feat: clearer split between local (managed) and remote URLs and server status

1 files changed, 5 insertions, 4 deletions

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 43469f8..1563303 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,9 +46,9 @@ Run the generator with no arguments in a terminal:
 python audiobook.py
 ```
 
-A full-screen TUI opens and shows each backend's status in a table — **unavailable** (red, name dimmed: not installed and no server running), **installed** (orange), or **running** (green, when an external server is already accepting connections on its configured port). From the menu you can:
+A full-screen TUI opens and shows each backend's status in a table — **unavailable** (red, name dimmed: not installed and no server running), **installed** (orange), or **running** (green) with the source(s) in brackets: `[local]` for a server this tool started, `[remote]` for an externally-run server found by probing the backend's remote URL, or `[local, remote]` when both are up. From the menu you can:
 
-- **Convert books…** — set everything on one screen. The first field picks the **Backend** (only ready/running ones are offered); the rest of the options change to what that backend supports: model, voice and instructions for audio.cpp; speaker or clone .wav for qwen; voice for faster — plus output format, speed, whether to combine all chapters into one file, and debug mode (for a backend set up here it reads its `server.json` / `voices.json`; with only a running external server it queries the server itself instead — audio.cpp lists its models and voices over HTTP, faster asks you to type a voice name). Focus starts on **Generate!**, so Enter accepts the defaults. The "combine chapters" option is hidden for `m4b`, which is always one file. If the server isn't running it's started automatically; after the conversion you're asked whether to stop it, or
+- **Convert books…** — set everything on one screen. The first field picks the **Backend**: each backend appears as a managed entry (e.g. `audio.cpp`) when it's installed and configured here, plus a `[remote]` entry (e.g. `audio.cpp [remote]`) when a running server was found at its remote URL. The rest of the options change to what that backend supports: model, voice and instructions for audio.cpp; speaker or clone .wav for qwen; voice for faster — plus output format, speed, whether to combine all chapters into one file, and debug mode. A managed entry reads its local `server.json` / `voices.json`; a `[remote]` entry queries the server itself instead (audio.cpp lists its models and voices over HTTP, faster asks you to type a voice name). Focus starts on **Generate!**, so Enter accepts the defaults. The "combine chapters" option is hidden for `m4b`, which is always one file. For a managed entry whose server isn't running it's started automatically; after the conversion you're asked whether to stop it (remote entries never autostart — that server is not this tool's to manage), or
 - **Set up a backend…** — clone, build, and configure a backend end-to-end (audio.cpp, qwen, faster), or
 - **Configure a backend…** — regenerate its config (a new `server.json`, rebuild `voices.json`, change ports/speaker), or
 - **Server…** — manually start or stop a configured backend's server (the hub spawns it in the managed venv and polls until it accepts connections).
@@ -84,8 +84,9 @@ You need one of the following backends (the TUI sets them up for you; manual ste
 | `--clone <path>`                   | `qwen`: Reference audio (`wav`) for voice cloning.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
 | `--transcription "..."`            | `qwen`: Override whisper auto-transcription with manual audio transcript.                                                                                                                                                                                          |
 | `--no-transcription`               | `qwen`: Skip auto-transcription of the reference audio.                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
+| `--api-url <url>`                  | URL of the TTS server to talk to, overriding the configured endpoint for the selected backend. Accepts `host:port` or a full `http(s)://` URL.                                                                                                                     |
 
-Other options including backend server URLs/ports are configured in `app/converter/config.py`
+Other options — including backend server URLs, ports, and the remote-server URLs the hub probes for `[remote]` entries — are configured in `app/converter/config.py` (or the TUI's **Settings** menu).
 
 ## Manual TTS Backend Setup
 
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ If the TUI auto-install doesn't work, you may need to set up the backends manual
 - [qwen-tts instructions](app/docs/backend-qwen.md)
 - [faster-qwen-tts instructions](app/docs/backend-faster.md)
 
-`./audiobook.py` can also connect to external servers running these backends.
+`./audiobook.py` can also connect to external servers running these backends. Point the relevant `*_REMOTE_URL` in `app/converter/config.py` (or the **Settings** → remote URL fields) at the server's `host:port` — the hub probes it and offers a `[remote]` entry in **Convert books…** next to the managed one. The defaults are the local ports (`127.0.0.1:<port>`), so a server started outside this tool on the local port is picked up automatically. For scripting, `--api-url` targets any server directly.
 
 ## Tips