How to setup

A) Enable webserver access in kodi

1. In Kodi, go to Settings >> Web server
2. Set Allow remote contorl via HTTP to On
3. Choose a port number (e.g. 8080).
4. Choose a username and password (Important!)
5. Configure your router to forward the port you selected to your kodi device
   Note: Not needed if you decide to go with a local node webserver (B.2)
6. Find your external IP address (i.e. Google 'what's my ip?')

B) Set up a nodejs-webserver to control your kodi

1. Hosting it in Glitch, a 3rd-party web-hosting service (I USED THIS OPTION)

KODI_PROTOCOL="http"
KODI_IP="YOUR_EXTERNAL_IP_ADDRESS"
KODI_PORT="YOUR_KODI_PORT"
KODI_USER="YOUR_KODI_USER_NAME"
KODI_PASSWORD="YOUR_KODI_PASSWORD"
AUTH_TOKEN="YOUR_CONNECTION_PASSWORD"

C) [OPTIONAL] controlling multiple kodi instances

1. Having two node servers. Each targeting one instance. (Recommended when hosting with glitch)
   i.e. the phrase living room kodi play... could target https://mylivingroom.glitch.com/playpause
   and the phrase bedroom kodi play... could target https://bedroom.glitch.com/playpause.
   • Note: Behind a single external IP the kodi instances need still to be distinguishable. This can be achieved in two ways:
     • Configuring both kodi instances with different ports
       (i.e. 8080 and 8090)
       or
     • Mapping with your routers port forwarding two different ports to the same port on different hosts
       (i.e. 8080 -> 192.168.100.1:8080 and 8090 -> 192.168.100.2:8080)
2. Having one node server targeting both kodi instances. (Recommended when hosting yourself)
   The utilization of the kodi-hosts.config.js allows you to name your instances and target them individually.
   i.e. the phrase living room kodi play... could target http://192.168.100.1:8080/playpause
   and the phrase bedroom kodi play... could target http://192.168.100.2:8080/playpause).

D) Set up IFTTT with your Google Home

1. Go to IFTTT
2. Create a new applet: if This then That
3. For This choose: Google Assistance
   1. Choose Say a phrase with a text ingredient
   2. In What do you want to say? enter something like:

   Kodi play movie $

   3. In What do you want the Assistant to say in response? enter something like:

   ok playing $ movie

4. For That choose: Maker Webhooks
   1. Choose Make a web request
   2. In URL enter:

   YOUR_NODE_SERVER/playmovie?q={{TextField}}

   For example, if your node server address is 'green-icecream.glitch.me', your should enter:

   https://green-icecream.glitch.me/playmovie?q={{TextField}}

   8. Method: POST
   9. Content Type: application/json
   10. Body (enter the word token):

   {"token":"YOUR_CONNECTION_PASSWORD"}

Setting up other actions:

• Choose a different phrase (e.g. "Kodi play an episode of $")
• Use this URL:

  YOUR_NODE_SERVER/playtvshow?q={{TextField}}

• Choose "Say a phrase with both a number and a text ingredient" in step 3
• Choose a different phrase (e.g. "Kodi play $ episode #").

• Use this URL:

  YOUR_NODE_SERVER/playepisode?q={{TextField}}&e={{NumberField}}

• Choose "Say a simple phrase" in step 3
• Use this URL:

  YOUR_NODE_SERVER/playpause

YOUR_NODE_SERVER/stop

YOUR_NODE_SERVER/mute

YOUR_NODE_SERVER/volume?q={{NumberField}}

YOUR_NODE_SERVER/seekforwardminutes?q={{NumberField}}

• Choose a different phrase (e.g. "switch kodi to $ channel")
• Use this URL:

  YOUR_NODE_SERVER/playpvrchannelbyname?q={{TextField}}

YOUR_NODE_SERVER/playpvrchannelbynumber?q={{NumberField}}

Full table with available actions

• This requires Kodi 17 (Krypton) and above
• This also requires that both your kodi device and TV support CEC commands
• You need to install this script.json-cec add-on: Download and move it to your kodi device and then in Kodi choose Settings>Add-ons>Install from zip file > choose the zip your just downloaded.
• Finally you can use this in 2 ways:
  • Turn on: Add another command: follow the same instructions as pause but use this URL:

  YOUR_NODE_SERVER/activatetv

  • Add the following line to your .env file (see step B.1 - (5) above) and kodi will automaticly turn on the tv and switch the HDMI input everytime your trigger the main playing actions (play a move / tv show / episode / pvr channel)

  ACTIVATE_TV="true"

  • Turn off: Add another command: follow the same instructions as pause but use this URL:

  YOUR_NODE_SERVER/standbytv

How to update to the latest version

1. Go to Glitch.com and sign in with your github user
2. Select your Glitch project and under advance settings choose Import from GitHub
3. Enter this project OmerTu/GoogleHomeKodi

Troubleshooting

1. While a video is being played in Kodi, try pausing it by entering this in your browser:

http://YOUR_INTERNAL_KODI_IP:PORT/jsonrpc?request={"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"Player.playpause","params":{"playerid":1}}

2. If that works, try pausing a video using your external IP:

http://YOUR_EXTERNAL_IP:PORT/jsonrpc?request={"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"Player.playpause","params":{"playerid":1}}

3. If it does work, there might be something wrong in your glich or IFTTT settings.

Credits

Made by Omer Turgeman