[tjay260476]

To give my setup as real-world example:

My Raspberry Pi's have the splash screen set to false, as I have a custom splash screen for Libreelec - for me two splash screens would be overkill.

HOWEVER.....

On my Linux PC it's set to TRUE - as I am connected to the PPA for download, so when I update everything on Linux, so does Kodi - the splash screen basically tells me 'Oh I have Kodi VXX' my databases are gonna be out of sync for a bit'

For me the splash screen is a help in this instance (see what I did there LOL) - The splash screen changing is all part of the volunteer project, so gets changed to reflect the codename, So for argument's sake, if Kodi v20 gets named Kodi N'Sync, then I'd expect for the year at the very least to see a boyband graphic - It tells you Kodi is launching AND what version. No more, no less.

[G_streamer]

I've seen a lot of people complain about the startup image. It doesn't bother me as it lasts about 1 second on my screen. However, it might be kind of fun to have people submit images for the next version of Kodi just like we submit suggestions for the code name. Then have a settings switch that easily allows you to choose between the "Plain default Kodi logo", "Artistic Splash Startup" or "Custom User Image".

[DarrenHill]

Anyone can already submit fan artwork, animations and wallpaper for Kodi. There are two stickied threads at the top of this very section of the forum expressly for the purpose.

The splash screen can be found in the install folder for Kodi (splash.jpg in the media sub-folder). If you are bothered about what is currently there just replace it with something else more to your own personal taste.

Not quite a setting switch I know, but not so complicated and not something that would I think be done too frequently.

[hobspasito]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, when I light up Kodi, my heart leaps, the visuals bring an almost religious experience!

It's 2024 and this bad take apparently still hasn't been challenged properly and the obnoxious splash screen remains.
This is why this is a very bad take:

1) Many open source devs fail to realize one simple fact: you are not developing for yourself, you are developing for an audience. You can pretend like you're doing it for yourself and "as a favor" sharing your FOSS code, but that is disrespectful to other people's time and just a way to avoid any kind of responsibility to your users.
Specifically: "when I light up Kodi, my heart leaps, the visuals bring an almost religious experience" : when it comes to proper UI and UX design: it's never about you. It's about using researched and proven best practices. That also helps with not making your app seem out-of-place, which Kodi certainly is when placed next to anything, from VLC to Youtube players.
Most app devs seem to understand this, but Kodi devs seem to want to remain stubborn and make excuses.

2) The point of any product including FOSS apps is to provide the best experience for the most amount of its users. Putting a reference only a subset of your users care about and others will find cringe or out of place, is again, just poor UI and UX design.

3) Most users shouldn't have to fiddle with config files just so a subset of your users will remain happy. It should be the other way around, and to be frank for a GUI fullscreen app, it should be a single check button in a UI menu, not a config file edit. This is again, bad UI and UX design.

[otinley]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, when I light up Kodi, my heart leaps, the visuals bring an almost religious experience!

It's 2024 and this bad take apparently still hasn't been challenged properly and the obnoxious splash screen remains.
This is why this is a very bad take:

1) Many open source devs fail to realize one simple fact: you are not developing for yourself, you are developing for an audience. You can pretend like you're doing it for yourself and "as a favor" sharing your FOSS code, but that is disrespectful to other people's time and just a way to avoid any kind of responsibility to your users.
Specifically: "when I light up Kodi, my heart leaps, the visuals bring an almost religious experience" : when it comes to proper UI and UX design: it's never about you. It's about using researched and proven best practices. That also helps with not making your app seem out-of-place, which Kodi certainly is when placed next to anything, from VLC to Youtube players.
Most app devs seem to understand this, but Kodi devs seem to want to remain stubborn and make excuses.

2) The point of any product including FOSS apps is to provide the best experience for the most amount of its users. Putting a reference only a subset of your users care about and others will find cringe or out of place, is again, just poor UI and UX design.

3) Most users shouldn't have to fiddle with config files just so a subset of your users will remain happy. It should be the other way around, and to be frank for a GUI fullscreen app, it should be a single check button in a UI menu, not a config file edit. This is again, bad UI and UX design.

Since you seem to have all the answers for most users, your coding contributions are eagerly awaited.

[Hitcher]

Most users clearly have no problem due to the lack of complaints.

[MatteN]

It looks like shit, but its only visible for like a few seconds.

[PatK]

I take um-bridge with people that call Kodi an app, it's a program that makes use of the entire hardware platform with capabilities that far exclude a simple purpose addition to an operating system and dominates the structure. As such it needn't follow rules set out by a commercial environment or code norms, Kodi is in-itself the reason some hardware is designed; and that gives the latitude to makes it's own way as the authors wish. I equate the software to a contribution of fine artists creating a masterpiece that we can all enjoy, while others paint it as commercial art bound by rules and patrons that dictate direction.

When artists have the freedom of choice, they are not coding for anyone but themselves, should it be that others find their creation a masterpiece then the gallery is open.

obnoxious splash screen

Noted: Clearly no appreciation for modern art.

[Mnementh]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, when I light up Kodi, my heart leaps, the visuals bring an almost religious experience!

1) Many open source devs fail to realize one simple fact: you are not developing for yourself, you are developing for an audience. You can pretend like you're doing it for yourself and "as a favor" sharing your FOSS code, but that is disrespectful to other people's time and just a way to avoid any kind of responsibility to your users.

Completely and utterly wrong.

Sorry but the developers ARE developing for themselves first and foremost, they just happen to make their code available for others to use if they wish. If people like it and use it then fantastic, if they don't well it's no loss to the developer as they are doing it for themselves...

Most developers will listen to requests and implement them if they like them or wish to do so, they are under absolutely zero obligation to do so if they do not wish to however.

[ksassenf]

I agree that the splash screen is very "special" and when my girlfriend first saw it on TV she said "something is wrong with Kodi" ... took me some time to realize that the picture was not corrupt but this was done intentionally.

I replaced the start screen with something more appealing to us - no problem - but I would agree that it might not have been the best idea ... but new versions are coming, and so are new splash screens I guess.

Off topic (I will open a new thread for it): I´m wondering how to have a nice short intro sound playing while the splash screen shows ... haven´t been able to figure that out from the forum

Regards - Ksassenf

[Hitcher]

I´m wondering how to have a nice short intro sound playing while the splash screen shows

https://kodi.wiki/view/Sounds.xml

[ksassenf]

I´m wondering how to have a nice short intro sound playing while the splash screen shows

https://kodi.wiki/view/Sounds.xml

Thanks Hitcher,
with that I did manage to get it working to have a sound when Kodi starts. I did not manage to use the showing of the startup screen as trigger ind sounds.xml - somehow using :
<window>
    <name>splash</name>
    <activate>mysound.wav</activate>
</window>
did not work for me, but
<window>
    <name>startup</name>
    <activate>mysound.wav</activate>
</window>
worked fine and it good enough for me. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Regards - Ksassen

PS: An the "ugly broken" splashscreen I´m sure will change with next release - hopefully to something less confusing.

[Robinsson]

most users wouldnt take the time to register on a forum just to complain about it but me personally i do find it really ugly as well and iam also a little ashamed when i wanna watch a show or a movie with a girl and then this ugly startup streem popping up im ngl. And i would love to have an option to change it to something more simplistic or atleast give us a chance to do it. Sadly advanced settings seems a little too complicated for my knowledge

---

Most users clearly have no problem due to the lack of complaints.

 i forgot to quote your text but my post below was an answer to this statement

[Sidewinder_2011]

most users wouldnt take the time to register on a forum just to complain about it but me personally i do find it really ugly as well and iam also a little ashamed when i wanna watch a show or a movie with a girl and then this ugly startup streem popping up im ngl. And i would love to have an option to change it to something more simplistic or atleast give us a chance to do it. Sadly advanced settings seems a little too complicated for my knowledge

---

Most users clearly have no problem due to the lack of complaints.

 i forgot to quote your text but my post below was an answer to this statement

Well change it, to something you like , without using advanced settings .

[Robinsson]

most users wouldnt take the time to register on a forum just to complain about it but me personally i do find it really ugly as well and iam also a little ashamed when i wanna watch a show or a movie with a girl and then this ugly startup streem popping up im ngl. And i would love to have an option to change it to something more simplistic or atleast give us a chance to do it. Sadly advanced settings seems a little too complicated for my knowledge

---

Most users clearly have no problem due to the lack of complaints.

 i forgot to quote your text but my post below was an answer to this statement

Well change it, to something you like , without using advanced settings .

how do i change the loading screen?