# Development

This document covers the developer-facing ways to run MediaHive locally. The main [README.md](../README.md) covers end-user startup across platforms (portable ZIPs on Windows/macOS, `uvx --from mediahive[gui] mediahive` on Linux/other).

## Requirements

- Python 3.14+
- `uv`
- Node.js 18+

## Install Dependencies

```bash
uv sync --extra gui --group dev
cd frontend
npm install
```

## Run The Backend Directly

```bash
uv run mediahive /path/to/media/folder
```

This starts the FastAPI backend and serves the built frontend.

## Run Frontend + Backend In Development

```bash
uv run scripts/devserver.py /path/to/media/folder
```

This starts the FastAPI backend with auto-reload plus the Vite frontend dev server.

## Run The Desktop App In Development

```bash
uv run --extra gui python -m mediahive.winmain /path/to/media/folder
```

This launches the same pywebview-based desktop flow used by the Windows build.

## Migrate Existing Index Snapshots

```bash
uv run python scripts/indexmigr.py /path/to/media/root --write
```

This applies versioned snapshot migrations to `.mediahive/index.json` outside the main application. Use it before starting a newer build against an older index.

## Notes

- The selected media folder is scanned continuously by the backend.
- The desktop app remembers the chosen folder between launches.
- HTTP and WebSocket endpoints are documented in [API.md](API.md).
- MPC-BE integration details (Windows only) live in [mpc-be.md](mpc-be.md).