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Netflix Integration

Overview

SchroStream now includes Netflix integration using Playwright browser automation. This allows you to search, browse, and play Netflix content through Discord commands.

Features

  • ✅ Authentication: Login to Netflix with persistent session cookies
  • ✅ Search: Search Netflix catalog
  • ✅ Recommendations: Get personalized recommendations
  • ✅ Content Browsing: Browse Netflix content
  • ⚠️ Stream Playback: Opens Netflix player (Discord streaming not yet implemented)

Requirements

  • Playwright: Installed automatically with bun add playwright
  • Chromium Browser: Downloaded via bunx playwright install chromium
  • Netflix Subscription: Active Netflix account required
  • Non-Headless Browser: Required for Widevine DRM support

Commands

Login

!netflix login

Opens a browser window for you to log in to Netflix. Your session will be saved for future use.

Search

!netflix search <query>

Search Netflix for content. Returns a list of results with IDs.

Example:

!netflix search stranger things

Recommendations

!netflix recommendations
!netflix recs

Get personalized Netflix recommendations based on your viewing history.

Play Content

!netflix play <id>

Opens the Netflix player for the specified content ID.

Note: Currently only opens the player in the browser. Streaming to Discord is not yet implemented due to Widevine DRM complexity.

Close Browser

!netflix close

Closes the Netflix browser instance.

How It Works

Authentication

  1. First time: Opens a browser window for manual login
  2. Saves cookies to data/netflix-cookies.json
  3. Future sessions: Automatically restores your login session
  4. Cookies expire after 30 days

Browser Automation

  • Uses Playwright to control a real Chromium browser
  • Browser runs in non-headless mode (required for Widevine DRM)
  • Maintains persistent session across commands

Content Discovery

  • Scrapes Netflix web interface for content metadata
  • Extracts titles, IDs, and thumbnails
  • Uses Netflix's internal content IDs for playback

Limitations

Current Limitations

  1. No Discord Streaming: Stream capture to Discord is not yet implemented

    • Widevine DRM requires complex stream extraction
    • Would need to capture and re-encode protected content
    • Legal and technical challenges

  2. Browser Must Stay Open: The browser window must remain open during use

    • Closing the browser terminates the session
    • Use !netflix close to properly close when done

  3. Performance: Browser automation has overhead

    • Slower than direct API calls
    • Requires more system resources

Technical Challenges

  • Widevine DRM: Netflix uses Widevine L1/L3 DRM protection
  • Stream Encryption: Video streams are encrypted
  • License Server: Requires valid license keys from Netflix MSL
  • Hardware Requirements: Some DRM levels require hardware support

Future Enhancements

Planned Features

  • Stream capture and re-encoding for Discord
  • MSL (Message Security Layer) integration for direct API access
  • Manifest parsing for quality selection
  • Subtitle support
  • Episode selection for TV shows
  • Watch history tracking
  • Continue watching integration

Technical Approach for Streaming

To implement Discord streaming, we would need to:

  1. Capture Stream:

    • Intercept network requests for manifest files
    • Extract video/audio segment URLs
    • Download segments in real-time

  2. Decrypt Content:

    • Obtain Widevine CDM keys
    • Decrypt video segments
    • Re-encode for Discord

  3. Legal Considerations:

    • This would violate Netflix ToS
    • DRM circumvention may be illegal in some jurisdictions
    • For personal use only

Files

  • src/netflix/client.ts - Netflix client with Playwright automation
  • src/bot/commands/netflix.ts - Discord bot commands
  • data/netflix-cookies.json - Saved session cookies (auto-generated)
  • www.netflix.com.har - HAR file for API analysis

Troubleshooting

Browser Won't Open

  • Ensure Playwright is installed: bunx playwright install chromium
  • Check system permissions for browser automation

Login Fails

  • Delete data/netflix-cookies.json and try again
  • Ensure your Netflix account is active
  • Check for 2FA or security challenges

Content Not Found

  • Verify the content ID is correct
  • Some content may be region-restricted
  • Try searching for the content first

Performance Issues

  • Close unused browser tabs
  • Restart the browser: !netflix close then !netflix login
  • Check system resources (RAM, CPU)

Privacy & Security

  • Cookies: Stored locally in data/netflix-cookies.json
  • Credentials: Never stored (manual login only)
  • Session: Maintained by Playwright browser context
  • Data: No data sent to third parties

Example Workflow

# 1. Login to Netflix
!netflix login
# (Browser opens, log in manually, wait for confirmation)

# 2. Search for content
!netflix search breaking bad

# 3. Get recommendations
!netflix recs

# 4. Play content (opens in browser)
!netflix play 70143836

# 5. Close when done
!netflix close

Notes

  • This integration is for personal use only
  • Respects Netflix ToS by using official web interface
  • Does not circumvent DRM (yet)
  • Browser automation is detectable by Netflix
  • Use responsibly and within Netflix's terms of service