The Web Interface

The XBMC Web GUI control-interface uses XBMC's built-in WebServer (and HTTP API) to allow you to control certain aspects of XBMC via a remote web-browser on the same network as your edition of XBMC, (e.g. from your computer). If you would like to use this XBMC Web GUI, then the HTTP-server must be activated in the XBMC Network Settings. Once activated, the XBMC Web GUI control-interface can be accessed by pointing your browser to http://(xbmc_ip)/, where "xbmc_ip" is the actual IP-address of your Computer, AppleTV, or Xbox running XBMC.

Once you are connected, you will see a number of options including; My Music, My Videos, Music Playlist, Video Playlist, and playback controls. Most of which are self explanatory. When you're adding files to the playlist, you can click the name of the file to begin play immediately, or you can click the Q next to the file name to add it to the playlist (queue).

You can also change some settings and create, delete, or edit sources using the http interface using the links at the top. This may be an easier way to adjust source settings as opposed to editing the Sources.xml file.

Control from PocketPC PDA Browser
At AllXBoxSkins.com you can download skins for XBMC. Several of these skins are described as WebServer skins. Some skins are tailored specifically for a PocketPC PDA with a 320x240 pixel screen. One nice example is the 'XBOX Media Center for PPC Rev. B' which can be added to the '$HOME/web' directory without overwriting the current WebServer skin allowing you to have a skin for PC access and one for PPC access. For PPC access, point your browser at http://(xbox_ip)/ppcdefault.asp

Known pocketpc skin names for download from AllXBoxSkins.com xbmc mobile webserver

There is also a PocketPC client on sourceforge. Current status and compatibility is unknown. SourceForge.

Control from PSP
There is a flash client available for browsing music available. It will work on any flash player v6 and above. It has been primarily designed for the PSP and only handles music browsing. Download here

There is also "XBMC Remote Interface". A LUA script compatable with the PSP which is able to: Download here. Pictures here.
 * Browse music, video and pictures.
 * It is able to download thumbnails from all 3 media types.
 * Display currently playing file information (Music tags, filename).
 * Seek in music and video.
 * Adjust volume.
 * Previous\next in playlist.
 * Shutdown\restart Xbox.
 * Send button commands to the Xbox to browse menus wirelessly.

Notes for Firefox users
GoAhead web server XBMC uses is not compatible with Firefox when password is enabled and default Digest authentication mode is used. You can work around it by setting password normally, then editing web/umconfig.txt and changing each "method=3" line to "method=2" and restarting your XBMC. This causes web server to use HTTP Basic authentication, which does work properly with Firefox.

If you modify web server password from XBMC settings menu, umconfig.txt is rewritten and you will have to apply this fix again.

HTTP-API
So you want to create your own front-end? Have a look here: HTTP-API

Xml Api
XmlApi

Notes for Developers
The GoAhead Webserver that XBMC uses does not support common dynamic languages like ASP, PHP nor JSP. The current GoAhead Web server only supports static files such as HTML/CSS/JS and PSP (Python Server Pages) a.k.a. SPYCE), which is an unexplored alternative for adding server-side code to the XBMC web interface. (It may also be possible for a C++ developer either extend GoAhead Web server source code by adding further libraries, those libraries could possible be in C/C++ or python, however no developer has volunteered to help us update and maintain the web server code).