Comparison with Other Apps

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 117 views

Introduction

As a user of AntennaPod, I would like to request the addition of recursive local folder support. This feature would allow users to add their podcast folders, which can contain multiple directories, each with single podcast shows. Currently, when adding such a folder, the user is presented with an empty list. This article will outline the problem, provide a detailed description of the feature, and explain why it should be added.

Problem Description

When adding a local podcast folder, AntennaPod currently only scans the top-level directory and does not recursively scan subdirectories. This means that if a user has a folder structure like the one shown below, they will only see the top-level directories and not the individual podcast shows within the subdirectories.

podcast
├── intentionally-blank
│   ├── 2022-01-26-wheel-of-time-season-one-a-full-discussion.opus
│   ├── 2022-02-02-he-doesn-t-hate-me-he-hates-my-work.opus
├── lateral-with-tom-scott
│   ├── 2024-02-23-72-billy-joel-s-kohuept.opus
│   └── 2024-03-01-73-resurrecting-mammoths.opus
├── ludzie-ktorzy-zmienili-swiat
│   └── 2024-02-29-niedzwiedz-wojtek-zolnierz-spod-monte-cassino.opus
├── stuff-you-should-know
│   ├── 2024-02-28-short-stuff-smudging-not-just-for-hippies.opus
├── the-infinite-monkey-cage
│   ├── 2024-02-14-egyptian-mummies.opus
│   ├── 2024-02-21-could-it-be-magic.opus
│   └── 2024-02-28-asteroids.opus
├── the-magic-story-podcast
│   └── 2024-03-04-murders-at-karlov-manor-67-beauty-in-destruction-full-audio-story.opus
├── the-numberphile-podcast
│   ├── 2018-11-22-fermats-last-theorem-with-ken-ribet.opus
│   ├── 2018-12-16-delicious-problems-with-hannah-fry.opus
│   ├── 2019-01-08-the-klein-bottle-guy-with-cliff-stoll.opus
├── the-weirdest-thing-i-learned-this-week
│   └── 2024-02-28-bird-milk-space-lube-hermit-crab-housing-crisis.opus
└── unsupervised-learning
    └── 2024-03-04-a-conversation-with-ismael-valenzuela-about-ai-and-threat-intelligence.opus

Why Should This Be Added?

Adding multiple local shows can be tedious, especially if some new ones can appear in the main folder. With recursive local folder support, users can easily add their podcast folders and have all the individual podcast shows within the subdirectories automatically detected and added to the app.

Comparison with Other Apps

Podcast Addict, a popular podcast app, already has a toggle for treating subfolders as separate folders. This feature allows users to easily add their podcast folders and have all the individual podcast shows within the subdirectories automatically detected and added to the app.

Technical Details

To implement recursive local folder support, the following technical details need to be considered:

The app needs to recursively scan the subdirectories of the selected folder.
The app needs to detect and add individual podcast shows within the subdirectories.
The app needs to handle cases where the same podcast show is present in multiple subdirectories.

Conclusion

Recursive local folder support is a feature that would greatly enhance the user experience of AntennaPod. It would allow users to easily add their podcast folders and have all the individual podcast shows within the subdirectories automatically detected and added to the app. With this feature, users can save time and effort in managing their podcast subscriptions.

Screenshots/Diagrams

The following screenshot shows the current behavior of AntennaPod when adding a local podcast folder.

Current Behavior

The following screenshot shows the desired behavior of AntennaPod with recursive local folder support.

Desired Behavior

Related Issues

This feature request is related to the following issues:

OPEN issues to see if someone else has already submitted the same feature request.
CLOSED issues to see if the feature was already implemented and is just waiting to be released, or if the feature was rejected.

Checklist

I have used the search function for OPEN issues to see if someone else has already submitted the same feature request.
I have also used the search function for CLOSED issues to see if the feature was already implemented and is just waiting to be released, or if the feature was rejected.
I will describe the problem with as much detail as possible.
This request contains only one single feature, not a list of multiple (related) features.
Recursive Local Folder Support: Q&A =====================================

Q: What is recursive local folder support?

A: Recursive local folder support is a feature that allows users to add their podcast folders, which can contain multiple directories, each with single podcast shows. The app will recursively scan the subdirectories of the selected folder and detect and add individual podcast shows within the subdirectories.

Q: Why is recursive local folder support important?

A: Recursive local folder support is important because it allows users to easily manage their podcast subscriptions. With this feature, users can save time and effort in adding and managing their podcast shows.

Q: How does recursive local folder support work?

A: Recursive local folder support works by recursively scanning the subdirectories of the selected folder. The app will detect and add individual podcast shows within the subdirectories. The app will also handle cases where the same podcast show is present in multiple subdirectories.

Q: What are the benefits of recursive local folder support?

A: The benefits of recursive local folder support include:

Easy management of podcast subscriptions
Time-saving in adding and managing podcast shows
Ability to add podcast folders with multiple directories
Ability to detect and add individual podcast shows within subdirectories

Q: How does recursive local folder support compare to other apps?

A: Recursive local folder support is a feature that is already available in some other podcast apps, such as Podcast Addict. However, AntennaPod's implementation of this feature will be unique and tailored to the needs of its users.

Q: What technical details need to be considered for recursive local folder support?

A: The following technical details need to be considered for recursive local folder support:

Recursive scanning of subdirectories
Detection and addition of individual podcast shows within subdirectories
Handling of cases where the same podcast show is present in multiple subdirectories

Q: How will recursive local folder support be implemented?

A: Recursive local folder support will be implemented through a combination of software development and testing. The development team will work to create a robust and efficient implementation of the feature, and then test it thoroughly to ensure that it works as expected.

Q: What are the next steps for recursive local folder support?

A: The next steps for recursive local folder support include:

Development of the feature
Testing and debugging of the feature
Release of the feature to users

Q: How will users benefit from recursive local folder support?

A: Users will benefit from recursive local folder support in the following ways:

Easy management of podcast subscriptions
Time-saving in adding and managing podcast shows
Ability to add podcast folders with multiple directories
Ability to detect and add individual podcast shows within subdirectories

Q: What are the potential challenges of implementing recursive local folder support?

A: The potential challenges of implementing recursive local folder support include:

Complexity of recursive scanning of subdirectories
Difficulty in detecting and adding individual podcast shows within subdirectories
Potential issues with handling cases where the same podcast show is present in multiple subdirectories

Q: How will the development team address the potential challenges of implementing recursive local folder support?

A: The development team will address the potential challenges of implementing recursive local folder support through a combination of software development and testing. The team will work to create a robust and efficient implementation of the feature, and then test it thoroughly to ensure that it works as expected.

Q: What is the expected timeline for implementing recursive local folder support?

A: The expected timeline for implementing recursive local folder support is currently unknown. However, the development team is working to create a robust and efficient implementation of the feature, and will provide updates on the project's progress as more information becomes available.