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ScriptCompiler Bridge

The Bridge is a small app on your computer. It lets ScriptCompiler open your local videos, find scene cuts, analyze audio and download videos from links.

On this page

What is the Bridge?

The Bridge is a small app that runs in the background on your computer. ScriptCompiler talks to it for things a web page cannot do on its own, like reading your video files, finding scene cuts and downloading videos from links.

You do not need to open it during normal use. It can start with your computer and sit in the system tray (the menu bar on Mac). On Linux it runs in the background.

Why is it needed?
Browsers cannot read your folders or run native video tools. The Bridge runs on your computer and gives ScriptCompiler a safe local connection for these jobs.

What it Enables

Feature Description
Local Video Library Browse and load videos from your video folders, with thumbnails and automatic funscript detection
Download from Links Paste a video link in the file manager and the Bridge downloads it into your first video folder
Scene Detection Finds scene cuts in your video to help with navigation and chapters
Audio Analysis Better beat, tempo and section detection for Music Scripter. Music Scripter also works without the Bridge.
Thumbnail Pregeneration Caches video thumbnails for faster timeline previews
Auto-save to Local Library When you edit a script loaded from your video folders, changes are saved back to the original file
Open with a Double Click Double-click a .funscript file to open it in ScriptCompiler with its video (Windows and Linux)
Native File Dialogs Open and save files with your system's own file browser
Script Sniper in the Bridge Optional. Turn on Use Bridge for tracking in the Script Sniper settings. Tracking runs in the browser by default.

Installation

  1. Click the Bridge button in the ScriptCompiler header
  2. Click the download button. It picks the right file for your computer.
  3. Install it the way your system needs, see below
  4. The Bridge starts, shows a message that it is running, and opens ScriptCompiler for you
  5. Your browser asks for permission to reach apps on this computer. Click Allow.
  6. The Bridge panel shows Connected

Windows

Run the installer and follow the steps.

Mac

The Bridge needs a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 or newer). Open the downloaded disk image and drag ScriptCompiler Bridge to Applications. The first time, right click the app and choose Open if macOS says it cannot check it.

Linux

The Bridge comes as one AppImage file. It runs on Ubuntu 22.04 and newer, Debian 12, Fedora, Mint, Arch and Steam Deck. Make it runnable, then run it: 

chmod +x ScriptCompilerBridge-*-x86_64.AppImage
./ScriptCompilerBridge-*-x86_64.AppImage

You can also start it from your file manager. After the first start it is in your app menu. The folder picker and file dialogs need zenity, or kdialog on KDE. Most desktops have one. On Ubuntu and Debian you can add it with sudo apt install zenity.

Check that it works
Click the Bridge button in the header. When it works, the panel shows Connected with the Bridge version and port.

Connecting to ScriptCompiler

ScriptCompiler only looks for the Bridge after you allow it. If the Bridge panel shows Not connected, click Connect. Your browser then asks for permission to reach apps on this computer. Click Allow. You only need to do this once per browser.

You can also turn the connection on or off in Settings under Local Network. When the Bridge connects after you asked for it, a short message says Bridge connected.

Video Folders

The Local Video Library shows the videos in your video folders. Add them in the Bridge panel:

  1. Click the Bridge button in the header
  2. Click Add folder
  3. A folder picker opens on your computer. Pick the folder with your videos.

You can add more than one folder. All videos in each folder and its subfolders show up in the library. Downloads from links go to the first folder in the list. Remove takes a folder off the list. It never deletes your files.

The Bridge looks for these video types: .mp4, .webm, .mkv, .avi, .mov, .wmv, .flv, .m4v. It also finds a matching .funscript file next to each video and marks the video with a Funscript badge.

Opening .funscript Files

On Windows and Linux you can double-click a .funscript file. The Bridge opens a new ScriptCompiler tab with the script, its axis files and the video with the same name in the same folder. Your changes save back to the same file.

  • If another app already opens .funscript files, right click the file, choose Open with, then ScriptCompiler Bridge
  • If you double-click an axis file like clip.roll.funscript, the whole set opens
  • On Mac this does not work yet

The Bridge Panel

Click the Bridge button in the header to open it.

Part What it does
Status Shows Connected with the version and port, or tells you what to do next
Video folders Add and remove video folders, and refresh the library
Updates Shows a new version when one is out, and installs it
Open log folder Opens the folder with the Bridge log file
Bridge settings Opens Settings for start with system and download quality
Stop bridge Closes the Bridge after you confirm

Starting and Stopping

  • When the Bridge starts with your computer, it starts quietly
  • When you start it yourself, a system message says it is running
  • If it is already running and you start it again, it opens ScriptCompiler instead of starting twice
  • To stop it, use Stop bridge in the Bridge panel or Quit in the tray menu
  • On Linux there is no tray icon. Stop the Bridge from the Bridge panel.
  • Turn start with system on or off in Settings under Bridge

System Tray Menu

Right click the Bridge icon in the system tray (click it in the menu bar on Mac). On Windows, a left click opens ScriptCompiler. Linux has no tray icon.

Item Description
Open ScriptCompiler Opens ScriptCompiler in your browser and connects
ScriptCompiler Bridge v[version] Shows the installed version
Port: 9876 Shows the port the Bridge listens on
Video folders Shows your folder, or how many folders you have
Add Video Folder... Opens a folder picker and adds the folder
Refresh Library Rescans your folders for new or removed files
Open Log Folder Opens the folder with the Bridge log file
Quit Closes the Bridge

How it Connects

The Bridge listens on http://127.0.0.1:9876. Only programs on your own computer can reach it. It only answers ScriptCompiler and pages on your own computer. It blocks every other website.

Updates

The Bridge checks for a new version when it starts. When one is out, the Bridge panel shows it with an Update now button. You can also click Check for update.

  • On Windows, the update installs by itself. The Bridge restarts, shows a message with the new version, and ScriptCompiler reconnects.
  • On Mac, the update replaces the app in Applications and restarts it. If it cannot, the new disk image opens. Drag the app to Applications, then open it.
  • On Linux, the update replaces the AppImage file and restarts it.

While the update downloads, the panel shows how far it is. If the download fails, the panel says why.

The Bridge also keeps its video downloader, yt-dlp, up to date by itself. It checks once a day, so links keep working when video sites change.

Log File

The Bridge writes a log file. If something goes wrong, send it to us with your report. Use Open log folder in the Bridge panel or the tray menu, or find it here:

  • Windows: C:\Users\[your name]\.scriptcompiler-bridge\logs\bridge.log
  • Mac and Linux: ~/.scriptcompiler-bridge/logs/bridge.log

Troubleshooting

The Bridge panel says Not connected

  • Click Connect and click Allow when your browser asks
  • If you clicked Block before, allow local network access for scriptcompiler.com in your browser's site settings

The Bridge panel says Bridge not found

  • Start ScriptCompiler Bridge from the Start menu, or from Applications on Mac
  • On Linux, start it from your app menu or run the AppImage again
  • Check that no firewall or antivirus blocks port 9876

A message says port 9876 is used by another program

  • Another app uses the port the Bridge needs. Close that app, then start the Bridge again.

The Local Video Library is empty

  • Add a video folder in the Bridge panel
  • Check that the folder has supported video types
  • Click Refresh library in the Bridge panel

The AppImage does not start on Linux

  • Your system needs FUSE. Install it with sudo apt install fuse3, or start the AppImage with --appimage-extract-and-run

The folder picker does not open on Linux

  • Install zenity with sudo apt install zenity, then try again

Something else is wrong

  • Click Open log folder and send us bridge.log with a short note about what happened