Help needed getting VLC to play in Linux from PHP

[EWD]

Hi Everyone,

 

Long time complainer, 1st time help requester....well in this site anyway

 

Right, here's the problem, I want to get VLC to play as part of an app that I'm writing. at the minute the code is going through a shell script. I have added the apache www-data user to my group and made sure that the www-data now has read, write & execute privileges for the shell script

 

PHP is calling

$cmd="bash /home/john/www/projects/get-iplayer/application/watch.sh";
shell_exec($cmd);

#!/bin/bash
cd /home/john/www/projects/get-iplayer/application
ls -la
export DISPLAY=:0
/usr/bin/vlc --x11-display :0 /home/john/Desktop/TV/Underdog.mp4  & disown

 

I have tried many variations & gone through quite a few suggested suggestions (from other peoples posts) but nothing has worked.

 

Can anybody help,

 

I am willing to provide any code you need

I am willing to help you help me in any way I can

Sod it: I'll even have your babies if you help me <small>I also lie & make false promises</small>

 

Thanks everyone & here's hoping

John