Got it !!
Installed ubuntu in a VM last night and manged to build the source into a working app.

It runs from a telnet session and binds to hijack but seems to take over the whole player. I can't do HTTP to the empeg for example.
If emtris is bound to hijack it also seems to run that instead of itself! Remove emptrisand it's ok again. Wierd.

if I use EXEC or EXEC_ONCE it hangs the whole player at the custom boot logo screen hence running it via telent for now.

So I've got a job to do but at least I can compile stuff now and I've learnt quite a bit about the player in the process. Good job all in

Thanks for the pointers Peter, wouldn't have got anywhere without you.