# Alby Command-line Boosting App

# boostagram

A command-line tool for sending [Podcasting 2.0](https://podcastindex.org/) boostagrams via [AlbyHub](https://github.com/getAlby/hub). The following workflow has been confirmed on NixOS, but should work about the same on other distros. 

## Prerequisites

- NixOS with AlbyHub installed and funded (channels open)
- Network access to the AlbyHub machine
- Python 3 and Node.js available on the sending machine

## Setup

### 1. Add packages to configuration.nix

```nix
environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
  nodejs
  (python3.withPackages (ps: with ps; [ feedparser ]))
];
```

Rebuild:

```bash
sudo nixos-rebuild switch
```

### 2. Connect the Alby CLI to AlbyHub

You have two options:

#### Option A: Auth flow (recommended if you have HTTPS)

```bash
npx @getalby/cli auth https://YOUR_ALBYHUB_ADDRESS --app-name "boostagram"
```

Open the URL it prints in your browser, approve the connection in AlbyHub, then:

```bash
npx @getalby/cli auth --complete
```

#### Option B: NWC connection string (works without HTTPS)

1. Open the AlbyHub web UI in your browser
2. Go to **Apps** or **NWC Connections**
3. Create a new connection named "boostagram"
4. Copy the `nostr+walletconnect://...` string
5. Paste it into the CLI:

```bash
npx @getalby/cli connect "nostr+walletconnect://YOUR_CONNECTION_STRING"
```

### 3. Place the script

Copy `boostagram` somewhere in your `$PATH` (e.g. `~/bin/` or `/usr/local/bin/`):

```bash
cp boostagram ~/bin/boostagram
chmod +x ~/bin/boostagram
```

## Usage

```bash
boostagram --feed <RSS_FEED_URL> --amount <SATS> --message "<TEXT>" --sender "<NAME>"
```

### Required flags

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--feed` | Podcast RSS feed URL |
| `--amount` | Total sats to boost (split across recipients automatically) |
| `--sender` | Your display name |

### Optional flags

| Flag | Description | Default |
|------|-------------|---------|
| `--message` | Boostagram message text | (none) |
| `--episode` | Episode title to boost (partial match, case-insensitive) | Latest episode |
| `--ts` | Playback position in seconds | (none) |
| `--app-name` | App name in the boostagram metadata | `boostagram` |

### Examples

Boost the last available episode: 

```bash
python ./boostagram --feed https://linuxunplugged.com/rss --amount 608221 --message "Dis me massage." --sender "poopie mcfartweiner"
```

Boost a specific episode:

```bash
boostagram --feed https://linuxunplugged.com/rss \
           --amount 500 \
           --message "Loved this episode!" \
           --sender "YourName" \
           --episode "Oops! All Shells"
```

### How it works

1. Fetches the RSS feed and finds the `<podcast:value>` block
2. If `--episode` is given, matches against episode titles; otherwise uses the latest episode
3. Splits the sats across all recipients defined in the feed's value block
4. Constructs a BLIP-0010 boostagram JSON payload
5. Sends a keysend payment to each recipient via the Alby CLI with the boostagram attached as TLV record 7629169

## Troubleshooting

**"error: no \<podcast:value\> block found in feed"**
The podcast doesn't support Podcasting 2.0 value blocks. Not all podcasts have this.

**"Timed out waiting for wallet approval"**
The Alby CLI isn't authenticated. Run the auth flow from step 2 above.

**Auth URL won't load in browser**
Use the Tailscale IP instead of the hostname, or use Option B (NWC connection string).

**Payments fail individually**
Check your AlbyHub has sufficient channel balance. Each recipient split is sent as a separate keysend payment.