load playlist in separate thread to prevent blocking on startup

endpoints/radio.py

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import traceback
 import time
 import random
 import asyncio
+import threading
 from .constructors import (
     ValidRadioNextRequest,
     ValidRadioReshuffleRequest,
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ class Radio(FastAPI):
         self.util = my_util
         self.constants = constants
         self.radio_util = radio_util.RadioUtil(self.constants)
+        self.playlist_loaded: bool = False
 
         self.endpoints: dict = {
             "radio/np": self.radio_now_playing,
@@ -52,9 +54,16 @@ class Radio(FastAPI):
             methods=["GET"],
             include_in_schema=True,
         )
+        
+        app.add_event_handler("startup", self.on_start)
+
+    async def on_start(self) -> None:
+        logging.info("radio: Initializing")
+        thread = threading.Thread(target=asyncio.run, args=(self.radio_util.load_playlist(),))
+        thread.start()
+        # await self.radio_util.load_playlist()
+        await self.radio_util._ls_skip()
 
-        asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(self.radio_util.load_playlist())
-        asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(self.radio_util._ls_skip())
 
     async def radio_skip(
         self, data: ValidRadioNextRequest, request: Request
@@ -256,8 +265,9 @@ class Radio(FastAPI):
             not isinstance(self.radio_util.active_playlist, list)
             or not self.radio_util.active_playlist
         ):
-            await self.radio_util.load_playlist()
-            await self.radio_util._ls_skip()
+            if self.radio_util.playlist_loaded:
+                self.radio_util.playlist_loaded = False
+                await self.on_start()
             return JSONResponse(
                 status_code=500,
                 content={
@@ -268,8 +278,7 @@ class Radio(FastAPI):
         next = self.radio_util.active_playlist.pop(0)
         if not isinstance(next, dict):
             logging.critical("next is of type: %s, reloading playlist...", type(next))
-            await self.radio_util.load_playlist()
-            await self.radio_util._ls_skip()
+            await self.on_start()
             return JSONResponse(
                 status_code=500,
                 content={