“`html

Jellyfomo: When Too Many Choices Become a Problem

Okay, let’s be honest. How many streaming services do you actually *use* regularly? I’m betting it’s not a huge number. I’ve been there. It’s a classic problem: you start with one, then another, then another, and suddenly you’ve got a massive library of movies and shows staring back at you. It’s amazing, right? But also… paralyzing.

I recently stumbled across a project that’s tackling this head-on, and I wanted to share it with you. It’s called Jellyfomo, and it’s a clever little tool designed to help you manage the overwhelming choice anxiety that comes with having way too many options when you’re watching movies and TV shows.

The Problem: Overchoice Anxiety

Seriously, think about it. When you open Netflix or Disney+ or HBO Max (or any of the others!), the sheer volume of content is…a lot. You start scrolling, and you start thinking, “Oh, I *might* like this. But what if I don’t? What if I start watching it and then I realize I hate it, and I’ve wasted three hours?” It’s exhausting! It’s the opposite of relaxing. It’s actively making you feel stressed about what to watch.

This isn’t just me. I saw a Reddit thread discussing this exact issue – here. Lots of people feel this way. They’ve got a huge collection of media, but they’re struggling to actually *consume* it because the choice paralysis is too much.

Introducing Jellyfomo

That’s where Jellyfomo comes in. It’s a complement for Jellyfin (another awesome, self-hosted media server project). The core idea is simple: it uses tags to limit the number of movies and shows you have actively available at any one time. Think of it as a smart filter that helps you narrow your focus.

The creator, /u/mycroftsnm, built it as a way to manage his own Jellyfin setup. The project is available on GitHub. It’s a really straightforward Docker Compose deployment – meaning it’s relatively easy to set up and run.

How Does It Work?

So, how does it actually work? You define tags – let’s say “Action,” “Comedy,” “Sci-Fi,” “Documentaries,” etc. Then, you can set rules so that, for example, only three “Action” movies are actively available at any given moment. When you start watching something, it’s automatically added to your watch list. Once you finish it, the next movie tagged as “Action” is added to your list.

It’s not about *removing* movies from your library; it’s about actively controlling your viewing experience. You still have the full library, but Jellyfomo keeps things manageable.

Why Jellyfomo and Not “Jellyoverchoice”?

Speaking of names – the creator jokingly said they almost called it “jellyoverchoice.” Thankfully, they went with Jellyfomo. I’m pretty sure “jellyoverchoice” would have been a nightmare to explain!

Getting Started with Jellyfomo

You can find the full documentation and instructions on the GitHub repository. It’s a Docker Compose setup, which means you’ll need a Docker environment. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with Docker; it’s surprisingly easy to get started with, and there are tons of tutorials available online.

Jellyfomo: For the Win

I think this is a brilliant little project. It addresses a very real problem – the overwhelm of choice. It’s a simple, elegant solution that can help you actually *enjoy* your media library instead of feeling stressed about the endless possibilities.

Give it a look if you’re struggling with the same issue. And if you find it useful, consider contributing to the project! It’s a great example of how small, focused projects can make a big difference.