Troubleshooting Deleting Unpublished Recordings In Greenlight With Scalelite

Hey guys! Are you wrestling with an issue where your unpublished recordings in Greenlight aren't deleting properly when using Scalelite? It's a tricky situation, but let's dive deep into this, figure out what's happening, and explore potential solutions. We'll break it down in a way that's super easy to understand, even if you're not a tech whiz.

Understanding the Problem: Unpublished Recordings Not Deleting

So, here's the deal: You've got your Greenlight setup connected to Scalelite, and you're happily recording your sessions. But when you try to delete a recording that's still in the unpublished state in Greenlight, it seems like Scalelite isn't playing ball. The recording gets marked as "deleted" in the Scalelite database, but the actual file stubbornly remains on the server. It's like that one guest who just doesn't want to leave the party! Now, if the recording is published, everything works as expected – hitting that delete button in Greenlight gets rid of the recording on the Scalelite server, no problem. But those unpublished recordings? They're causing a headache. Let's explore why this might be happening.

This issue often stems from how Scalelite handles different recording states. When a recording is published, the system has a clear path for deletion because the metadata and file locations are well-defined. However, unpublished recordings might be stored in a different directory or have a different handling process that Scalelite isn't fully addressing. It's like having two different filing systems – one that's organized and another that's a bit of a wild west. The key here is to understand the flow of how recordings transition from creation to publication (or deletion) and identify where the process might be breaking down.

Moreover, the interaction between Greenlight and Scalelite is crucial. Greenlight, being the front-end interface, initiates the deletion request, but Scalelite is responsible for executing the actual file deletion on the server. If the communication between the two isn't perfectly synchronized, or if Scalelite's logic for handling unpublished recordings is incomplete, you'll end up with these orphaned files. To get to the bottom of this, we need to examine the code and configurations to see how these systems are supposed to interact and where the handoff might be failing. Digging into logs and configuration files can give us valuable clues about what's going on behind the scenes. Think of it as detective work, where each log entry and configuration setting is a piece of the puzzle.

Diving into the Code: The bigbluebutton_api_controller.rb File

Now, let's get a bit technical. Someone has already spotted a potential clue in the /scalelite/app/controllers/bigbluebutton_api_controller.rb file. Specifically, there's a TODO tag on line 500, which reads: # TODO: check the unpublished dir when it is implemented. This is a goldmine! It's like the developers themselves left a note saying, "Hey, we haven't quite finished this part yet." This TODO comment suggests that the Scalelite codebase might not fully support deleting recordings from the unpublished directory. It's a strong indicator that this is where the problem lies.

Looking at this section of the code, we can infer that Scalelite's deletion logic might be primarily focused on the published recordings, which have a clear and defined path. The unpublished recordings, on the other hand, might be residing in a different directory or using a different naming convention that the current deletion mechanism doesn't account for. Imagine it like this: the system knows how to find files in one specific folder, but it's completely unaware of another folder where the unpublished recordings are hiding. The TODO comment is essentially a reminder that this other folder needs to be included in the deletion process.

To really crack this, we need to delve deeper into the code surrounding line 500. What exactly is Scalelite doing when a deletion request comes in? How does it identify the file to be deleted? And what steps does it take to remove the file from the server? By tracing the code execution path, we can pinpoint the exact spot where the unpublished recordings are being overlooked. This might involve examining the database queries used to locate recordings, the file system operations used to delete them, and any conditional logic that differentiates between published and unpublished recordings. It's like following a trail of breadcrumbs to find the missing piece of the puzzle. This level of detail is crucial for understanding the nuances of the issue and developing a targeted solution.

Potential Solutions and Workarounds

Okay, so we've identified the problem and even found a developer's note hinting at the cause. What can we do about it? Here are a few potential solutions and workarounds you can try:

1. Contribute to Scalelite: Since there's a TODO in the code, this might be an area where the Scalelite developers are looking for contributions. If you're comfortable with Ruby on Rails (the framework Scalelite is built on), you could try implementing the logic to check the unpublished directory. This would involve modifying the bigbluebutton_api_controller.rb file to include the unpublished directory in the deletion process. It's a bit like adding a new route to a map, ensuring that all destinations are reachable.

   • How to contribute: First, fork the Scalelite repository on GitHub. Then, create a new branch for your changes. Implement the logic to check the unpublished directory, making sure to handle different file paths and naming conventions. Write tests to ensure your changes work correctly. Finally, submit a pull request with your changes. Contributing to open-source projects not only helps you solve your own problems but also benefits the wider community. It's like planting a tree that provides shade for everyone.

2. Manual Deletion (Workaround): As a temporary workaround, you could manually delete the files from the server. This isn't ideal, especially if you have a lot of recordings, but it's a way to keep your server clean. You'll need to SSH into your Scalelite server and navigate to the directory where the unpublished recordings are stored. Then, use the rm command to delete the files. Be extremely careful when doing this, as deleting the wrong files can cause serious problems! Think of this as emergency surgery – it's effective in the short term but not a long-term solution. Always double-check the file paths before deleting anything.

   • Steps for manual deletion: First, identify the directory where unpublished recordings are stored. This might involve looking at your Scalelite configuration or checking the file system. Then, SSH into your server and navigate to that directory using the cd command. Use the ls command to list the files and verify you're in the right place. Finally, use the rm command followed by the file names to delete the recordings. For example, rm recording1.mp4 recording2.mp4. Double-check everything before pressing enter! A mistake here could be catastrophic.

3. Scripted Deletion (Workaround): If manual deletion is too tedious, you could write a script to automate the process. This script would need to connect to the Scalelite database, identify the deleted but unremoved recordings, and then delete the corresponding files from the server. This is a more advanced workaround, but it can save you a lot of time and reduce the risk of errors compared to manual deletion. It's like building a machine to do the repetitive work for you.

   • Scripting considerations: Your script would need to interact with the Scalelite database, so you'll need to know the database connection details and the table structure. You'll also need to use a scripting language like Python or Ruby, which can connect to databases and perform file system operations. The script should query the database for recordings marked as