Import UniFi Protect live views + optional auto-resync

views ls/dump/import copy a Protect live view (cameras + grid) into a
layout; grid inferred from slot count (asymmetric presets TBD, see
views dump). Imported layouts link back via protect_view.

Daemon re-syncs the active linked view every view_refresh_seconds (0=
off), so Protect-side edits appear on the wall. Needs the controller
password at runtime; off by default keeps the wall credential-free.

Shared viewmap package used by CLI and daemon.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

README.md

@@ -146,6 +146,36 @@ rtsp-streamer layout set quad    # switch live (persists the choice)
 rtsp-streamer version            # baked-in git commit / build date
 ```
 
+## UniFi Protect live views
+
+Copy a saved Protect "Live View" (its cameras and grid) straight into a layout:
+
+```sh
+rtsp-streamer views ls               # list the controller's live views
+rtsp-streamer views import "All Cameras"   # import one as a layout
+rtsp-streamer views import --all     # import every view
+rtsp-streamer views dump             # raw view JSON (for tuning odd layouts)
+```
+
+Cameras are matched by Protect id, so run `discover` first. Grid size is
+inferred from the slot count (asymmetric "1 big + N" presets land as an even
+grid for now — send me `views dump` output to map exact sizing). An imported
+layout is **linked** to its view (`protect_view:` in the config).
+
+### Auto-resync
+
+Set `view_refresh_seconds` (e.g. `300`) and the daemon re-pulls the active
+layout's linked view on that interval — edits you make in Protect (add/remove a
+camera, reorder) show up on the wall automatically. This is the **one** feature
+that needs controller credentials **at runtime**, so export the password for the
+daemon (in the kiosk user's `~/.bash_profile`, before the sway launcher):
+
+```sh
+# ~/.bash_profile
+export RTSP_STREAMER_PASSWORD='…'
+```
+Leave `view_refresh_seconds` at 0 (default) and the wall stays credential-free.
+
 ## Deploy to a Pi (boot straight to the wall)
 
 First-time setup (run `install.sh` **as the user you'll run the wall as** — pass
@@ -255,9 +285,11 @@ pegged, work through:
 
 ## Roadmap
 
-- **Import views from the UniFi Protect UI** — read Protect's pre-made
-  multi-camera views/layouts and copy them into rtsp-streamer layouts, so you
-  don't rebuild an arrangement you already made in Protect.
+- **Exact sizing for asymmetric Protect views** — `views import` reproduces the
+  cameras and an even grid today; mapping Protect's `layout` preset id to
+  spanning tiles (1-big-plus-N, etc.) is the next refinement.
+- Slot cycling — Protect slots can rotate through multiple cameras; we take the
+  first. Honor `cycleMode`/`cycleInterval`.
 - Layout rotation / cycling on a timer (the daemon already re-tiles on demand).
 - TUI create / delete / rename layouts (today the TUI only *edits* existing
   ones; new layouts are added in YAML).

cmd/rtsp-streamer/commands.go

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/lwoodard/rtsp-streamer/internal/ipc"
 	"github.com/lwoodard/rtsp-streamer/internal/protect"
 	"github.com/lwoodard/rtsp-streamer/internal/tui"
+	"github.com/lwoodard/rtsp-streamer/internal/viewmap"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
@@ -150,6 +151,143 @@ func discoverCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	return c
 }
 
+// loginClient loads controller creds and returns a logged-in Protect client.
+func loginClient(cfg *config.Config) (*protect.Client, context.Context, error) {
+	if cfg.Controller.Host == "" {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("controller.host is not set")
+	}
+	pw := cfg.Controller.ResolvePassword()
+	if pw == "" {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("no controller password (set controller.password or password_env)")
+	}
+	cl, err := protect.New(cfg.Controller.Host, cfg.Controller.RTSPPort, cfg.Controller.VerifyTLS)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	if err := cl.Login(ctx, cfg.Controller.Username, pw); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	return cl, ctx, nil
+}
+
+// viewsCmd lists or imports UniFi Protect live views as layouts.
+func viewsCmd() *cobra.Command {
+	c := &cobra.Command{Use: "views", Short: "List or import UniFi Protect live views"}
+
+	ls := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "ls",
+		Short: "List the controller's saved live views",
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
+			cfg, err := config.Load(cfgPath)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			cl, ctx, err := loginClient(cfg)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			views, _, err := cl.LiveViews(ctx)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			w := tabwriter.NewWriter(os.Stdout, 0, 2, 2, ' ', 0)
+			fmt.Fprintln(w, "VIEW\tSLOTS\tLAYOUT")
+			for _, v := range views {
+				fmt.Fprintf(w, "%s\t%d\t%d\n", v.Name, len(v.Slots), v.Layout)
+			}
+			return w.Flush()
+		},
+	}
+
+	dump := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "dump",
+		Short: "Print the raw live-view JSON (for mapping asymmetric layouts)",
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
+			cfg, err := config.Load(cfgPath)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			cl, ctx, err := loginClient(cfg)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			_, raw, err := cl.LiveViews(ctx)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			fmt.Println(string(raw))
+			return nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	var importAll bool
+	imp := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:   "import [view-name]",
+		Short: "Import a live view (or --all) as a layout, cameras and grid",
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			cfg, err := config.Load(cfgPath)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			cl, ctx, err := loginClient(cfg)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			views, _, err := cl.LiveViews(ctx)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			idToName := map[string]string{}
+			for _, cam := range cfg.Cameras {
+				if cam.ID != "" {
+					idToName[cam.ID] = cam.Name
+				}
+			}
+			imported := 0
+			for _, v := range views {
+				if !importAll && (len(args) == 0 || !strings.EqualFold(v.Name, args[0])) {
+					continue
+				}
+				layout, warns := viewmap.LayoutFromView(v, idToName)
+				for _, wmsg := range warns {
+					fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "  ! %s: %s\n", v.Name, wmsg)
+				}
+				if len(layout.Tiles) == 0 {
+					fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "  ! %s: no mappable cameras (run discover first), skipped\n", v.Name)
+					continue
+				}
+				upsertLayout(cfg, layout)
+				fmt.Printf("  ✓ imported %q as layout %q (%s, %d cameras)\n", v.Name, layout.Name, layout.Grid, len(layout.Tiles))
+				imported++
+			}
+			if imported == 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("no views imported (name not found? use `views ls`, or --all)")
+			}
+			if err := config.Save(cfgPath, cfg); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			fmt.Printf("\nImported %d view(s). Saved to %s\n", imported, cfgPath)
+			return nil
+		},
+	}
+	imp.Flags().BoolVar(&importAll, "all", false, "import every live view")
+
+	c.AddCommand(ls, dump, imp)
+	return c
+}
+
+// upsertLayout replaces a layout of the same name or appends it.
+func upsertLayout(cfg *config.Config, l config.Layout) {
+	for i := range cfg.Layouts {
+		if cfg.Layouts[i].Name == l.Name {
+			cfg.Layouts[i] = l
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	cfg.Layouts = append(cfg.Layouts, l)
+}
+
 // availQual lists the qualities present in a stream map, high to low.
 func availQual(streams map[string]string) []string {
 	var out []string

cmd/rtsp-streamer/main.go

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ func main() {
 		tuiCmd(),
 		configCmd(),
 		versionCmd(),
+		viewsCmd(),
 	)
 
 	if err := root.Execute(); err != nil {

config.example.yaml

@@ -78,3 +78,9 @@ layouts:
   #   slots: [Front Door, Driveway, Back Yard, Garage, "", "", "", "", ""]
 
 active_layout: quad
+
+# Re-sync the active layout from its linked UniFi Protect live view every N
+# seconds (0 = off). Layouts created by `views import` carry a `protect_view:`
+# and are re-synced when this is set. Requires the controller password at
+# runtime (export RTSP_STREAMER_PASSWORD for the daemon).
+view_refresh_seconds: 0

internal/config/config.go

@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	// ActiveLayout is the name of the layout the daemon renders.
 	ActiveLayout string `yaml:"active_layout"`
+
+	// ViewRefreshSeconds, when > 0, makes the daemon periodically re-sync the
+	// active layout from its linked UniFi Protect live view (ProtectView).
+	// Requires controller credentials available to the daemon. 0 = off.
+	ViewRefreshSeconds int `yaml:"view_refresh_seconds,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // Controller holds UniFi Protect connection details.
@@ -169,6 +174,10 @@ type Layout struct {
 	// Slots is the legacy one-camera-per-cell model (row-major). Kept for
 	// backward compatibility; EffectiveTiles converts it to tiles.
 	Slots []string `yaml:"slots,omitempty"`
+	// ProtectView, when set, is the name of the UniFi Protect live view this
+	// layout mirrors. `views import` sets it; the daemon re-syncs it on a timer
+	// when view_refresh_seconds > 0 and controller creds are available.
+	ProtectView string `yaml:"protect_view,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // Tile places one camera at a rectangular region of the base grid.

internal/daemon/daemon.go

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"net"
 	"os"
+	"reflect"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -17,6 +18,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/lwoodard/rtsp-streamer/internal/config"
 	"github.com/lwoodard/rtsp-streamer/internal/ipc"
 	"github.com/lwoodard/rtsp-streamer/internal/player"
+	"github.com/lwoodard/rtsp-streamer/internal/protect"
+	"github.com/lwoodard/rtsp-streamer/internal/viewmap"
 )
 
 // Daemon owns the running video wall.
@@ -58,6 +61,7 @@ func (d *Daemon) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 
 	go d.serveControl(ctx)
 	go d.healthLoop(ctx)
+	go d.viewSyncLoop(ctx)
 
 	<-ctx.Done()
 	d.log.Info("shutting down")
@@ -248,6 +252,102 @@ func (d *Daemon) healthLoop(ctx context.Context) {
 	}
 }
 
+// viewSyncLoop periodically re-syncs the active layout from its linked UniFi
+// Protect live view, so edits made in Protect (cameras, slot order) show up on
+// the wall without manual re-import. Off unless view_refresh_seconds > 0 and
+// controller credentials are available to the daemon process.
+func (d *Daemon) viewSyncLoop(ctx context.Context) {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	interval := d.cfg.ViewRefreshSeconds
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+	if interval <= 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(time.Duration(interval) * time.Second)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+	warnedNoCreds := false
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-ticker.C:
+		}
+		if err := d.syncActiveView(ctx); err != nil {
+			if err == errNoCreds {
+				if !warnedNoCreds {
+					d.log.Warn("view sync enabled but no controller password available to the daemon; skipping")
+					warnedNoCreds = true
+				}
+				continue
+			}
+			d.log.Warn("view sync failed", "err", err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+var errNoCreds = fmt.Errorf("no controller credentials")
+
+// syncActiveView refetches the linked live view and re-applies the layout if it
+// changed. No-op when the active layout isn't linked to a Protect view.
+func (d *Daemon) syncActiveView(ctx context.Context) error {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	cfg := d.cfg
+	name := d.layout
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+
+	active := cfg.LayoutByName(name)
+	if active == nil || active.ProtectView == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if cfg.Controller.Host == "" || cfg.Controller.ResolvePassword() == "" {
+		return errNoCreds
+	}
+	cl, err := protect.New(cfg.Controller.Host, cfg.Controller.RTSPPort, cfg.Controller.VerifyTLS)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := cl.Login(ctx, cfg.Controller.Username, cfg.Controller.ResolvePassword()); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	views, _, err := cl.LiveViews(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	var view *protect.LiveView
+	for i := range views {
+		if views[i].Name == active.ProtectView {
+			view = &views[i]
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if view == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("linked view %q no longer exists on the controller", active.ProtectView)
+	}
+	idToName := map[string]string{}
+	for _, cam := range cfg.Cameras {
+		if cam.ID != "" {
+			idToName[cam.ID] = cam.Name
+		}
+	}
+	rebuilt, _ := viewmap.LayoutFromView(*view, idToName)
+	rebuilt.Name = active.Name // keep our layout name stable
+
+	if rebuilt.Grid == active.Grid && reflect.DeepEqual(rebuilt.Tiles, active.Tiles) {
+		return nil // unchanged
+	}
+
+	d.log.Info("live view changed, re-syncing layout", "view", active.ProtectView, "layout", name)
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	if l := d.cfg.LayoutByName(name); l != nil {
+		l.Grid, l.Tiles = rebuilt.Grid, rebuilt.Tiles
+	}
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+	if err := config.Save(d.cfgPath, cfg); err != nil {
+		d.log.Warn("could not persist synced layout", "err", err)
+	}
+	return d.applyLayout(ctx, name)
+}
+
 // serveControl accepts control-socket connections for status/reload/set-layout.
 func (d *Daemon) serveControl(ctx context.Context) {
 	path := ipc.SocketPath()

internal/protect/protect.go

@@ -167,6 +167,53 @@ func (c *Client) StreamURL(alias string) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("rtsps://%s:%d/%s?enableSrtp", c.host, c.rtspPort, alias)
 }
 
+// LiveView is a saved Protect "Live View": an ordered list of slots plus a
+// layout preset id. Each slot holds one or more cameras (cyclable).
+type LiveView struct {
+	ID     string         `json:"id"`
+	Name   string         `json:"name"`
+	Layout int            `json:"layout"` // Protect grid-preset id
+	Slots  []LiveViewSlot `json:"slots"`
+}
+
+// LiveViewSlot is one cell of a live view.
+type LiveViewSlot struct {
+	Cameras       []string `json:"cameras"` // Protect camera ids
+	CycleMode     string   `json:"cycleMode"`
+	CycleInterval int      `json:"cycleInterval"`
+}
+
+// LiveViews returns the controller's saved live views (from the bootstrap
+// document, which always includes them) plus the raw liveviews JSON, pretty-
+// printed, so callers can inspect the exact `layout`/`slots` shape.
+func (c *Client) LiveViews(ctx context.Context) ([]LiveView, []byte, error) {
+	resp, err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodGet, "/proxy/protect/api/bootstrap", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		snippet, _ := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(resp.Body, 512))
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("bootstrap failed (%s): %s", resp.Status, strings.TrimSpace(string(snippet)))
+	}
+	var b struct {
+		LiveViews []json.RawMessage `json:"liveviews"`
+	}
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&b); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("decoding bootstrap: %w", err)
+	}
+	views := make([]LiveView, 0, len(b.LiveViews))
+	for _, raw := range b.LiveViews {
+		var v LiveView
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &v); err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		views = append(views, v)
+	}
+	pretty, _ := json.MarshalIndent(b.LiveViews, "", "  ")
+	return views, pretty, nil
+}
+
 // BestEnabledChannel returns the highest-resolution channel that has RTSP
 // enabled, or nil if none are enabled. Preferring the top channel gives the
 // sharpest wall tile; callers can pick a lower one for dense grids.

internal/viewmap/viewmap.go

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+// Package viewmap converts a UniFi Protect live view into an rtsp-streamer
+// layout. It is shared by the `views import` CLI command and the daemon's
+// periodic re-sync so both produce identical layouts.
+package viewmap
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/lwoodard/rtsp-streamer/internal/config"
+	"github.com/lwoodard/rtsp-streamer/internal/protect"
+)
+
+// GridForSlots picks a near-square grid that fits n slots (capped at 16).
+func GridForSlots(n int) (cols, rows int) {
+	switch {
+	case n <= 1:
+		return 1, 1
+	case n <= 2:
+		return 2, 1
+	case n <= 4:
+		return 2, 2
+	case n <= 6:
+		return 3, 2
+	case n <= 9:
+		return 3, 3
+	case n <= 12:
+		return 4, 3
+	default:
+		return 4, 4
+	}
+}
+
+// LayoutFromView maps a Protect live view to a layout. Cameras are placed
+// row-major, one per slot (the first camera of a cycling slot). Sizing uses a
+// slot-count grid for now; asymmetric Protect presets need the `layout` int
+// mapping. The returned layout is linked back to the view (ProtectView) so the
+// daemon can re-sync it. Returns warnings for unmappable cameras.
+func LayoutFromView(v protect.LiveView, idToName map[string]string) (config.Layout, []string) {
+	cols, rows := GridForSlots(len(v.Slots))
+	var tiles []config.Tile
+	var warns []string
+	for i, slot := range v.Slots {
+		if i >= cols*rows {
+			warns = append(warns, fmt.Sprintf("more slots than the %dx%d grid holds; extra dropped", cols, rows))
+			break
+		}
+		if len(slot.Cameras) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		name := idToName[slot.Cameras[0]]
+		if name == "" {
+			warns = append(warns, fmt.Sprintf("slot %d camera %s not in config", i, slot.Cameras[0]))
+			continue
+		}
+		tiles = append(tiles, config.Tile{Camera: name, Col: i % cols, Row: i / cols, ColSpan: 1, RowSpan: 1})
+	}
+	return config.Layout{
+		Name:        Sanitize(v.Name),
+		Grid:        fmt.Sprintf("%dx%d", cols, rows),
+		Tiles:       tiles,
+		ProtectView: v.Name,
+	}, warns
+}
+
+// Sanitize turns a view name into a layout name (lowercase, dashed).
+func Sanitize(s string) string {
+	s = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(s))
+	s = strings.Map(func(r rune) rune {
+		switch {
+		case r >= 'a' && r <= 'z', r >= '0' && r <= '9':
+			return r
+		default:
+			return '-'
+		}
+	}, s)
+	for strings.Contains(s, "--") {
+		s = strings.ReplaceAll(s, "--", "-")
+	}
+	if s = strings.Trim(s, "-"); s == "" {
+		return "imported"
+	}
+	return s
+}