im breaking it

Dockers/self-hosted-iptv/README.md

@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ Series are matched by folder name (e.g. `series/W817` → search "W817"); episod
 - EPG: `/data/cache/epg.xml` — XMLTV guide; valid only while `channels.json` is unchanged.
 - Schedule: `/data/cache/schedule_<channel>.json` — per-channel video schedules.
 
+On startup, schedules are preloaded in the background so the first stream starts quickly. If the hash file (`channels_hash.txt`) is missing but cache files exist and are recent, the hash is restored so existing cache can be used.
+
 **Stream crashes when switching episodes?** If the live stream freezes or crashes when transitioning between videos (e.g. different episodes with different resolutions), enable normalization to re-encode everything to a uniform format:
 - `NORMALIZE_LIVE_STREAM=1` — enables re-encoding (uses more CPU, produces a stable continuous stream)
 - `NORMALIZE_TARGET_RES=1920x1080` — target resolution (default). Use `1280x720` for lower CPU usage.

Dockers/self-hosted-iptv/iptv/cache.py

@@ -3,11 +3,14 @@
 import hashlib
 import json
 import logging
+import time
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from .config import CHANNELS_FILE, DATA_ROOT, MOVIES_ROOT, SERIES_ROOT
 
 CACHE_DIR = DATA_ROOT / "cache"
+# When hash file is missing but cache exists, bootstrap if cache is younger than this (seconds)
+CACHE_BOOTSTRAP_MAX_AGE_SEC = 24 * 3600  # 24 hours (covers "restarted within a day")
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -115,6 +118,24 @@ class CacheManager:
         if stored != current_hash:
             self._write_hash(current_hash)
 
+    def _bootstrap_hash_if_recent(self, cache_path: Path) -> bool:
+        """If hash is missing but cache file exists and is recent, write hash. Returns True if bootstrapped."""
+        if self._get_stored_hash() is not None:
+            return False
+        if not cache_path.exists():
+            return False
+        try:
+            age = time.time() - cache_path.stat().st_mtime
+            if age <= CACHE_BOOTSTRAP_MAX_AGE_SEC:
+                current = get_channels_hash(self._channels_file)
+                if current is not None and self._ensure_cache_dir():
+                    self._write_hash(current)
+                    logger.info("Cache hash bootstrapped from %s (age %.0fm)", cache_path.name, age / 60)
+                    return True
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+        return False
+
     def get_epg(self) -> str | None:
         """Return cached EPG XML if valid, else None."""
         self.invalidate_if_needed()
@@ -127,6 +148,9 @@ class CacheManager:
             logger.debug("EPG cache miss: %s does not exist", epg_path)
             return None
         stored = self._get_stored_hash()
+        if stored is None:
+            self._bootstrap_hash_if_recent(epg_path)
+            stored = self._get_stored_hash()
         if stored is None:
             logger.debug("EPG cache miss: %s does not exist (hash required)", self._hash_file())
             return None
@@ -204,6 +228,9 @@ class CacheManager:
         if not path.exists():
             return None
         stored = self._get_stored_hash()
+        if stored is None:
+            self._bootstrap_hash_if_recent(path)
+            stored = self._get_stored_hash()
         if stored != current:
             return None
         try:

Dockers/self-hosted-iptv/main.py

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ with randomized order so the same show never appears twice in a row.
 
 import logging
 import os
+import threading
 
 from iptv.config import (
     CHANNELS_FILE,
@@ -58,9 +59,31 @@ def main():
             "Ensure /data is mounted read-write (not :ro).",
             cache_manager._cache_dir,
         )
+    else:
+        # Bootstrap hash from existing cache if hash file was lost (e.g. restart)
+        epg_path = cache_manager._epg_cache_file()
+        if not cache_manager._bootstrap_hash_if_recent(epg_path):
+            for ch in channel_repo.get_all():
+                cid = ch.get("id", ch.get("name", ""))
+                sched_path = cache_manager._schedule_cache_path(cid)
+                if cache_manager._bootstrap_hash_if_recent(sched_path):
+                    break
     tmdb_client = TMDBClient()
     prefetcher = MetadataPrefetcher(schedule_builder, tmdb_client, channel_repo)
     prefetcher.start()
+
+    def _warmup_schedules():
+        """Preload schedules so first stream starts quickly."""
+        for ch in channel_repo.get_all():
+            cid = ch.get("id", ch.get("name", ""))
+            try:
+                schedule_builder.get_or_build(cid)
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.debug("Schedule warmup %s: %s", cid, e)
+
+    threading.Thread(target=_warmup_schedules, daemon=True).start()
+    logger.info("Schedule warmup started in background")
+
     epg_builder = EPGBuilder(
         schedule_builder, tmdb_client, channel_repo, cache_manager, prefetcher
     )