Profile Management.md - Dkmariolink/ez-streaming GitHub Wiki

Profile Management

Profiles are the heart of EZ Streaming's flexibility. Each profile represents a different streaming setup with its own applications, delays, and configurations.

Understanding Profiles

What is a Profile?

A profile contains:

List of applications and their paths
Launch order and timing settings
Default launch delay for the profile
Custom delays for individual applications
Profile name and metadata

Profile Use Cases

Gaming Stream Profile: OBS + Discord + Spotify + Game Launcher
Art Stream Profile: OBS + Digital Art Software + Reference Browser + Lo-fi Music
Podcast Profile: Audacity + Skype + Note-taking App + Background Music
Work Profile: Video Conferencing + Code Editor + Productivity Tools

The Default Profile

Special Properties

Cannot be deleted: The Default profile is protected
Cannot be renamed: Name is fixed as "Default"
Always exists: Created automatically on first launch
Fallback profile: Used when other profiles have issues

Best Practices for Default Profile

Use it for your most common streaming setup
Keep it simple and reliable
Don't experiment with untested applications here

Creating New Profiles

Method 1: From Scratch

Click the profile dropdown (next to the profile name)
Click "New Profile"
Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Gaming Setup", "Art Stream")
Click "OK"
The new profile starts with two empty application rows

Method 2: Duplicate Existing Profile

Select the profile you want to copy
Click the profile dropdown
Click "Duplicate Profile"
Enter a new name for the copy
Modify the copy as needed

Naming Best Practices

Be descriptive: "Gaming Stream" vs "Profile1"
Include context: "Monday Podcast", "Weekend Art"
Keep it short: Long names get truncated in the dropdown
Use conventions: Consistent naming helps organization

Managing Profiles

Switching Between Profiles

Click the profile dropdown
Select the desired profile
The interface updates to show that profile's applications
Note: Unsaved changes prompt a warning

Renaming Profiles

Click the profile dropdown
Click "Rename Profile"
Enter the new name
Click "OK"
Limitation: Cannot rename the Default profile

Deleting Profiles

Click the profile dropdown
Click "Delete Profile"
Confirm the deletion
Warning: This action cannot be undone
Protection: Cannot delete the Default profile

Profile Configuration

Default Launch Delay

Purpose: Time to wait between launching each application
Location: Top section of the interface
Range: 1-30 seconds
Recommendation: Start with 5 seconds, adjust based on system performance

Application Management Within Profiles

Each profile independently manages:

Application list: Different apps for different purposes
Launch order: Optimized for each streaming scenario
Custom delays: Per-app timing overrides
Application status: Which apps are currently running

Advanced Profile Strategies

Profile Organization Patterns

By Content Type

Gaming Profile: OBS + Discord + Spotify + Steam
Music Profile: OBS + DJ Software + Chat Client + Visualizers
Talk Show Profile: OBS + Video Chat + Notes + Background Music

By Schedule

Weekday Stream: Minimal setup for quick streams
Weekend Stream: Full production setup with all tools
Special Events: Enhanced setup with additional overlays/tools

By Audience

Twitch Profile: Twitch-specific tools and chat clients
YouTube Profile: YouTube-focused streaming setup
Multi-Platform: Tools for simultaneous streaming

Profile Hierarchy Strategy

Master Template Profile

Create a "Template" profile with:

Common applications (OBS, Discord)
Standard delay settings
Basic configuration
Don't use for streaming - only for duplication

Specialized Profiles

Duplicate the template and customize:

Add game-specific applications
Adjust delays for content type
Include specialized tools

Performance-Based Profiles

Light Profile (4GB RAM systems)

Minimal applications: Only essentials
Longer delays: 8-10 seconds between launches
Fewer background apps: Skip non-essential tools

Full Profile (8GB+ RAM systems)

Complete toolkit: All desired applications
Standard delays: 5 seconds default
Background utilities: Music, chat bots, overlays

Profile Data Management

Where Profiles Are Stored

Profiles are saved in:

C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\EZStreaming\ez_streaming_config.json

Configuration Structure

{
  "profiles": [
    {
      "name": "Gaming Setup",
      "launch_delay": 5,
      "programs": [...]
    }
  ],
  "current_profile_name": "Gaming Setup"
}

Backup and Restore

Creating Backups

Manual Backup:
- Copy the ez_streaming_config.json file
- Store it in a safe location
- Name it with the date (e.g., config_backup_2025-06-12.json)
Automatic Backup:
- EZ Streaming creates backups automatically when switching profiles
- Backup frequency: Before any major configuration change

Restoring Profiles

Close EZ Streaming
Replace the current config file with your backup
Restart EZ Streaming
Your profiles will be restored

Sharing Profiles

Export Profile (Manual Method)

Locate your config file
Copy the JSON section for the specific profile
Share the JSON data with other users
Note: Built-in export/import is planned for future versions

Profile Compatibility

Paths: Will need adjustment on different systems
Applications: Must be installed on the target system
Settings: Delays and preferences transfer directly

Troubleshooting Profile Issues

Profile Won't Load

Symptoms: Error message when selecting a profile
Solutions:

Check if applications in the profile still exist
Verify file paths haven't changed
Try duplicating a working profile
Restore from backup if necessary

Applications Missing After Profile Switch

Symptoms: Profile loads but shows empty rows
Solutions:

Check if config file is corrupted
Try restarting EZ Streaming
Manually re-add applications
Restore from backup

Profile Dropdown Empty

Symptoms: No profiles show in the dropdown
Solutions:

Restart EZ Streaming (recreates Default profile)
Check config file permissions
Clear AppData folder and restart (will reset all profiles)

Can't Create New Profile

Symptoms: "New Profile" option disabled or errors
Solutions:

Ensure current profile is saved
Try switching to Default profile first
Check disk space and permissions
Restart the application

Profile Best Practices

Organization

Limit profile count: 5-8 profiles maximum for easy management
Regular cleanup: Delete unused profiles periodically
Consistent naming: Use clear, descriptive names

Configuration

Test new profiles: Run through the launch sequence manually first
Document complex setups: Keep notes about special configurations
Regular maintenance: Update paths when applications get updated

Performance

Monitor system resources: Adjust delays based on actual performance
Profile-specific optimization: Different delays for different use cases
Gradual complexity: Start simple, add complexity over time

Backup Strategy

Weekly backups: Export configuration weekly
Before major changes: Always backup before adding many new applications
Multiple versions: Keep several backup versions
Test restores: Periodically verify backups work

Future Profile Features

Planned enhancements for profile management:

Near-term (Next Releases)

Profile Import/Export: Built-in sharing functionality
Profile descriptions: Add notes and descriptions to profiles
Profile categories: Organize profiles into groups

Long-term (Future Versions)

Profile scheduling: Automatic profile switching based on time/day
Cloud sync: Synchronize profiles across multiple computers
Profile templates: Community-shared profile templates
Conditional launching: Launch different apps based on system state