Windows

Setup for Windows#

Youtube Tutorial

Download Python 3.13.0.
During installation check the option: “Add Python to PATH”.
Open a terminal inside the folder where you want the app installed:
Right-click inside your folder → Select Open in Terminal.
Clone the repository (download GIT):
```
git clone https://github.com/mihail-pop/media-journal
```
Then open a terminal in the newly created folder.
Install the dependencies:
```
pip install -r requirements.txt
```
Create the database:
```
python manage.py migrate
```
Generate static files (required after every update):
```
python manage.py collectstatic --noinput
```

Start the app:

python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8000 --noreload

Or use this command if you plan to run it on a machine 24/7.

python -m waitress --listen=0.0.0.0:8000 --threads=8 media_journal.wsgi:application

Open the app in your browser at: http://localhost:8000
Inside the app navigate to Settings → API Keys. You will need to add your own API keys. In that section there are instructions on how to obtain them.

Access from Other Devices#

To access the app from your phone, tablet or other devices on the same Wi-Fi network, use your computer's IPv4 address instead of localhost.

You can find your IPv4 address by opening a terminal and running ipconfig.
(Example: Once you find it, you would type http://192.168.1.15:8000 into your phone's browser).

Run Automatically on Startup#

To make the app start automatically in the background when you log into Windows, you can use a combination of a .bat file (to run the app) and a .vbs file (to hide the terminal window so it isn't in your way).

1. Create a .bat file (e.g., run_journal.bat) inside your project folder:

@echo off  
cd /d "C:\***path to your folder***\media-journal"  
set PY="C:\***path to your python***\Python\Python313\python.exe"  
%PY% manage.py migrate  
%PY% manage.py collectstatic --noinput  
%PY% manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8000 --noreload

2. Create a .vbs file in your Windows Startup folder:
(Press Win + R, type shell:startup and press Enter to open the folder).

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")  
WshShell.Run """C:\***path to your bat file***\run_journal.bat""", 0  
Set WshShell = Nothing

Run Automatically on Boot#

If you want the app to start before you log into Windows, you can start it as a service. You can do this by turning the .bat file from the previous step into a Windows service using NSSM. (The .vbs file won't be needed anymore).

Open a terminal as Administrator and install NSSM:
```
winget install nssm
```
Once installed, open a fresh Administrator terminal and run:
```
nssm install MediaJournal
```
A graphical window will appear. In the Application tab, under Path, select the .bat file you created earlier.
Go to the Log on tab, select This account and type in your Windows username and password.
Click Install service.
To start it immediately without restarting your PC, run:
```
nssm start MediaJournal
```

If you want to access the app from outside your local Wi-Fi network, check the following guides:

Read the Remote Access Guide Read the Authentication Guide