//nbkelley /homelab

Jellyfin Help Link Integration#

What Was Established#

  • Goal: Integrate a persistent, user-facing help link directly into the Jellyfin UI for logged-in users, directing them to the Hinterflix documentation.
  • Methods Evaluated: Custom Login Message (pre-login only), Custom CSS (Dashboard > General), Reverse Proxy HTML injection (Nginx), Custom JavaScript, and Plugin-based solutions.
  • Selected Approach: Custom CSS injected via the Jellyfin Dashboard. It provides immediate visibility without requiring external dependencies or server restarts.

Key Decisions#

  • Placement: Prioritized persistent in-interface links over pre-login messages. Options included header navigation, floating action button, and sidebar integration.
  • Implementation Path: Chose Dashboard > General > Custom CSS for its simplicity and zero-dependency nature compared to reverse proxy modifications or plugin development.
  • Target URL: The CSS href attributes should point to the deployed Hinterflix help site (e.g., https://status.nbkelley.com or the specific docs subdomain).

Current Configuration#

  • Location: Jellyfin Web UI → Dashboard → General → Custom CSS
  • Active Selectors:
    • headerTabs::after for top navigation bar integration
    • body::after for a fixed floating action button (FAB)
    • sidebarBox:last-child::after for sidebar menu integration
  • Dependencies: None. Relies entirely on Jellyfin’s built-in CSS injection capability.

Historical Notes#

  • Conversation dated 2025-11-22.
  • Jellyfin’s frontend framework (Ember.js/React hybrid) frequently updates CSS class names. Selectors like headerTabs and sidebarBox may break after major Jellyfin version upgrades, requiring CSS updates.
  • The sub_filter Nginx approach was considered but discarded in favor of native dashboard configuration to avoid proxy overhead and cache invalidation issues.

Open Questions#

  • Has the chosen CSS snippet been applied and verified against the current Jellyfin version running on the homelab?
  • Are there any specific UX guidelines or family-user constraints that dictate the preferred placement (header vs. floating vs. sidebar)?

Sources#

  • ingested/chats/128-Add User to Sudoers Group Guide.md
  • ingested/chats/113-Adding Help Link to Jellyfin Server.md
  • ingested/chats/028-Basic Header with Hamburger Menu Design.md
  • DeepSeek conversation: “Adding Help Link to Jellyfin Server” (2025-11-22)