API Keys & Metadata Sources

MetaForge is designed to work without any API keys for its core search functionality. Wikidata, Wikipedia, TVmaze, and Elcinema are all keyless.

Optional Keyed Sources

For enriched metadata, you can register your own keys for these services:

| Service | Why Use It | |---------|------------| | TMDB (The Movie Database) | Higher-resolution posters, additional metadata | | TVDB (The TV Database) | TV show episode details, artwork | | OMDB | Fallback movie metadata | | MusicBrainz | Audio metadata, album art | | Fanart.tv | Alternative fan art, backgrounds |

Adding a Key

1. Open Preferences > API Keys.
2. Select the service from the dropdown.
3. Click Add Key.
4. Enter your API key.
5. The key is saved in the local settings file.

Key Management

• Keys are stored locally in your configuration file (settings.json).
• On Unix/Linux, the configuration file is protected with 0o600 permissions (readable and writable only by your user account).
• You can update or remove any key at any time through the Preferences panel.
• MetaForge never sends your keys to any external servers, except when making direct metadata API requests to the respective services.

No Embedded Credentials

MetaForge contains zero hardcoded API keys. All lookups rely on keyless engines or user-provisioned credentials.