Roku Developer Program

[BeardedAngler]

I am still new to Roku development, and am amazed at how scattered the information seems to be.  I have written a screensaver, but am at a loss as to how to publish it.  Am I right in thinking that I need to create a channel for my screensaver?  Is there documentation on this I have just missed?  

[renojim]

I assume you've read this...

https://developer.roku.com/docs/developer-program/media-playback/screensavers.md

There was a time when I would have said I was qualified to answer any questions about screensavers, but I don't know what Roku is doing anymore (and honestly, I don't think they do either).  I'm not sure what you mean by "create a channel".  In the developer's Dashboard there's no way to specifically create a screensaver - you create a channel (it's the manifest that makes it a screensaver).  Now if you're referring to a channel on the Home Screen, I've seen my own screensaver show up (come and go) as a channel on the Home Screen, so I don't know what's going on anymore.  You'll also see many complaints from people that say the Roku Aquarium screensaver sometimes has a channel and sometimes doesn't.  Screensavers aren't supposed to show up on the Home Screen, so I couldn't say what's going on with the Aquarium. 

Another note:   I've also read here how the automated analysis for new "channels" flags screensavers for using components that aren't allowed when there's no way to have settings for a screensaver without using certain components that wouldn't be allowed in the screensaver itself.  I don't know if that's still an issue or not.

If you're new to Roku development, all I can say is, "Good luck"!  It's going to be a bumpy road.

[BeardedAngler]

See that is exactly the issue I have run into, that elements are required that are forbidden in screensavers.  It made me wonder if I needed to make a dedicated channel that contains the screensavers.  Honestly it seems like a mess and everything contradicts itself. 

[renojim]

Welcome to Roku development.  Here's the link to the old discussion, but it ended without anyone saying whether there was a resolution:

https://community.roku.com/t5/Roku-Developer-Program/Static-analysis-tool-post-2023-certification-up...

Maybe post there and tag one or more of the participants (with ampersand username, e.g., @BeardedAngler ) and maybe someone will share their solution or lack of one.

[DB44]

 @renojim Did you ever adding your screen saver to the channel list? I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate

[renojim]

@DB44, I've never figured out how to do it, but I can't say that I put any effort into it.  I've seen my own screensaver appear on the Home Screen and then disappear later without any change to the screensaver itself.