Kanzi provides voice control for Kodi media centers via Amazon Alexa, enabling users to navigate libraries, control playback, and manage media with natural language commands. This hobby project aims to offer a comprehensive and intuitive voice interface for Kodi users, despite current limitations in direct Amazon marketplace distribution.

How It Works

The skill acts as a bridge between Alexa and Kodi, translating voice commands into actions executed by Kodi. It leverages Kodi's JSON-RPC API for control and requires a backend service to handle Alexa's requests and communicate with Kodi instances. This architecture allows for flexible deployment and control of multiple Kodi devices.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Setup involves deploying a backend service (e.g., AWS Lambda, Heroku) and configuring the Alexa skill.
• Requires a Kodi instance with the JSON-RPC interface enabled.
• Official documentation is available for detailed setup instructions.

Highlighted Details

• Supports a vast array of commands, from basic navigation and playback control to complex library queries and media playback initiation.
• Includes features like "continue watching," "recommend media," and "what's playing?" for an enhanced user experience.
• Allows for direct playback of specific episodes, seasons, or movies, and trailers via YouTube integration.
• Enables system-level commands like shutdown and reboot, and text input to Kodi.

Maintenance & Community

• Active development with contributions from multiple individuals.
• A Slack channel is available for developer discussions.
• Support and issue reporting are primarily handled through the Kodi forum and GitHub issues.

Licensing & Compatibility

• The README does not explicitly state a license. Further investigation is required for commercial use or closed-source integration.

Limitations & Caveats

• The skill cannot be directly published to the Amazon skill marketplace due to regional feature limitations.
• Setup complexity is noted, and users are directed to community support for troubleshooting.
• The project is described as a hobby, implying potential limitations in dedicated support or rapid feature development.