SPX Graphics Controller

Manage and control HTML graphics in live production.

SPX runs locally on your computer or in the cloud and works seamlessly with OBS, vMIX, LiveU Studio, ToolsOnAir, CasparCG, Wirecast, XSplit, MimoLive, TopDirector, Tricaster, LiveOS, Tellyo, Sienna, AWS Elemental or any other video pipeline supporting HTML overlays.

For the latest released version 1.3.2 please visit spx.graphics/controller.

Resources:
🟩 spx.graphics/controller
🎬 SPX Youtube channel
📘 Knowledge Base
💬 Discord server
✨ Run SPX in the Cloud
♻️ Buy & sell on the HTML Marketplace

Readme updated October 31 2024.
See RELEASE_NOTES.md for latest changes.

Table of Contents

• Screenshots
• Build from source code
• Run multiple instances
• Configuration
• Renderer parameters
• UI localization
• Add CasparCG server(s)
• Projects and rundowns
• HTML templates and template definition
• Custom controls and Plugins
• Using SPX with OBS (or vMix, Wirecast, XSplit...)
• SPX Server and https protocol
• Control with external devices (Stream Deck etc)
• Run SPX in the Cloud
• Product roadmap
• Issues and Feedback
• Security and Vulnerabilities
• MIT License

SPX Graphics Controller can be used to playout lower thirds, bumpers, logos and other on-screen graphics in live web streams or live TV broadcasts. Playout happens using "renderer" URL's from the SPX Server. The live output can be used in various softwares, such as OBS, vMix or CasparCG using the "browser source" approach.

Content for the graphic templates are entered into elements which are stored on rundowns within projects.

Software is based on a NodeJS server and can be run on Windows, Mac or Linux computers, on-premise or using cloud instances for remote production scenarios.

Graphic templates are typical HTML templates used with CasparCG and other HTML compatible renderers. Integrating existing templates with SPX is done by adding a template definition (javascript-snippet) to them.

Originally SPX was developed for YLE, a public broadcaster in Finland. The first version was released in September 2020. Thanks Markus Nygård and Martin Huldin for the challenge! 🤘

If you need custom graphics or workflows, please contact us.

Live demo 🔥

🔴 Live demo is OFFLINE at the moment.

Please be aware there is just one instance running for demo purposes, so expect clashes and overall quirky experience if multiple users are logged in at once. Changes made in demo are reset automatically few times a day. (Also pay attention to the version number, it may not be the latest version.)

Screenshots

	SPX's UI is browser based and can be operated with a mouse or keyboard. Additonal extra controls can be added as plugins to execute specific tasks or to trigger events in external devices.
	Content is managed in projects. Each project can have unlimited amount of rundowns and graphics templates. Projects and their rundowns and settings are stored in dataroot -folder.
	Main Controller: rundown with few items and a local preview. Items can be edited and controlled also with keyboard shortcuts. Fullscreen viewing mode recommended. Buttons below preview are customizeable.
	An introduction video on Youtube. There are more images in the screenshots -folder.
	A showreel of SPX Graphics.

Installation

Latest SPX versions are available for purchase as easy-to-setup installers at spx.graphics/controller/pricing.

Alternatively you can get the source code and compile it for your target environment or run it with npm scripts:

Install from source code

Developers can get the source code from the repository with git and run the application using NodeJS and npm.

PLEASE NOTE: The source code in this repository is always in a WORK IN PROGRESS state and features may or may not work. For production work it is recommended to always use known published versions, which are more carefully tested. See also Release Notes.

git clone https://github.com/TuomoKu/SPX-GC.git .
npm i
npm run dev

# Or without hot reloading:
node server.js

pm2 process manager

• Installation of pm2 process manager (https://pm2.keymetrics.io/) can help in advanced production scanarios.
• To run the server in production mode use npm start which will run the server in the background with pm2 process manager which will automatically restart the server if a crash occurs. Deeper usage and configuration options of pm2 is outside the scope of this readme-file.

npm start

Run multiple instances

• To run several instances of SPX (on different ports) with pm2 prepare a ecosystem.config.js -file to same folder as config.json with details of each instance, such as:

  
  // Example "ecosystem.config.js" file for pm2 to run multiple instances of SPX.

module.exports = { apps : [ { 'name': 'GC1', 'script': 'server.js', 'args': 'config.json' }, { 'name': 'GC2', 'script': 'server.js', 'args': 'config5001.json' } ] };

Then launch multiple instances with pm2:
```sh
pm2 start ecosystem.config.js

Stop all running instances

pm2 kill

First launch

• When the app is started the very first time a default browser is launched with SPX user interface open
• In the subsequent server starts use a web browser (such as Chrome) and load SPX gui from URL shown in the console at the start-up.
• With general.launchBrowser = true flag the browser can be opened every time automatically. This is set to false by default.

  ╭───────────────────────────╮
  │ Open SPX in a browser:    │
  │ http://127.0.0.1:5656     │
  ╰───────────────────────────╯

  Port 5656 is the default value in config and can be changed.

If installation and server start-up worked, you should see a Config screen in your browser asking a preference regarding user access. There are two alternatives:

• YES: Username and password are reguired to access the application.
• NO: Application will not require a login.
• This config screen is shown
  • at first startup, or
  • when config.json is missing, or
  • when config.json has username but password is left empty

Depending on the selection made, you will either be asked to login or you land to the Welcome page and you are free to explore the application. If password is given it will be stored in the config-file in unreadable, encrypted format.

By default the dataroot has one "Hello world" -project with "My First Rundown" in it for demonstration purposes.

Start making configuration changes or creating projects and adding templates and adding those to rundowns for playout.

You can also follow these steps to get yourself familiarized with the application:

1. Open SPX in browser, typically at http://localhost:5656
2. Choose 'no login' policy by selecting No option and click Save
3. Go to Projects
4. Add a new project, for instance My First Project. (Project's settings opens.)
5. Click [ + ] button to add the first template to the project
6. Browse to softpix > Template_Pack_1 -folder and choose SPX1_INFO_LEFT.html -template
7. Go back to Projects
8. Double click My First Project to open it
9. Add a new rundown to this project, for instance My First Rundown. (The new empty rundown opens.)
10. Click [ + ] button to add an item to the rundown
11. Pick SPX1_INFO_LEFT -template
12. Double click rundown item to edit it, enter "Hello world!" and click Save to close the editor
13. Play the item with SPACEBAR or by clicking on PLAY button at the bottom of rundown list.

Congratulations! Now go back to your project's settings and add more templates to it...

When a new version becomes available it will be shown on the Welcome page of the application.

App configuration options

Application DOES NOT come with config.json and it will be generated at server start up.

SPX uses a JSON file to store configuration settings, such as folder paths, playout server settings or user interface language options. Most of the settings can be changed from the configuration page.

Some rarely used settings are left out from configuration page and can be changed by manually modifying the config file in a text editor.

The default configuration file name is config.json but it is possible to run the server with a specific configuration file. For instance you might have two instances running on the same system, using shared project files and templates but on different server ports and using different renderers. (See also pm2 process manager)

To run the server with another config, provide the config file as the first command line argument, for example:

SPX_win64.exe myOtherConfig.json

An example config.json of the SPX server

{
  "general": {
    "username": "admin",
    "password": "",
    "hostname": "My main machine",
    "langfile": "english.json",
    "loglevel": "info",
    "logfolder": "X:/SPX/LOG/",
    "port": "5656",
    "dataroot": "X:/SPX/DATAROOT/",
    "templatesource": "spx-ip-address",
    "preview": "selected",
    "renderer": "normal",
    "resolution": "HD",
    "launchBrowser": false,
    "disableConfigUI": true,
    "apikey": "",
    "disableLocalRenderer": false,
    "disableSeveralControllersWarning": false
  },
  "casparcg": {
    "servers": [
      {
        "name": "OVERLAY",
        "host": "localhost",
        "port": "5250"
      },
      {
        "name": "VIDEOWALL",
        "host": "128.120.110.1",
        "port": "5250"
      }
    ]
  },
  "globalExtras": {
    "customscript": "/ExtraFunctions/demoFunctions.js"
  }
}

Please note: the server will fail to start if config is not valid JSON. You can use JSONLint to validate JSON data.

Config parameters

general.username / password If username is present but the password is left blank, the app will ask for login policy, just as with first launch. When both are entered the password is saved here (encrypted) and a logic is required to start a session.

general.hostname Mostly for future use This will identify SPX instance for logging purposes.

general.templatesource (Added in v 1.0.9) For CasparCG playout the templates can be loaded from the filesystem or via http-connection provided by SPX. Supported values are:

• spx-ip-address to automatically use SPX's IP address and http -protocol for playing out templates from SPX's template folder. This is the default behaviour.
• casparcg-template-path to playout templates from target CasparCG server's file system template-path. (See caspar.config file) Note, in this workflow the templates must be in two places: in SPX ASSETS/templates -folder and CasparCG's templates folder. And if a changes are done to either location, those changes should also be done to the other. rsync or other mirroring technique should be considered...
• http://<ip-address> manually entered address can be used when the automatically generated IP address is not usable. For instance Docker containers or VM hosted instances may expose internal IP address which can not be accessed from outside.

  Please note templatesource only affects CasparCG playout and not web playout. Also file:// protocol is more restrictive in using external data sources and it can yield javascript errors, such as CORS.

general.preview Version 1.1.0 introduced the first implementation of preview. Any output renderer is treated as a preview renderer if preview=true parameters is present in the renderer URL. CasparCG preview server is not implemented in v.1.1.0 but the renderer?preview=true URL can be added to CasparCG "manually" using ACMP protocol commands. Preview value dictates which event on the rundown triggers a preview in a the preview renderer. Values available:

• selected (the default value) Preview will play whenever a focus is changed on the rundown.
• none preview will not be triggered
• next Preview will play the next item from the rundown when an item is played. (Option coming later)

general.renderer Version 1.1.0 introduced an option to have the local renderer in traditional position at the top right corner of SPX UI or taken out to a floating window. This is stored to config file and each consecutive controller reload will act according to set preference. Possible values are

• normal an inline renderer view
• popup renderer in a floating window "popup" (notice, it is possible that popup blocker prevent this from working as expected)

general.resolution Version 1.3.0 introduced a new option for affecting output from SPX. Please note this is the renderer viewport size, templates will also need to support set size and aspect ratio. Most templates are implemented, or optimized, for 16:9 aspect ratio and 1920x1080 output size.

• HD = 1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9)
• 4K = 3840 x 2160 pixels (16:9)
• AUTO = Full output height and width of the browser viewport rendering the template. Please note most SPX templates are prepared for 16:9 HD output and if using other sizes, this may require changes in the template sizing and layout properties. Typically used term for these kind of HTML layouts is "responsive design".

general.langfile is a file reference in locales-folder for a JSON file containing UI strings in that language. Folder is scanned at server start and files are shown in the configuration as language options. There are some hardcoded strings in the UI still which are gradually improved. Some texts are "user settings" (plugin and extension UI texts, template instructions) and cannot be added to the locale strings.

If you are interested in translating SPX user interface to your local language please see SPXLocaleEditor repository for a browser based utility for modifying locale-files.

general.loglevel default value is info. Other possible values are error (least), warn, verbose and debug (most log data). Log messages are shown in the SPX console window and are stored into log files in logfolder. The active file is named access.log. Log files can be useful in troubleshooting, verbose is the recommeded level for troubleshooting. If further analysis is needed debug level produces even more information. Remember to set log level back to info since heavy logging will increase disk usage and may effect software performance.

globalExtras{} are additional user interface controls, or plugins, shown below preview window in all project as opposed to projectExtras which are project specific. Each item has an UI component (a button) and associated function call available in the specified javascript file. When a new config.json is created it has some demo extra controls to introduce related consepts and possibilities.

PLEASE NOTE: Global extras will be replaced by Plugins in future versions, since they are easier to install and maintain.

Adding CasparCG server(s)

⚠ If SPX is used with CasparCG version 2.3.x LTS is recommended. See CasparCG Releases.

Starting from v.1.0.12 SPX does not have a CasparCG server assigned by default in the configuration. To add CasparCG server(s) go to Configuration and scroll down to CasparCG servers. Add a new server by giving it name such as OVERLAY, ip-address (or localhost) and a port number (5250 is CasparCG's default port). Click on Save at the bottom of the page and there will be an empty line to add another server. Add as many as you have in your production, such as OVERLAY (for CG's), VIDEOWALL, FULLSCREEN etc...

The name OVERLAY is preferred, since this name is used in all SPX Store templates and the default template pack which comes with the application. Note: use only alphanumeric names for CasparCG servers, without special characters or spaces.

Each SPX template has a setting for choosing a target CasparCG server. This server is assigned in the template settings within Project Settings. (Default value comes to the project from the HTML sourcecode of the template as the 'playserver' -parameter of the TemplateDefinition object.) The name must match with one of configured servers for the playout to work.

SPX has three options for loading templates, see section about configuring template source folder for more info.

If you have problems during playout it is recommeded to set log level higher and observe SPX console window messages for potential cause.

REMEMBER SPX server process must be restarted whenever changes are made to configuration.

Renderer parameters

SPX renderer is at /renderer URL and it supports additional parameters for specialized workflows. In a typical use (such as 16:9 single renderer production) these can be safely ignored.

An example renderer URL for "a vertical HD-Ready screen, showing only layers 2 and 3 and at 15 fps refresh rate".

renderer/?width=768&height=1366&layers=[2,3]

PLEASE NOTE: fps parameter value is stored to window.top.spxRenderer.fps -global variable of the renderer and it's utilization requires support from the templates themselves. This value IS NOT USED by any templates at the moment developed by SPX Graphics.

PLEASE NOTE: width and height parameters were removed in v.1.3.0 as Application Configuration now supports AUTO sizing mode that will adjust renderer size to match dimensions of the holding viewport, such as browser size settings in OBS or similar software.

Projects and rundowns

All content in SPX is stored as files in dataroot folder which is specified in the configuration.

• Projects are subfolders in the dataroot-folder
• Rundowns are files in project subfolders.

Projects can be added and removed on the Projects page and rundowns can be added and removed inside project on the Rundows page. Most changes are saved automatically. If the UI becomes unresponsive it is usually fixed by refreshing the current page (Ctrl+R).

File structure of dataroot:

⏵ LOG
⏵ ASSETS
⏷ DATAROOT
   ┝━⏵ Project A
   ┝━⏵ Project B
   ┕━⏷ Project C
        ┝━━  profile.json
        ┕━⏷ data
             ┝━ Rundown 1.json
             ┕━ Rundown 2.json

Typically users don't need to do any manual file management using computer's filesystem.

Project specific settings, such as assigned templates and project extras are stored into profile.json within each project folder.

A static background image can be assigned to a project in the Project Settings. A use case for this might be a chroma image to help in chroma keying in a vision mixer such as ATEM. Another creative use is to have a logo or border or other design element onscreen all the time. A transparent PNG (with an alpha channel) can be used. The background image must be placed to ASSETS/media/image/hd folder and it will appear in the dropdown.

Templates can be added to a project on the project settings page. When a template (a .html file) is browsed and selected, the system will scan the file and search for a template definition which will tell SPX what kind of input fields should be generated for that template and how the template is planned to be played out. Template defaults are stored to project's profile.json (as "copy") and if HTML template's definition related details are changed afterwards the template must be imported to the project again. The system does not re-scan added templates.

If selected template does NOT have template definition it will cause an error:templateDefinitionMissing -message. See section html templates.

showExtras are additional user interface controls, or plugins, shown below preview window in current project as opposed to globalExtras which are shown in every project. Each item has an UI component (a button) and associated function call available in the specified javascript file.

projectVariables are advanced properties introduced in v.1.1.1. Variables can be used to drive a shared value across several templates on the rundown. If a field in template definition has a prvar property defined when template is added to the project, this will cause a projectVariable to be added (or appended to an existing projectVariable of the same name) into the project's variables array in profile.json file. The latest added template will set the default value of that variable. See example:

            /* Example field in the templateDefinition */
            {
                "field" : "f0",
                "ftype" : "textfield",
                "title" : "Name of the event",
                "value" : "Fakemusic Fest 2022",
                "prvar" : "eventName"
            }

If several templates use a projectVariable by the same name, this template references will be added to an array. When template is removed from the project, its reference will be removed from the users array. See example:

          /* Example variables array from profile.json */
          "variables": [
            {
              "prvar": "eventName",
              "ftype": "textfield",
              "title": "Name of the event",
              "value": "Fakemusic Fest 2022",
              "users": [
                "softpix/eventpack/lowerthird.html",
                "softpix/eventpack/agenda.html"
              ]
            }
          ]

showExtras are additional user interface controls, or plugins, shown below preview window in current project as opposed to globalExtras which are shown in every project. Each item has an UI component (a button) and associated function call available in the specified javascript file.

An example projects settings <PROJECT>/profile.json:

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "description": "Hashtag one-liner",
      "playserver": "OVERLAY",
      "playchannel": "1",
      "playlayer": "7",
      "webplayout": "7",
      "out": "4000",
      "uicolor": "7",
      "onair": "false",
      "dataformat": "xml",
      "relpath": "myTemplates/ProjectA/hashtag.html",
      "DataFields": [
        {
          "field": "f0",
          "ftype": "textfield",
          "title": "Social media hashtag",
          "value": "#welldone"
        }
      ],
    }
  ],
  "showExtras": {
    "customscript": "/ExtraFunctions/demoFunctions.js",
    "CustomControls": [
        {
          "description": "Play simple bumper",
          "ftype": "button",
          "bgclass": "bg_orange",
          "text": "Bumper FX",
          "fcall": "PlayBumper",
        },
        {
          "description": "Corner logo on/off",
          "ftype": "togglebutton",
          "bgclass": "bg_green",
          "text0": "Logo ON",
          "text1": "Logo OFF",
          "fcall": "logoToggle(this)"
        },
        {
          "description": "Sound FX",
          "ftype": "selectbutton",
          "bgclass": "bg_blue",
          "text": "Play",
          "fcall": "playSelectedAudio",
          "value": "yes.wav",
          "items": [
              {
                  "text": "No!",
                  "value": "no.wav"
              },
              {
                  "text": "Yesss!",
                  "value": "yes.wav"
              }
          ]
        },
      ]
    }
}

The above project has just one template (hashtag.html) assigned with three extra controls of different types.

Custom control's ftype can be

• button: a simple push button (with text as caption)
• togglebutton: button with separate on / off states
• selectbutton: a select list with an execute selection button
• ftypes
  • hidden value is used, title shown
  • textfield a typical input field
  • dropdown options provided as an array
    • "items":[ {"text": "Hundred", "value": 100}, {"text": "Dozen", "value": 12} ]
    • value is one of the item array values
  • caption text of "value" is shown in UI. Useful with static graphics.

Templates

SPX uses HTML templates for visuals.

Templates can have any features supported by the renderers, such as Canvas objects, WebGL animations, CSS transforms and animations, animation libraries, such as GSAP, ThreeJS, Anime, Lottie/Bodymovin and templates can utilize ajax calls for data visualizations and other advanced uses.

SPX comes with a starter template package for reference. See folder ASSETS/templates/smartpx/Template_Pack_1

Video: Use existing HTML templates.

Recommended folder structure for templates

⏵ LOG
⏵ DATAROOT
⏷ ASSETS
   ┝━⏵ video
   ┝━⏵ media
   ┕━⏷ templates
        ┝━⏵ smartpx
        ┝━⏵ yle
        ┕━⏷ myCompany
             ┝━⏵ ProjectA
             ┕━⏷ ProjectB
                  ┝━⏵ css
                  ┝━⏵ js
                  ┝━ Template1.html
                  ┕━ Template2.html

The templates must be within ASSETS/templates folder structure. It is preferred to have a single subfolder for all your templates (myCompany in the example above) and futher subfolders for different template packs or visual styles within it (ProjectA, ProjectB in the example).

SPX user interface and web playout always loads templates from ASSETS/templates folder, but CasparCG playout can be configured to playout copied templates from template-path folder configured in CasparCG Server caspar.config -file.

SPXGCTemplateDefinition -object in templates

IMPORTANT: Each HTML template must have an JSON data object present in the HTML-files source code, within the HEAD section. Video: use existing HTML templates covers also this topic.

TemplateDefinition configures how a template is supposed to work within SPX; what kinds of controls are shown to the operator and how the graphic should playout, on which server and layer for instance. These values are template's defaults and can be changed in the Project Settings view after the template is added to the project.

Theoretically all properties are optional, but it's recommended most properties, especially playout layers, are carefully given to prevent clashes during playout.

See details about supported values below the snippet.

<!-- An example template definition object for SPX. -->
<!-- Place it as the last item within the HEAD section -->

<script>
    window.SPXGCTemplateDefinition = {
        "description": "Top left with icon",
        "playserver": "OVERLAY",
        "playchannel": "1",
        "playlayer": "7",
        "webplayout": "7",
        "steps" : "1",
        "out": "manual",
        "uicolor": "2",
        "dataformat": "json",
        "DataFields": [
            {
                "ftype" : "instruction",
                "value" : "A example demo template definition. Learn what it does and make use of it's capabilities."
            },
            {
                "field" : "f0",
                "ftype" : "textfield",
                "title" : "Info text",
                "value" : ""
            },
            {
                "field": "f1",
                "ftype": "dropdown",
                "title": "Select logo scaling",
                "value": "0.3",
                "items": [
                    {
                        "text": "Tiny logo",
                        "value": "0.3"
                    },
                    {
                        "text": "Huge logo",
                        "value": "1.2"
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "field" : "f2",
                "ftype" : "textarea",
                "title" : "Multiline field",
                "value" : "First line\nSecond line\n\nFourth one"
            },
            {
                "ftype" : "divider"
            },
            {
                "field": "f3",
                "ftype": "filelist",
                "title": "Choose background image from global ASSETS-folder",
                "assetfolder" : "/media/images/bg/" ,
                "extension" : "png",
                "value": "/media/images/bg/checker.png",
            },
            {
                "field": "f4",
                "ftype": "filelist",
                "title": "Choose CSS stylesheet from template's relative styles-folder",
                "assetfolder" : "./styles/" ,
                "extension" : "css",
                "value": "./styles/defaultStyle.css",
            },
            {
                "field": "f5",
                "ftype": "number",
                "title": "Rotation degrees",
                "value": "45",
            },
            {
                "field": "f6",
                "ftype": "checkbox",
                "title": "Show logo",
                "value": "1",
            },
            {
                "field": "f7",
                "ftype": "button",
                "title": "Click me",
                "descr": "Describe button function here",
                "fcall": "myCustomHello('world')"
            },
            {
                "ftype": "spacer"
            },
            {
                "field": "f8",
                "ftype": "color",
                "title": "Text color",
                "value": "rgba(255, 255, 255, 1.0)"
            }
        ]
    };
</script>

• playserver: one of the available CasparCG server names in config or "-" for none
• playchannel: CasparCG playout channel
• playlayer: CasparCG playout layer
• webplayout: a number between 1..20, or "-" for none

Layer is a number between 1..20. Layer 1 is at the very back and 20 is the highest ("closest to the camera"). Layers can be changed for each template in each project separately in the Project Settings.

• out: how layer should be taken out:
  • manual default way: press STOP to animate out
  • none play only. Suitable for wipes / bumpers
  • [numeric] milliseconds until STOP is executed
• steps: how many phases in animation? For normal in-out templates this is 1. For templates with 2 or more steps the Continue button gets enabled.
• dataformat: how template logic is expecting data
  • json the default value (from 1.2.2)
  • xml for compatibility with older CasparCG templates
• ftypes
  • ftypes (for field types) define template's GUI controls in SPX controller
  • the values of first two fileds are used as content preview in the rundown, so the order of fields should be considered for the ease of use
  • The developer of the HTML template can consider how to utilize these values, for instance a dropdown control can be used to pick the name of the show host, or it can drive other values via javascript in the templates. See /ASSETS/templates/smartpx -folder for some inspiration.

Note additional user interface controls may be added in future releases.

Anatomy of an example rundown item

Using SPX with OBS / vMix / Wirecast...

SPX's animated graphics and overlays can be integrated used in streaming and videoconferencing with any video- or streaming application which has a support for "Browser" or "HTML Sources". SPX provides a URL address which is entered to the streaming software as a layer / input / source. In OBS use Browser source, in vMIX it's called Web Browser input and in XSplit it's a Webpage source...

http://localhost:5656/renderer

If you have several inputs (for instance for multiple presenters) you can limit which layers get's rendered to different screens with the layers parameter in Renderer url, for instance:

http://localhost:5656/renderer/?layers=[2,4,20]

See Youtube video on using SPX with OBS.

SPX with https protocol

Originally SPX was designed for local, on-site installation and usage, but more and more production is done via the cloud where a secure data transfer and the use of https protocol is a must. SPX can work with https, but it will require a bit of setup.

Please read our Knowledge Base article about https with SPX Server.

Control SPX with external devices such as Elgato Stream Deck...

SPX (v.1.0.8+) rundowns can be loaded and controlled with external devices with http GET/ POST commands. See available commands here:

http://localhost:5656/api/v1

See an article on using the SPX API: https://spxgc.tawk.help/article/help-api and download a sample project for developing your own custom SPX Extensions.

SPX can also be used with Bitfocus Companion, see https://bitfocus.io/companion. Companion version 2 will have a built in module with presets for SPX.

OSC -protocol is not supported in SPX 1.0.x but will be added in a future version.

Plugins and Extensions

Version 1.0.10 introduced ASSETS/plugins -folder for additional functionality, such as custom function triggering plugin buttons and extensions which are additional user interfaces or panels. For instance Scoreboard is a sports clock extension with an independent user interface. Another example is a SocialPlayout - an upcoming extension for moderating and LIVE playout of social messages from various social media platforms, such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, etc.

Each plugin has a subfolder with at least an init.js file and optionally other folders and files, such as html, css and js.

plugins/lib -folder contains common SPX user interface elements used by plugins. More functionality and UI controls will be added here in future releases. These can be checkboxes, dropdown selectors etc.

Issues and Feedback

A Knowledge Base at spxgc.tawk.help is a growing collection of self-help articles in various SPX related topics.

Github issue tracker should be used for bug reports. For other feedback such as feature requests or other comments (for now at least) please use Google Forms feedback form at https://forms.gle/T26xMFyNZt9E9S6d8. All constructive feedback is highly appreciated!

Gotcha's & Known Issues (things to be aware of)

• If UI becomes wonky reload the view (F5 / Ctrl+R).
• There is spagetti code whenever worked tired. Try to accept it...
• Undocumented features do exist. (templateEvents, TTS, pm2, cfg:hostname/usercommapass/greeting...)
• This list shouldn't be. At least not here.

Security

As more and more SPX instances are being deployed in the cloud as opposed to running on-prem, more emphasis will need to go into security.

Thanks to security researchers who have already helped making SPX more resilient:

• 2024-06 Merbin Russel
• 2024-07 Mohsin Khan

If you come across a possible vulnerability, please use the Security Advisories feature on Github to report these.

SPX Cloud SaaS

For high performance broadcast or event production graphics you can subscribe to our official SPX Cloud for a day, week, month or more.

SPX Cloud runs in a modern, global infrastructure with secure connections and sFTP connectivity for managing your own SPX Cloud instance assets, templates and media files. SPX Cloud is a perfect graphics solution for remote production.

Visit spxcloud.app to create your own instance with a FREE TEST SESSION.

Roadmap

New releases will try address found issues and bugs in older versions and they will also introduce new features and functionality. See table for some planned features and use feedback to submit suggestions.

DISCUSS FEATURES: Visit spx.kampsite.co to discuss and propose new features and vote them up 🚀

When a new version becomes available it will be promoted on the Welcome page of the application (if access to internet). Several versions can be installed (into different folders) and if there are no backwards compatibility issues between versions they can be configured to use the same dataroot -folder for projects/rundowns.

Strikethrough items are already done.
Visit spx.kampsite.co to discuss the roadmap.

MIT License

Copyright 2020-2024 Tuomo Kulomaa tuomo@softpix.io & SPX Graphics

This project is licensed under the terms of the MIT license. See LICENSE.txt

SPX Graphics for Zoom

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