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Batch Command Reference

This file documents the cmd.exe batch files in the repo root for podcast operations. All batch files change directory to the repo root automatically, so they work correctly from any location.

Workflow order

Run operations in this sequence for a full podcast build from scratch:

  1. generate-transcripts.bat - write episode scripts from the catalog
  2. generate-audio.bat - synthesise MP3 audio from those scripts
  3. build-rss-feed.bat - generate the RSS feed and podcast listing
  4. validate-rss-feed.bat - verify the feed is valid before publishing

generate-transcripts.bat

Validates the podcast catalog, builds episode and challenge bundles, then writes all episode and challenge coach scripts to podcasts\scripts\.

generate-transcripts.bat

Output files: podcasts\scripts\ep*.txt and podcasts\scripts\cc-*.txt

Note: transcript generation always rebuilds all episodes from the catalog. Range selection is not supported at this stage. Run this step whenever the catalog or source docs change.

generate-audio.bat

Synthesises MP3 audio for all episodes or a specific numbered range. Audio format, voice model, pitch, and speed settings are read from podcasts\tts\voice-config.ini.

The script echoes each episode name and index as it is processed. ffmpeg is required for MP3 output and is located automatically from the machine PATH, including after a fresh winget install.

generate-audio.bat                  generate all 75 episodes
generate-audio.bat 5                generate episodes 5 and above
generate-audio.bat 5 10             generate episodes 5 through 10

Output files: podcasts\audio\*.mp3

To change audio format, voice pitch, or speed, edit podcasts\tts\voice-config.ini before running this command.

build-rss-feed.bat

Generates the RSS 2.0 / iTunes-compatible podcast feed and the admin podcast listing. Reads MP3 file sizes from podcasts\audio\ and episode metadata from the catalog.

build-rss-feed.bat

Output files:

  • podcasts\feed.xml - the RSS feed for podcast directories
  • admin\PODCASTS.md - human-readable episode listing

Run this command after generate-audio.bat completes so that enclosure lengths reflect the final MP3 file sizes.

validate-rss-feed.bat

Runs local RSS 2.0 and iTunes compliance checks on podcasts\feed.xml.

validate-rss-feed.bat

Checks performed:

  • Required channel elements: title, link, description, language
  • Required per-item elements: title, enclosure, guid
  • Enclosure URL, byte length, and MIME type
  • Duplicate GUID detection

Run build-rss-feed.bat first. The validator exits with a non-zero code on any failure so it can be used in CI scripts.

Configuration file

podcasts\tts\voice-config.ini controls all audio generation settings.

The following table lists the available settings.

Key Description Example
male_model Piper ONNX model file for the male voice (Alex) en_US-ryan-high.onnx
female_model Piper ONNX model file for the female voice (Jamie) en_US-lessac-high.onnx
male_pitch_semitones Pitch shift in semitones for the male voice -2
female_pitch_semitones Pitch shift in semitones for the female voice 2
speech_rate Words per minute (passed to Piper) 180
episode_audio_format Output format: wav, mp3, or both mp3

npm scripts

The batch files wrap these npm scripts. They can also be run directly from a PowerShell or bash session at the repo root.

npm script Description
npm run validate:podcasts Validate the podcast catalog
npm run generate:podcast-transcripts Generate transcript scripts
npm run build:podcast-audio Generate audio (all episodes)
npm run build:podcast-site Build RSS feed and podcast listing
npm run validate:podcast-feed Validate the RSS feed

To pass a range to the audio build from npm:

npm run build:podcast-audio -- --start 5 --end 10