🐛 Fladder fails to start playback after HDD spin-up

[sh-jus]

Description

When attempting to play media stored on a sleeping hard drive through Fladder's Native & Selfhosted Web clients, the application enters an indefinite loading state and never begins playback, even after the drives have successfully spun up. The client appears to not poll or check for status updates from the Jellyfin server after the initial request. Pausing the playback, waiting and then unpausing does not have any effect as it still continously loads.

Expected Behavior:
After the 15-20 second drive spin-up period, Fladder should begin media playback automatically, similar to the behavior of:

Jellyfin Web client
Jellyfin Desktop client
Other third-party clients (Delfin (Linux), Streamyfin (iOS), Swiftfin (iOS, tvOS)

Actual Behavior:
Fladder clients remain in a perpetual loading state and never initiate playback, requiring the user to cancel and retry the playback request (after cancelling). If you play 'Continue watching' media that has progress already and have to cancel out, the playback progress is also reset unintentionally for that media item.

(log attached is what spits out after a while but im not sure if its related)
(screenshot posted of the macos client)

Reproduction steps

1. Configure Jellyfin server with a media library stored on a hard drive that enters sleep mode after inactivity
2. Allow the drive to enter sleep mode
3. Open Fladder client (Linux AppImage, macOS app, iOS app or Selfhosted Web App)
4. Navigate to media stored on the sleeping drive
5. Click play on any media item
6. Observe that Fladder remains in a loading state indefinitely

Screenshots

Logs

[SEVERE  |  Flutter error: SocketException: Connection failed (OS Error: No such file or directory, errno = 2), address = /var/run/dbus/system_bus_socket, port = 0, 2025-06-27T21:30:42.838919

#0      _NativeSocket.startConnect (dart:io-patch/socket_patch.dart:822)
#1      _NativeSocket.connect (dart:io-patch/socket_patch.dart:1147)
#2      _RawSocket.connect (dart:io-patch/socket_patch.dart:2270)
#3      RawSocket.connect (dart:io-patch/socket_patch.dart:31)
#4      DBusClient._openSocket (package:dbus/src/dbus_client.dart:784)
#5      DBusClient._connect (package:dbus/src/dbus_client.dart:804)
#6      DBusClient.callMethod (package:dbus/src/dbus_client.dart:624)
#7      DBusClient.getNameOwner (package:dbus/src/dbus_client.dart:465)
#8      DBusClient._findUniqueName (package:dbus/src/dbus_client.dart:641)
#9      DBusSignalStream._onListen (package:dbus/src/dbus_client.dart:132)
#10     _runGuarded (dart:async/stream_controller.dart:838)
#11     _BroadcastStreamController._subscribe (dart:async/broadcast_stream_controller.dart:220)
#12     _ControllerStream._createSubscription (dart:async/stream_controller.dart:854)
#13     _StreamImpl.listen (dart:async/stream_impl.dart:516)
#14     DBusSignalStream.listen (package:dbus/src/dbus_client.dart:124)
#15     new _ForwardingStreamSubscription (dart:async/stream_pipe.dart:141)
#16     _ForwardingStream._createSubscription (dart:async/stream_pipe.dart:105)
#17     _ForwardingStream.listen (dart:async/stream_pipe.dart:96)
#18     NetworkManagerClient.connect (package:nm/src/network_manager_client.dart:2303)
#19     ConnectivityPlusLinuxPlugin._startListenConnectivity (package:connectivity_plus/src/connectivity_plus_linux.dart:73)
#20     _runGuarded (dart:async/stream_controller.dart:838)
#21     _BroadcastStreamController._subscribe (dart:async/broadcast_stream_controller.dart:220)
#22     _ControllerStream._createSubscription (dart:async/stream_controller.dart:854)
#23     _StreamImpl.listen (dart:async/stream_impl.dart:516)
#24     new _ForwardingStreamSubscription (dart:async/stream_pipe.dart:141)
#25     new _StateStreamSubscription (dart:async/stream_pipe.dart:373)
#26     _DistinctStream._createSubscription (dart:async/stream_pipe.dart:500)
#27     _ForwardingStream.listen (dart:async/stream_pipe.dart:96)
#28     ConnectivityStatus.build (package:fladder/providers/connectivity_provider.dart:24)
#29     NotifierProviderImpl.runNotifierBuild (package:riverpod/src/notifier/base.dart:166)
#30     NotifierProviderElement.create (package:riverpod/src/notifier/base.dart:212)
#31     ProviderElementBase.buildState (package:riverpod/src/framework/element.dart:426)
#32     ProviderElementBase.mount (package:riverpod/src/framework/element.dart:228)
#33     _StateReader._create (package:riverpod/src/framework/container.dart:47)
#34     _StateReader.getElement (package:riverpod/src/framework/container.dart:35)
#35     ProviderContainer.readProviderElement (package:riverpod/src/framework/container.dart:479)
#36     ProviderBase.addListener (package:riverpod/src/framework/provider_base.dart:79)
#37     ProviderContainer.listen (package:riverpod/src/framework/container.dart:280)
#38     ConsumerStatefulElement.watch.<anonymous closure> (package:flutter_riverpod/src/consumer.dart:564)
#39     _LinkedHashMapMixin.putIfAbsent (dart:_compact_hash:674)
#40     ConsumerStatefulElement.watch (package:flutter_riverpod/src/consumer.dart:557)
#41     _PlayerSettingsPageState.build (package:fladder/screens/settings/player_settings_page.dart:44)
#42     StatefulElement.build (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5823)
#43     ConsumerStatefulElement.build (package:flutter_riverpod/src/consumer.dart:539)
#44     ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5715)
#45     StatefulElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5874)
#46     Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#47     ComponentElement._firstBuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5697)
#48     StatefulElement._firstBuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5865)
#49     ComponentElement.mount (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5691)
#50     Element.inflateWidget (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:4539)
#51     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:4004)
#52     ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5738)
#53     Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#54     ComponentElement._firstBuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5697)
#55     ComponentElement.mount (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5691)
#56     Element.inflateWidget (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:4539)
#57     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3998)
#58     SingleChildRenderObjectElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:7015)
#59     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#60     SingleChildRenderObjectElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:7015)
#61     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#62     ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5738)
#63     Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#64     ProxyElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:6041)
#65     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#66     ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5738)
#67     Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#68     StatelessElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5787)
#69     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#70     Element.updateChildren (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:4140)
#71     MultiChildRenderObjectElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:7192)
#72     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#73     ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5738)
#74     Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#75     StatelessElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5787)
#76     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#77     ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5738)
#78     StatefulElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5874)
#79     Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#80     StatefulElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5899)
#81     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#82     SingleChildRenderObjectElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:7015)
#83     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#84     ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5738)
#85     StatefulElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5874)
#86     Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#87     StatefulElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5899)
#88     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#89     ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5738)
#90     Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#91     ProxyElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:6041)
#92     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#93     Element.updateChildren (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:4140)
#94     MultiChildRenderObjectElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:7192)
#95     Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#96     ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5738)
#97     StatefulElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5874)
#98     Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#99     StatefulElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5899)
#100    Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#101    ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5738)
#102    Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#103    StatelessElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5787)
#104    Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#105    ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5738)
#106    Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#107    ProxyElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:6041)
#108    Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#109    ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5738)
#110    Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#111    ProxyElement.update (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:6041)
#112    Element.updateChild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3982)
#113    ComponentElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5738)
#114    StatefulElement.performRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5874)
#115    Element.rebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:5427)
#116    BuildScope._tryRebuild (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:2694)
#117    BuildScope._flushDirtyElements (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:2752)
#118    BuildOwner.buildScope (package:flutter/src/widgets/framework.dart:3056)
#119    _LayoutBuilderElement._rebuildWithConstraints (package:flutter/src/widgets/layout_builder.dart:272)
#120    RenderAbstractLayoutBuilderMixin.layoutCallback (package:flutter/src/widgets/layout_builder.dart:335)
#121    RenderObjectWithLayoutCallbackMixin.runLayoutCallback.<anonymous closure> (package:flutter/src/rendering/object.dart:4209)
#122    RenderObject.invokeLayoutCallback.<anonymous closure> (package:flutter/src/rendering/object.dart:2941)
#123    PipelineOwner._enableMutationsToDirtySubtrees (package:flutter/src/rendering/object.dart:1209)
#124    RenderObject.invokeLayoutCallback (package:flutter/src/rendering/object.dart:2940)
#125    RenderObjectWithLayoutCallbackMixin.runLayoutCallback (package:flutter/src/rendering/object.dart:4209)
#126    _RenderLayoutBuilder.performLayout (package:flutter/src/widgets/layout_builder.dart:449)
#127    RenderObject.layout (package:flutter/src/rendering/object.dart:2822)
#128    MultiChildLayoutDelegate.layoutChild (package:flutter/src/rendering/custom_layout.dart:180)
#129    _ScaffoldLayout.performLayout (package:flutter/src/material/scaffold.dart:1118)
#130    MultiChildLayoutDelegate._callPerformLayout (package:flutter/src/rendering/custom_layout.dart:249)
#131    RenderCustomMultiChildLayoutBox.performLayout (package:flutter/src/rendering/custom_layout.dart:419)
#132    RenderObject._layoutWithoutResize (package:flutter/src/rendering/object.dart:2655)
#133    PipelineOwner.flushLayout (package:flutter/src/rendering/object.dart:1160)
#134    PipelineOwner.flushLayout (package:flutter/src/rendering/object.dart:1173)
#135    RendererBinding.drawFrame (package:flutter/src/rendering/binding.dart:629)
#136    WidgetsBinding.drawFrame (package:flutter/src/widgets/binding.dart:1242)
#137    RendererBinding._handlePersistentFrameCallback (package:flutter/src/rendering/binding.dart:495)
#138    SchedulerBinding._invokeFrameCallback (package:flutter/src/scheduler/binding.dart:1438)
#139    SchedulerBinding.handleDrawFrame (package:flutter/src/scheduler/binding.dart:1351)
#140    SchedulerBinding._handleDrawFrame (package:flutter/src/scheduler/binding.dart:1204)
#141    _invoke (dart:ui/hooks.dart:331)
#142    PlatformDispatcher._drawFrame (dart:ui/platform_dispatcher.dart:444)
#143    _drawFrame (dart:ui/hooks.dart:303)
]

Platform

iOS, Linux, Macos, Web

App Version

v0.7.0

[sh-jus]

Upon further investigation it appears that this only affects using the MPV backend, the MDK backend correctly handles this and waits (with a loading spinner) before the player controls show and then proceeds to play the media when the video has properly loaded/buffered. Whereas MPV backend shows player controls immediately and loads indefinitely.

From looking at the media-kit specification on playback events, it looks like playback events are handled a little different in mpv compared to mdk.

You can access or subscribe to Player's state changes.

Event handling is an extremely important part of media playback. It is used to show changes in the UI, handle errors, detect the occurrence of play/pause, end-of-file, position updates etc.

Player.stream.: Provides access to Player's state as Stream(s).
Player.state.: Provides access to Player's state directly (for instantaneous access).

A cursory look at Fladders lib_mpv and lib_mdk handle these events differently, where lib_mpv uses Player.state for instant stream state instead of Player.stream which subscribes to the state events (which should gracefully handle data streams that take time to load). I could be wrong but might need a bit of help here to determine if I'm on the right track here.

It seems like best practice is to use player.stream.* over player.state.* for playback events from what I've seen on this issue

[PartyDonut]

Both mpv and mdk handle buffering/loading a file differently. I can have a look at whether there is a way to forcefully fix this if it keeps buffering but no promises. My best guess is MPV just times out after a certain duration and the HDD has not fully spinned up yet.

Upon further investigation it appears that this only affects using the MPV backend, the MDK backend correctly handles this and waits (with a loading spinner) before the player controls show and then proceeds to play the media when the video has properly loaded/buffered. Whereas MPV backend shows player controls immediately and loads indefinitely.

From looking at the media-kit specification on playback events, it looks like playback events are handled a little different in mpv compared to mdk.

You can access or subscribe to Player's state changes.
Event handling is an extremely important part of media playback. It is used to show changes in the UI, handle errors, detect the occurrence of play/pause, end-of-file, position updates etc.
Player.stream.: Provides access to Player's state as Stream(s).
Player.state.: Provides access to Player's state directly (for instantaneous access).

A cursory look at Fladders lib_mpv and lib_mdk handle these events differently, where lib_mpv uses Player.state for instant stream state instead of Player.stream which subscribes to the state events (which should gracefully handle data streams that take time to load). I could be wrong but might need a bit of help here to determine if I'm on the right track here.

It seems like best practice is to use player.stream.* over player.state.* for playback events from what I've seen on this issue

MPV is using player.stream but that only affects the state of the player controls not the state of the videos. So the video should still be playing. The "stream" in this case refers to a stream of responses from the MPV player (playing,position,duration, etc) not the stream of the video.

[sh-jus]

Both mpv and mdk handle buffering/loading a file differently. I can have a look at whether there is a way to forcefully fix this if it keeps buffering but no promises. My best guess is MPV just times out after a certain duration and the HDD has not fully spinned up yet.

Thanks for the additional context! I have to be honest, I've got little to no exposure to Flutter/Dart, and the research I did whilst trying to help with this issue report was admittedly me falling down the wrong rabbit hole 😅

Do you think this might be an MPV issue? I'm wondering if they've made any recent changes that could help, or whether there's potentially a solution we can find within Fladder itself? I know it's a bit of a hassle to replicate the issue without the same environment, but if you'd like to explore any potential fixes, I'm more than happy to compile from source and test them on my end if that helps you as well.

[PartyDonut]

Hi, this is probably fixed in the current nightly build.
When implementing Live TV I noticed MPV had problems loading the TV stream because it was timing out before the stream was started.

I've added a retry mechanism to remedy that, but it should work with any url/stream not just live TV. It's now configured to retry every 5 seconds for 1 minute. After that it will still stop.

[sh-jus]

That seemed to fix it!

I did notice a couple of things,

When the media is finally available and the retry is successful, the player does not immediately start the playback but rather keeps it in an paused state (as shown below)

Additionally, It's quite visible when the retry occurs as the loading spinner animation resets every time it retries, its slightly jarring visually as it looks like something is wrong.

Both things I can live with to be honest so not a huge deal :) happy that I can finally use the MPV backend. Thank you so much!

[PartyDonut]

Yes, I noticed those issues as well. Both require a bit more looking at on my part to fix.

Closing the issue as it seems fixed, feel free to open a new issue if anything pops-up.