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FlexGet

FlexGet is a versatile automation tool designed to manage and download media from various sources, including torrents, Usenet, RSS feeds, and more. It automates the process of finding, filtering, and acquiring your desired content, making media management effortless. Developed by Flexget

License: Open Source
Available for:
Mac OS X Windows Linux

About FlexGet

FlexGet: Your Media Automation Engine

FlexGet stands out as a powerful and highly configurable automation tool for all your media needs. Designed with flexibility and extensibility in mind, it serves as a central hub for managing downloads from a wide array of sources.

The core of FlexGet is its robust configuration system, driven by YAML files. This allows users to define complex rules and workflows for different types of content. Whether you're tracking the latest episodes of your favorite TV shows, finding new movies, or staying up-to-date with podcasts and comics, FlexGet can be tailored to your specific requirements.

Key Capabilities:

  • Torrent and Usenet Integration: Seamlessly integrates with popular torrent clients and Usenet downloaders to automate the download process after content is identified.
  • Extensive Source Support: Supports a multitude of input sources, including RSS feeds, websites (HTML and CSV parsing), podcast directories, and more.
  • Advanced Filtering: Allows for intricate filtering logic based on title, quality, size, keywords, and other criteria to ensure you only download what you want.
  • Episode and Series Management: Provides sophisticated features for tracking TV show seasons and episodes, ensuring you don't miss new releases.
  • Plugin Architecture: Features a rich plugin system that allows for customization and integration with other services and tools.

FlexGet's command-line interface makes it ideal for running on servers or dedicated media machines, enabling always-on automation. While the initial configuration might require some technical understanding due to the YAML structure, the power and flexibility it offers are unparalleled for users seeking fine-grained control over their media acquisition process.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Highly customizable through YAML configuration.
  • Supports a vast array of input sources and download clients.
  • Powerful filtering capabilities for precise content selection.
  • Extensive plugin ecosystem for expanded functionality.
  • Efficient and lightweight, suitable for running on various hardware.

Cons

  • Requires technical knowledge for initial setup and configuration.
  • Lacks a built-in graphical user interface (primarily command-line based).
  • Troubleshooting can require examining logs and configuration files.
  • Reliance on external sources and clients can introduce dependencies.

What Makes FlexGet Stand Out

Highly Configurable Automation

Offers extensive customization options through its YAML configuration, allowing for precise control over media automation workflows.

Broad Source Compatibility

Supports a wide range of input sources, including various feed types and web scraping capabilities.

Extensible Plugin Architecture

Its plugin system allows users to integrate with numerous external services and tailor the software to specific needs.

What can FlexGet do?

Review

FlexGet Software Review

FlexGet presents itself as a robust and highly flexible automation tool specifically designed for media management and acquisition. At its core, FlexGet is a command-line application driven by a comprehensive YAML configuration file. This approach, while requiring some technical familiarity for setup, provides an unparalleled level of control and customization over how the software identifies, filters, and downloads media. Installation generally involves using Python's pip package manager, and setup requires creating and editing the configuration file. This initial barrier to entry might deter users looking for a simple graphical interface, but for those comfortable with configuration files, the possibilities are vast.

Core Functionality: Tasks and Inputs

The fundamental unit in FlexGet is the 'task'. Each task defines a specific workflow for acquiring content. A task typically includes:
  • Inputs: Specifies where FlexGet should look for new content. This can range from RSS feeds, direct URLs, and torrent trackers to Usenet indexers and even local folders. The sheer variety of input sources supported is a major strength.
  • Filters: Essential for narrowing down results from the input sources. Filters can be applied based on a multitude of criteria, such as keywords, file size, quality (e.g., 720p, 1080p), release group, and even regular expressions for advanced pattern matching. This granular filtering ensures that users only download the content that meets their specific requirements.
  • Outputs: Determines what happens to the identified and filtered content. Common outputs include sending the content to a torrent client for download, adding it to a Usenet downloader, notifying other applications, or even moving files after they are downloaded.
This task-based structure, combined with the flexibility of YAML, allows users to create highly specific and automated workflows. For instance, one task might focus on downloading new episodes of a particular TV series from a specific RSS feed, filtering for 1080p quality, and sending it to a torrent client. Another task could be configured to monitor a different source for movies with specific keywords and send them to a Usenet downloader.

Media Specific Features: TV and Movies

FlexGet includes dedicated features for managing TV shows and movies. The TV show functionality is particularly strong, allowing users to track series, seasons, and episodes. It can automatically identify new episodes based on established naming conventions and prevent duplicate downloads. The movie features enable searching for movies by title, year, and other attributes, often integrating with databases like TMDB or Trakt for more accurate identification.

Extensibility through Plugins

A significant advantage of FlexGet is its extensive plugin ecosystem. Plugins extend the core functionality by adding support for new input sources, output methods, and filtering options. There are plugins for integrating with popular media management software like Plex and Emby, notification services, and a wide range of download clients and services. This plugin system ensures that FlexGet can adapt to evolving media consumption habits and technologies.

Usability and Configuration

As a command-line tool, FlexGet is best suited for users comfortable with terminal interfaces and text-based configuration. The YAML configuration can initially seem daunting, but the official documentation is generally comprehensive and provides numerous examples to help users get started. While there's no official graphical user interface, third-party tools and web interfaces exist to provide a more user-friendly experience for managing FlexGet.

Performance and Reliability

FlexGet is written in Python and is generally lightweight, making it suitable for running on various devices, including low-power servers like a Raspberry Pi. Its reliability is largely dependent on the stability of the input sources and download clients it interacts with, but the core application is generally stable and well-maintained.

Conclusion

Overall, FlexGet is a powerful and highly customizable automation tool for media enthusiasts. Its strengths lie in its flexible configuration, broad source compatibility, and extensible plugin architecture. While the command-line interface and YAML configuration require a certain level of technical comfort, the power and control it offers over media acquisition are unmatched. It's an excellent choice for users who want to automate their media downloads from various sources with fine-grained control and are comfortable with a more technical setup. For users seeking a simple, click-and-go solution with a graphical interface, FlexGet might not be the best fit. However, for those willing to invest time in configuration, FlexGet provides a robust and reliable solution for automating their media library growth.

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