VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

How to check the status of pending requests for Kodi library hosts

Check the status of pending requests for a Kodi library host, with the steps to follow, the tools that can help, and mistakes to avoid.

By VLClean ยท

VLClean is published by the makers of Askarr and Watcharr, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Kodi library hosts can check pending requests by keeping one list of what was asked, marking each entry as waiting, added, or turned down, and comparing that list with the library on a set day. A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1]

OptionHow requests are checkedCost details
AskarrAskarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1]The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]
Request formnot publishednot published
Shared request listnot publishednot published
Shared message threadnot publishednot published

What you need before you start

Kodi library hosts need a clear list of the titles that are waiting, with the date each one was asked for and who asked for it. Keep that list in one place so nothing is checked twice or missed.

Decide what counts as pending. A request is pending from the moment it is sent until it is either added to the library or turned down. Write that rule down so everyone who checks the list uses the same meaning.

Choose the person who looks at pending requests and the day of the week they will do it. A request that nobody reviews stays pending indefinitely.

Have the title details ready, such as a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link, which you can paste into Askarr to find the title. [1]

Check which helper programs you already run. The status checks described below assume Radarr and Sonarr are running, because the Askarr claims on this page are about them.

Step by step

  1. Write down the list of pending requests as it stands today, with the title, the date asked, and who asked.
  2. Mark each entry as waiting, added, or turned down, so every entry has exactly one status.
  3. Compare the list with the library. Anything marked added should appear in the library, and anything missing from the library should stay marked as waiting.
  4. Message the person who asked for each title that is still waiting, and say what you are doing about it.
  5. If you have a source that reports when a title is added or downloaded, use it so you do not have to check by hand.
  6. Pick a regular day each week to repeat the check, and remove entries that are no longer relevant.
  7. After each check, send requesters one short message that says what changed.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is made by the team behind VLClean, which publishes this site. Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You do that one time, and they then pick up requests from it. [1] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1]

For checking status, a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1]

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1]

You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1]

The other options in the table are listed only so you can compare them. This page has no source facts for them, so it does not describe what they do. Before you choose one, check how it shows the status of each pending request, whether it reports back when a title is added, what it costs, and whether it works with your library host.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid letting pending requests build up without a set review day. A list nobody reads stops being useful, and old entries hide the ones that matter.

Avoid marking a request as added because someone said it was. Check the library itself, since a title can be requested twice or appear under a slightly different name.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking whether it works with your library host. Nothing in the facts for this page says Askarr works with Kodi, so confirm that before you rely on it.

Avoid sending requests through several methods at once. A title sent in two places makes the list harder to check.

Avoid skipping the privacy check. Read what access a tool asks for and what it stores before you connect it.

Frequently asked questions

How can Kodi library hosts check the status of pending requests?

Start with one list of everything that was asked for, and give each entry a status of waiting, added, or turned down. Then compare that list with the library on a set day each week. If a tool reports back when titles are added or downloaded, use its reports instead of checking by hand. One option is Askarr, where a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1]

Does Askarr show the status of a request after it is sent?

A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] The facts for this page do not name which plans include that history, so check the plan page before relying on it.

How much does Askarr cost for checking pending requests?

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1] Choose a plan by how many titles you expect to send each month, and check the plan page for current details.

Does Askarr connect to Radarr and Sonarr to read their status?

Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1] Nothing is installed. [1]

Can Askarr be tried before signing up for status checks?

You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1] The demo shows the dashboard with sample data, so you can see how it behaves before you change anything in Radarr or Sonarr. The facts for this page do not say whether the demo shows status reports, so test those on your own setup.

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]

Try Askarr

Sources

  1. Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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