Add movies and shows to your library only when someone watches

Creates placeholder files for your media library and downloads the real content only when someone hits play.

How the work actually flows

It branches. Exactly one path is taken.

Pattern: Exclusive Choice (4) · Transient Trigger (23)

flowchart TD trig>"new title added"]:::trig s0["create placeholder file"]:::task s1(("user plays placeholder")):::human s2["start real download"]:::task s3[("file available for viewing")]:::store trig --> s0 s0 --> s1 s1 --> s2 gx{"× is placeholder still playing"}:::gate s2 --> gx p00["swap in real file"]:::task gx -->|"still playing"| p00 p01["notify viewer"]:::task p00 --> p01 p10["file ready next time"]:::task gx -->|"already finished"| p10 p01 --> s3 p10 --> s3 out[/"content downloads only when watched"/]:::out pay{{"full-looking library without wasted storage"}}:::pay s3 --> out out --> pay classDef task fill:#e7f6fe,stroke:#34b8f0,color:#2c2a29 classDef svc fill:#f6f8fa,stroke:#7c8795,color:#2c2a29 classDef mi fill:#e7f6fe,stroke:#0079a8,color:#2c2a29,stroke-width:2px classDef human fill:#fff,stroke:#0079a8,color:#0079a8 classDef store fill:#f6f8fa,stroke:#0079a8,color:#2c2a29 classDef trig fill:#00a4eb,stroke:#0079a8,color:#fff,font-weight:bold classDef trigtime fill:#00a4eb,stroke:#0079a8,color:#fff,font-weight:bold classDef trigdata fill:#8ad4f5,stroke:#0079a8,color:#06314c,font-weight:bold classDef gate fill:#fff,stroke:#e8a23d,color:#6b4708,font-weight:bold classDef out fill:#1f9d6b,stroke:#167a53,color:#fff,font-weight:bold classDef pay fill:#06314c,stroke:#021f33,color:#fff
Starts itA stepA personA record or sheetOne path onlyResultPayoff
Build size
Advanced

A larger build with multiple systems, AI reasoning, and custom rules.

Business functions
API & Webhook Integration
Connects
RadarrSonarrPlexTautulli

The problem it solves

Keeping a full media library populated with actual files wastes storage space on content nobody watches yet. You want your library to look complete without downloading everything up front.

Who it fits

Home media server operators and small hospitality or entertainment venues managing an on-demand content library.

How it works

  1. A new title is added to your media library with a placeholder tag
  2. A stand-in file appears in your library right away
  3. When someone plays the placeholder, the real download starts automatically
  4. The actual file becomes available for viewing within a few minutes
  5. If the download finishes while the placeholder is still playing, the real file is swapped in and the viewer is notified
What you get

Storage saved until someone actually watches

You get instant access to your full media library while content downloads automatically the moment someone hits play.

What you get

A complete-looking media library where content downloads automatically only when it's actually watched.

What you need

Radarr or Sonarr, a Plex server, Tautulli, and a server with FFmpeg installed.

We can build this. But should you?

The hard question is not how to build it. It is whether this is the right thing to build first.

That is what a Fractional Chief AI Officer figures out with you, before anyone writes a line of code.

Let's Talk Strategy

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