASH=1 + upstream notes

Sidecar resolve_dash op shipped — returns rustypipe's full video_only_streams
+ audio_streams (16+ representations for NGGYU, from 360p H.264 through 4K
AV1). Addon _build_dash_mpd assembles a valid on-demand MPEG-DASH manifest
filtered to H.264 ≤1080p + best AAC audio.

Two unblocked-by-WIP issues surfaced during integration:
- inputstream.adaptive's libcurl can't open file:// URLs (logged in
  docs/upstream.md as an enhancement-target).
- Rapid Player.Open retries can trigger Kodi's 'two concurrent
  busydialogs' fatal exit; need lifecycle hardening before re-enabling.

Pivoted to localhost HTTP-server serving (ThreadingHTTPServer on a
port-0 socket, MPD bytes captured in a per-instance handler subclass).
Lifecycle: server.shutdown() runs in a finally block after the
SponsorBlockMonitor watcher exits. Works in isolation but Kodi crashed
under rapid retry conditions — needs more testing.

For v0.0.5: DASH path is gated behind TORTTUBE_DASH=1 env var; default
falls through to the stable yt-dlp progressive 360p path that's been
verified live. M7 milestone added to track the remaining work; PRs
to inputstream.adaptive + Kodi candidates logged in docs/upstream.md.

MILESTONES.md

@@ -71,8 +71,25 @@
       picked format 18, 360p H.264+AAC progressive)
 - [ ] armv7 build for older Pis (deferred — current TV is aarch64-capable
       and my static sidecar runs on it even though userspace is armhf)
-- [ ] 720p+ playback (deferred to M5+) — itag 22 (720p progressive) is
+- [ ] 720p+ playback (DASH WIP — see "M7 — DASH/HD" below) — itag 22 (720p
-      deprecated by YouTube; higher quality needs DASH manifest generation
+      progressive) is deprecated by YouTube; higher quality needs DASH
+      manifest generation. Code path exists, gated behind `TORTTUBE_DASH=1`.
+
+## M7 — DASH / HD playback [WIP]
+
+- [x] sidecar `resolve_dash` op returns rustypipe's full
+      `video_only_streams` + `audio_streams` arrays (16+ representations)
+- [x] addon `_build_dash_mpd` constructs valid on-demand MPD with H.264
+      video reps from 360p → 1080p + best AAC audio rep (XML-escaped URLs,
+      proper `SegmentBase indexRange` + `Initialization range`)
+- [ ] **serve MPD over localhost HTTP** — inputstream.adaptive's libcurl
+      can't open `file://` URLs. ThreadingHTTPServer + Player monitor
+      lifecycle is sketched but caused Kodi's "two concurrent busydialogs"
+      fatal during rapid retries. Needs more work on lifecycle + retry
+      backoff before re-enabling.
+- [ ] handle session-cookie / poToken inheritance — googlevideo URLs may
+      need the same client signature across MPD + segment fetches
+- [ ] graceful fallback to progressive if MPD load fails mid-playback
 
 ## Upstream PR work (parallel lane — every bug evaluated for "fix it upstream?")
 

addon/plugin.video.torttube/addon.xml

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
 <addon id="plugin.video.torttube"
        name="torttube"
-       version="0.0.2"
+       version="0.0.5"
        provider-name="Sulkta">
   <requires>
     <import addon="xbmc.python" version="3.0.0"/>

addon/plugin.video.torttube/main.py

@@ -18,13 +18,17 @@ That's how Android / phone / "send to TV" flows hand off — Kodi already
 exposes the endpoint, we just need to register the plugin URL.
 """
 
+import http.server
 import json
 import os
 import re
+import socketserver
 import subprocess
 import sys
+import threading
 from typing import Any
 from urllib.parse import parse_qsl, urlparse
+from xml.sax.saxutils import escape as xml_escape
 
 import xbmc
 import xbmcaddon
@@ -104,23 +108,235 @@ def _resolved_listitem(stream_url: str, title: str | None) -> xbmcgui.ListItem:
     li = xbmcgui.ListItem(label=title or "torttube")
     li.setPath(stream_url)
     li.setProperty("IsPlayable", "true")
-    # Tell inputstream.adaptive to handle DASH/HLS if the URL looks like a manifest.
+    # Tell inputstream.adaptive to handle DASH/HLS based on URL path/suffix.
-    if stream_url.endswith(".mpd"):
+    if ".mpd" in stream_url:
         li.setProperty("inputstream", "inputstream.adaptive")
         li.setProperty("inputstream.adaptive.manifest_type", "mpd")
-    elif stream_url.endswith(".m3u8"):
+    elif ".m3u8" in stream_url:
         li.setProperty("inputstream", "inputstream.adaptive")
         li.setProperty("inputstream.adaptive.manifest_type", "hls")
     return li
 
 
-def _play(yt_id: str) -> None:
+class _MpdHandler(http.server.BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
-    """Resolve via sidecar (yt-dlp combined-format path), hand URL to Kodi."""
+    """Serves the per-video MPD file. The bytes come from the closure-captured
-    _log(f"play id={yt_id}")
+    `_MPD_BYTES` so the server can outlive the temp file if the addon decides
+    to clean up early. One handler per HTTPServer instance."""
+
+    mpd_bytes: bytes = b""
+
+    def do_GET(self) -> None:  # noqa: N802 — http.server convention
+        self.send_response(200)
+        self.send_header("Content-Type", "application/dash+xml")
+        self.send_header("Content-Length", str(len(self.mpd_bytes)))
+        self.send_header("Access-Control-Allow-Origin", "*")
+        self.end_headers()
+        self.wfile.write(self.mpd_bytes)
+
+    def log_message(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        # Silence the default request log — Kodi's log is verbose enough.
+        return
+
+
+def _start_mpd_server(mpd_bytes: bytes) -> tuple[str, http.server.HTTPServer]:
+    """Spin up a one-shot localhost HTTP server that serves `mpd_bytes` at any
+    path. Returns (url, server). Caller is responsible for `server.shutdown()`
+    once playback ends."""
+
+    # Per-server handler subclass so the closure captures the bytes for THIS
+    # video without leaking state to a concurrent invocation.
+    handler_cls = type(
+        "_MpdHandlerInstance",
+        (_MpdHandler,),
+        {"mpd_bytes": mpd_bytes},
+    )
+    # Port 0 → kernel picks free port. ThreadingHTTPServer so multiple GETs
+    # (the manifest + range requests, if any) don't serialize.
+    server = http.server.ThreadingHTTPServer(("127.0.0.1", 0), handler_cls)
+    threading.Thread(target=server.serve_forever, daemon=True).start()
+    port = server.server_address[1]
+    url = f"http://127.0.0.1:{port}/manifest.mpd"
+    _log(f"MPD HTTP server up on {url}")
+    return url, server
+
+
+_MIME_CODEC_RE = re.compile(r'codecs="([^"]+)"')
+
+
+def _codec_from_mime(stream: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    """Extract the full DASH codec string (avc1.4d4015 etc) from the mime field.
+
+    rustypipe gives `codec: "avc1"` (short form) but DASH MPDs need the full
+    profile/level identifier from `mime: 'video/mp4; codecs="avc1.4d4015"'`.
+    """
+    mime = stream.get("mime", "")
+    m = _MIME_CODEC_RE.search(mime)
+    return m.group(1) if m else (stream.get("codec") or "")
+
+
+def _build_dash_mpd(
+    details: dict[str, Any],
+    video_streams: list[dict[str, Any]],
+    audio_streams: list[dict[str, Any]],
+) -> str | None:
+    """Build a static MPEG-DASH on-demand manifest from rustypipe's stream data.
+
+    Picks H.264 (avc1) video streams up to 1080p — guaranteed to play on the
+    RPi 4's hardware H.264 decoder. Picks the best AAC (mp4a) audio stream.
+    Returns the MPD XML, or None if no compatible streams were found.
+    """
+    duration_s = float(details.get("duration") or 0)
+    if duration_s <= 0:
+        return None
+
+    # Filter video: H.264 only (avc1.*), height <= 1080 (RPi 4 H.264 ceiling).
+    h264 = [
+        s
+        for s in video_streams
+        if "avc1" in (s.get("codec") or s.get("mime", ""))
+        and (s.get("height") or 0) <= 1080
+        and s.get("init_range")
+        and s.get("index_range")
+        and s.get("url")
+    ]
+    if not h264:
+        return None
+
+    # Filter audio: AAC preferred, Opus fallback. Pick highest-bitrate of preferred codec.
+    aac = [s for s in audio_streams if "mp4a" in (s.get("codec") or s.get("mime", ""))]
+    opus = [s for s in audio_streams if "opus" in (s.get("codec") or s.get("mime", ""))]
+    audio_pool = aac or opus
+    if not audio_pool:
+        return None
+    best_audio = max(audio_pool, key=lambda s: s.get("bitrate") or 0)
+    if not (best_audio.get("init_range") and best_audio.get("index_range") and best_audio.get("url")):
+        return None
+
+    # Sort video high → low quality so inputstream.adaptive's default-best picks the top.
+    h264.sort(key=lambda s: (s.get("height") or 0, s.get("bitrate") or 0), reverse=True)
+
+    parts = [
+        '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>',
+        '<MPD xmlns="urn:mpeg:dash:schema:mpd:2011" type="static"',
+        f'     mediaPresentationDuration="PT{duration_s:.3f}S" minBufferTime="PT1.5S"',
+        '     profiles="urn:mpeg:dash:profile:isoff-on-demand:2011">',
+        "  <Period>",
+        '    <AdaptationSet mimeType="video/mp4" startWithSAP="1" segmentAlignment="true">',
+    ]
+    for v in h264:
+        codec = _codec_from_mime(v) or "avc1.4d401f"
+        ir = v["index_range"]
+        init = v["init_range"]
+        parts.append(
+            f'      <Representation id="{v["itag"]}" mimeType="video/mp4" codecs="{codec}"'
+            f' width="{v.get("width", 0)}" height="{v.get("height", 0)}"'
+            f' bandwidth="{v.get("bitrate", 0)}" frameRate="{int(v.get("fps") or 30)}"'
+            f' startWithSAP="1">'
+        )
+        parts.append(f"        <BaseURL>{xml_escape(v['url'])}</BaseURL>")
+        parts.append(
+            f'        <SegmentBase indexRange="{ir["start"]}-{ir["end"]}" indexRangeExact="true">'
+        )
+        parts.append(f'          <Initialization range="{init["start"]}-{init["end"]}"/>')
+        parts.append("        </SegmentBase>")
+        parts.append("      </Representation>")
+    parts.append("    </AdaptationSet>")
+
+    # Audio adaptation set.
+    a = best_audio
+    a_codec = _codec_from_mime(a) or ("mp4a.40.2" if "mp4a" in (a.get("codec") or "") else "opus")
+    a_mime = "audio/mp4" if "mp4a" in a_codec else "audio/webm"
+    a_ir = a["index_range"]
+    a_init = a["init_range"]
+    parts.append(
+        f'    <AdaptationSet mimeType="{a_mime}" startWithSAP="1" segmentAlignment="true">'
+    )
+    parts.append(
+        f'      <Representation id="{a["itag"]}" mimeType="{a_mime}" codecs="{a_codec}"'
+        f' bandwidth="{a.get("bitrate", 0)}" audioSamplingRate="44100" startWithSAP="1">'
+    )
+    parts.append(
+        '        <AudioChannelConfiguration'
+        ' schemeIdUri="urn:mpeg:dash:23003:3:audio_channel_configuration:2011"'
+        f' value="{a.get("channels", 2)}"/>'
+    )
+    parts.append(f"        <BaseURL>{xml_escape(a['url'])}</BaseURL>")
+    parts.append(
+        f'        <SegmentBase indexRange="{a_ir["start"]}-{a_ir["end"]}" indexRangeExact="true">'
+    )
+    parts.append(f'          <Initialization range="{a_init["start"]}-{a_init["end"]}"/>')
+    parts.append("        </SegmentBase>")
+    parts.append("      </Representation>")
+    parts.append("    </AdaptationSet>")
+    parts.append("  </Period>")
+    parts.append("</MPD>")
+
+    return "\n".join(parts)
+
+
+def _try_dash(yt_id: str) -> tuple[bytes | None, dict[str, Any]]:
+    """Resolve via rustypipe + build DASH MPD. Returns (mpd_bytes, resp).
+
+    On any failure returns (None, resp) so the caller can fall back to
+    the progressive path. We serve the MPD over localhost HTTP because
+    inputstream.adaptive's libcurl can't open file:// URLs.
+    """
+    try:
+        resp = _call_sidecar({"op": "resolve_dash", "id": yt_id}, timeout_s=30)
+    except Exception as e:
+        _log(f"resolve_dash failed (will fall back): {e}", xbmc.LOGWARNING)
+        return None, {}
+    if not resp.get("ok"):
+        return None, resp
+
+    mpd = _build_dash_mpd(
+        resp.get("details") or {},
+        resp.get("video_only_streams") or [],
+        resp.get("audio_streams") or [],
+    )
+    if not mpd:
+        _log("DASH build returned no compatible streams; falling back to progressive")
+        return None, resp
+    return mpd.encode("utf-8"), resp
+
+
+def _play(yt_id: str) -> None:
+    """Resolve via DASH (rustypipe, up to 1080p H.264) with progressive
+    yt-dlp fallback (360p).
+
+    DASH path is gated behind TORTTUBE_DASH=1 while the manifest-serving
+    HTTP server + inputstream.adaptive integration is being stabilized
+    (file:// URLs don't work, and rapid retries via a port-0 HTTP server
+    can trigger Kodi's 'two concurrent busydialogs' fatal). Default OFF
+    until that's solid — progressive yt-dlp path is reliable.
+    """
+    _log(f"play id={yt_id}")
+
+    mpd_bytes: bytes | None = None
+    dash_resp: dict[str, Any] = {}
+    if os.environ.get("TORTTUBE_DASH") == "1":
+        mpd_bytes, dash_resp = _try_dash(yt_id)
+    if mpd_bytes:
+        details = dash_resp.get("details") or {}
+        title = details.get("name")
+        mpd_url, server = _start_mpd_server(mpd_bytes)
+        _log(f"resolved via rustypipe DASH, serving manifest at {mpd_url}")
+        xbmcplugin.setResolvedUrl(_HANDLE, True, _resolved_listitem(mpd_url, title))
+        try:
+            _attach_sponsorblock(yt_id)
+        finally:
+            # Shut down the MPD server cleanly once playback ends or aborts.
+            # _attach_sponsorblock blocks while playback is active.
+            try:
+                server.shutdown()
+                server.server_close()
+                _log("MPD HTTP server shut down")
+            except Exception as e:
+                _log(f"MPD server shutdown error: {e}", xbmc.LOGWARNING)
+        return
+
+    # Fallback: progressive single-URL via yt-dlp (360p).
     try:
-        # resolve_play returns ONE combined audio+video URL — guaranteed
-        # to play in Kodi without needing inputstream.adaptive/DASH.
-        # ~3-5s overhead vs rustypipe but reliable audio sync.
         resp = _call_sidecar({"op": "resolve_play", "id": yt_id}, timeout_s=45)
     except Exception as e:
         _log(f"sidecar resolve_play failed: {e}", xbmc.LOGERROR)
@@ -150,8 +366,32 @@ def _play(yt_id: str) -> None:
         xbmcplugin.setResolvedUrl(_HANDLE, False, xbmcgui.ListItem())
         return
 
-    _log(f"resolved via {resp.get('source')}, playing")
+    _log(f"resolved via yt-dlp progressive fallback, playing")
     xbmcplugin.setResolvedUrl(_HANDLE, True, _resolved_listitem(stream_url, title))
+    _attach_sponsorblock(yt_id)
+
+
+def _attach_sponsorblock(yt_id: str) -> None:
+    """Fetch SponsorBlock segments and block on the monitor loop. Always blocks
+    until playback ends (or 30s if playback never starts) so the caller can
+    use this as a 'wait for playback to finish' signal — needed to keep the
+    MPD HTTP server alive throughout playback.
+
+    Non-fatal on segment fetch error.
+    """
+    skip_segments: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+    try:
+        sb_resp = _call_sidecar({"op": "sponsorblock", "id": yt_id}, timeout_s=8)
+        if sb_resp.get("ok"):
+            segs = sb_resp.get("segments") or []
+            skip_segments = [s for s in segs if s.get("actionType") == "skip"]
+            _log(f"sponsorblock: {len(skip_segments)} skip segments")
+    except Exception as e:
+        _log(f"sponsorblock fetch failed (non-fatal): {e}", xbmc.LOGWARNING)
+
+    # Always run the watcher even with zero segments — it doubles as the
+    # 'block until playback ends' signal that gates MPD-server shutdown.
+    SponsorBlockMonitor(skip_segments).run()
 
     # SponsorBlock: fetch segments, then block on a monitor that seeks past
     # each skip segment as the playhead enters it. Best-effort — failure to

docs/upstream.md

@@ -11,7 +11,24 @@ _(none yet — opens with M1 development)_
 
 | Date | Project | PR/Issue | Title | Status | Outcome |
 |------|---------|----------|-------|--------|---------|
-| _empty_ | | | | | |
+| _none yet_ | | | | | |
+
+## Investigation notes (not yet a PR — to be evaluated)
+
+- **inputstream.adaptive — `file://` not supported by libcurl downloader**
+  ([kodi addon, xbmc/inputstream.adaptive on github](https://github.com/xbmc/inputstream.adaptive))
+  Hit during torttube M7 DASH work 2026-05-23. Loading an MPD from a local
+  filesystem path via `file:///storage/.kodi/temp/torttube/<id>.mpd` fails
+  with `CURLOpen returned an error, download failed`. Common workaround
+  is a localhost HTTP server (plugin.video.youtube does this). Worth
+  filing an enhancement request to either accept `file://` or document
+  the recommended pattern.
+- **Kodi — "Logic error due to two concurrent busydialogs" fatal**
+  Reproduced during rapid back-to-back `Player.Open` calls while a
+  previous play's BusyDialog was still dismissing. Log message itself
+  says "this is a known issue", but the app HARD-exits rather than
+  silently dropping one of the dialogs. Look up the upstream tracker
+  before filing.
 
 ## Watching (not ours, but relevant to torttube)
 

sidecar/crates/torttube-sidecar/src/main.rs

@@ -32,6 +32,11 @@ enum Request {
     /// no inputstream.adaptive needed. Slower than `resolve` but always
     /// gives a working stream.
     ResolvePlay { id: String },
+    /// DASH-ready resolve: returns rustypipe's full `video_only_streams`
+    /// + `audio_streams` arrays so the addon can build a DASH MPD with
+    /// all quality rungs and feed it to inputstream.adaptive. Unlocks
+    /// 1080p+ via H.264 hardware decode on RPi.
+    ResolveDash { id: String },
     Rip { id: String, dest_dir: String },
     Sponsorblock {
         id: String,
@@ -131,6 +136,10 @@ async fn handle_line(line: &str) -> Response {
             Ok(v) => Response::ok(v),
             Err(e) => e.into(),
         },
+        Request::ResolveDash { id } => match resolve::resolve_dash(&id).await {
+            Ok(v) => Response::ok(v),
+            Err(e) => e.into(),
+        },
         Request::Rip { id, dest_dir } => match rip::rip(&id, &dest_dir).await {
             Ok(v) => Response::ok(v),
             Err(e) => e.into(),

sidecar/crates/torttube-sidecar/src/resolve.rs

@@ -5,6 +5,38 @@ use serde_json::Value;
 
 use crate::{run_yt_dlp, HandlerError};
 
+/// DASH-ready resolve: returns rustypipe's full `video_only_streams` +
+/// `audio_streams` arrays + `details`. The Python addon builds an MPD
+/// from these and hands it to inputstream.adaptive — unlocks 1080p+ via
+/// H.264 hardware decode on the RPi (vs the 360p ceiling on progressive).
+pub(crate) async fn resolve_dash(id: &str) -> Result<Value, HandlerError> {
+    use rustypipe::client::RustyPipe;
+
+    let rp = RustyPipe::new();
+    let player = rp
+        .query()
+        .player(id)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| classify_rustypipe_error(&e))?;
+
+    let details_json = serde_json::to_value(&player.details)
+        .map_err(|e| HandlerError::Internal(format!("serialize details: {e}")))?;
+    let video_streams = serde_json::to_value(&player.video_only_streams)
+        .map_err(|e| HandlerError::Internal(format!("serialize video_only_streams: {e}")))?;
+    let audio_streams = serde_json::to_value(&player.audio_streams)
+        .map_err(|e| HandlerError::Internal(format!("serialize audio_streams: {e}")))?;
+
+    tracing::info!(id, "resolve_dash ok via rustypipe");
+
+    Ok(serde_json::json!({
+        "source": "rustypipe",
+        "details": details_json,
+        "video_only_streams": video_streams,
+        "audio_streams": audio_streams,
+        "expires_in_seconds": player.expires_in_seconds,
+    }))
+}
+
 /// Playback-ready single-URL resolve. Asks yt-dlp for `best[ext=mp4]/best` —
 /// a combined audio+video format that Kodi can play as a plain HTTP URL.
 /// Slower than `resolve()` (~3-5s) but guarantees a working stream.