diff --git a/fetch_podcasts.rb b/fetch_podcasts.rb
index d86ad8d..b3b9fd4 100755
--- a/fetch_podcasts.rb
+++ b/fetch_podcasts.rb
@@ -11,15 +11,19 @@
 # Politeness: audio/video verdict cached in shows.media_class; gpodder OPML
 # pull uses bounded retry with exponential backoff + jitter.
 
-require 'sequel'
-require 'net/http'
-require 'openssl'
-require 'json'
-require 'logger'
-require 'digest/md5'
-require 'time'
+require "sequel"
+require "net/http"
+require "openssl"
+require "json"
+require "logger"
+require "time"
+require "fileutils"
+require "cgi"
+require "base64"
+require "securerandom"
+require "rexml/document"
 
-ROOT = File.expand_path(File.dirname(__file__))
+ROOT = File.expand_path(File.dirname(__FILE__))
 CONFIG_PATH = File.join(ROOT, "config.json")
 
 AUDIO_EXTS = [".mp3", ".m4a"].freeze
@@ -57,8 +61,6 @@ def log_error(msg)
 end
 
 def setup_logging!
-  fh = Logger.new(File.join($logs_dir, "fetch.log"))
-  fh.formatter = $log.formatter
   $log.instance_variable_set(:@logdev,
     Logger::LogDevice.new([STDOUT, File.join($logs_dir, "fetch.log")]))
 end
@@ -106,7 +108,7 @@ SHOWS_COLUMNS = {
   opml_import: { type: :integer, default: 0 },
   archived:    { type: :integer, default: 1 },
   media_class: { type: :string },
-  created_at:  { type: :string, default: Sequel.function(:datetime, "'now'") }
+  created_at:  { type: :string }
 }.freeze
 
 EPISODES_COLUMNS = {
@@ -121,20 +123,24 @@ EPISODES_COLUMNS = {
   played_at:     { type: :string }
 }.freeze
 
+def tune(db)
+  # Plain-SQL pragmas via Database#execute, which works on CRuby and JRuby/JDBC
+  # across all modern Sequel versions (the :pragma extension is CRuby-only and
+  # db.sql requires Sequel >= 5.42).
+  db.execute("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL;")
+  db.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout=5000;")
+end
+
 def connect_subs
   db = Sequel.connect("jdbc:sqlite:#{$subs_db_path}")
-  db.extension :pragma
-  db.pragma journal_mode: :wal
-  db.pragma busy_timeout: 5000
+  tune(db)
   ensure_schema!(db, :shows, SHOWS_COLUMNS)
   db
 end
 
 def connect_played
   db = Sequel.connect("jdbc:sqlite:#{$played_db_path}")
-  db.extension :pragma
-  db.pragma journal_mode: :wal
-  db.pragma busy_timeout: 5000
+  tune(db)
   ensure_schema!(db, :episodes, EPISODES_COLUMNS)
   unless db.index_exists?(:episodes, [:show_slug, :played])
     db.create_index :episodes, [:show_slug, :played], name: :idx_episodes_show_played
@@ -169,7 +175,6 @@ def slugify(name)
 end
 
 def gen_uuid
-  require "securerandom"
   SecureRandom.uuid
 end
 
@@ -197,10 +202,8 @@ def set_media_class(db, slug, cls)
 end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Feed parsing (uses open-uri / rss-lite approach via Net::HTTP + REXML)
+# Feed parsing (Net::HTTP + REXML)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-require "rexml/document"
-
 def fetch_feed(feed_url)
   uri = URI.parse(feed_url)
   http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
@@ -216,29 +219,27 @@ def fetch_feed(feed_url)
   title = channel.elements["title"]&.text
   entries = []
   channel.get_elements("./item").each do |item|
-    link_el = item.elements["link"]
+    link_el  = item.elements["link"]
     title_el = item.elements["title"]
-    guid_el = item.elements["guid"]
-    dur_el = item.elements["media:duration"] || item.elements["itunes:duration"]
-    enc_el = item.elements["enclosure"]
-    iso_dur_el = item.elements["itunes:duration"]
+    guid_el  = item.elements["guid"]
+    dur_el   = item.elements["media:duration"] || item.elements["itunes:duration"]
+    enc_el   = item.elements["enclosure"]
 
     enclosures = []
     if enc_el
       enclosures << {
-        href: enc_el.attributes["url"],
-        type: enc_el.attributes["type"],
+        href:   enc_el.attributes["url"],
+        type:   enc_el.attributes["type"],
         length: enc_el.attributes["length"]
       }
     end
 
     entries << {
-      link: link_el&.text,
-      title: title_el&.text,
-      guid: guid_el&.text,
+      link:   link_el&.text,
+      title:  title_el&.text,
+      guid:   guid_el&.text,
       enclosures: enclosures,
-      duration: dur_el&.text,
-      iso_duration: iso_dur_el&.text
+      duration: dur_el&.text
     }
   end
 
@@ -386,21 +387,11 @@ def extract_duration(entry)
   dur = entry[:duration]
   if dur
     return dur.to_i if dur.match?(/\A\d+\z/)
-    m = dur.match(/\APT(?:(\d+)H)?(?:(\d+)M)?(?:(\d+)S)?\z/)
+    m = dur.match(/\APT(?:(\d+)H)?(?:(\d+)M)?(?:(\d+)S)?\z/i)
     if m
-      h = m[1] ? m[1].to_i : 0
+      h  = m[1] ? m[1].to_i : 0
       mn = m[2] ? m[2].to_i : 0
-      s = m[3] ? m[3].to_i : 0
-      return h * 3600 + mn * 60 + s
-    end
-  end
-  iso = entry[:iso_duration]
-  if iso
-    m = iso.match(/\APT(?:(\d+)H)?(?:(\d+)M)?(?:(\d+)S)?\z/)
-    if m
-      h = m[1] ? m[1].to_i : 0
-      mn = m[2] ? m[2].to_i : 0
-      s = m[3] ? m[3].to_i : 0
+      s  = m[3] ? m[3].to_i : 0
       return h * 3600 + mn * 60 + s
     end
   end
@@ -500,17 +491,9 @@ def fetch_show_episodes(slug, name, feed_url)
       filename = safe_filename(title, guid[-20..])
       file_path = download_episode(audio_url, dest_dir, filename)
       next if file_path.nil?
-      played_db[:episodes].insert_or_ignore(
-        show_slug: slug, guid: guid, title: title,
-        file_path: file_path, enclosure_url: audio_url,
-        runlength: duration, played: 0
-      )
+      insert_episode(played_db, slug, guid, title, file_path, audio_url, duration)
     else
-      played_db[:episodes].insert_or_ignore(
-        show_slug: slug, guid: guid, title: title,
-        file_path: nil, enclosure_url: audio_url,
-        runlength: duration, played: 0
-      )
+      insert_episode(played_db, slug, guid, title, nil, audio_url, duration)
     end
     new_count += 1
     kind = archived ? "downloaded" : "live"
@@ -522,6 +505,19 @@ def fetch_show_episodes(slug, name, feed_url)
   new_count
 end
 
+def insert_episode(db, slug, guid, title, file_path, enclosure_url, duration)
+  # INSERT OR IGNORE semantics via the UNIQUE(show_slug, guid) constraint.
+  db.transaction do
+    db[:episodes].insert(
+      show_slug: slug, guid: guid, title: title,
+      file_path: file_path, enclosure_url: enclosure_url,
+      runlength: duration, played: 0
+    )
+  end
+rescue Sequel::UniqueConstraintViolation
+  # Already recorded; ignore.
+end
+
 def fetch_all_episodes
   db = connect_subs
   shows = db[:shows].order(:name).all
@@ -575,10 +571,14 @@ def add_show(feed_url)
   slug = slugify(name)
   guid = gen_uuid
   db = connect_subs
-  db[:shows].insert_or_ignore(
-    slug: slug, guid: guid, name: name, feed_url: feed_url,
-    source: "manual", opml_import: 0, archived: 1, media_class: cls
-  )
+  begin
+    db[:shows].insert(
+      slug: slug, guid: guid, name: name, feed_url: feed_url,
+      source: "manual", opml_import: 0, archived: 1, media_class: cls
+    )
+  rescue Sequel::UniqueConstraintViolation
+    # already present
+  end
   db.disconnect
   $log.info("Added show: #{name} (#{slug}) [#{cls}]")
   fetch_show_episodes(slug, name, feed_url)
@@ -668,10 +668,6 @@ def run_fetch(config)
   fetch_all_episodes
 end
 
-require "fileutils"
-require "cgi"
-require "base64"
-
 def main
   args = ARGV.dup
   option = args.shift
@@ -698,15 +694,14 @@ def main
   when "--import-opml"
     import_opml(args.first)
   else
-    needs_lock = true
-    if needs_lock && !acquire_lock!
+    if !acquire_lock!
       $log.info("Another radio process holds the lock; skipping this run.")
       return
     end
     begin
       run_fetch(config)
     ensure
-      release_lock! if needs_lock
+      release_lock!
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/install_for_jruby b/install_for_jruby
index 2a031ec..655e4c1 100755
--- a/install_for_jruby
+++ b/install_for_jruby
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ echo "==> Installing gems one at a time into ${GEMS_DIR} ..."
 "$JRUBY_BIN" -S gem install --no-document sequel
 "$JRUBY_BIN" -S gem install --no-document json
 
-# Give the service user ownership of the gem cache so cron runs work.
 chown -R "$LIQUIDSOAP_USER":"$LIQUIDSOAP_USER" "$GEMS_DIR"
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -207,57 +206,65 @@ chown "$LIQUIDSOAP_USER":"$LIQUIDSOAP_USER" "$CONFIG_JSON"
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # 9. Initialize BOTH SQLite databases with the full current schema.
-#    Uses Sequel over jdbc-sqlite3, matching how the Ruby scripts access the
-#    DB at runtime. Idempotent via IF NOT EXISTS semantics.
+#    Uses raw CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS via Database#execute - avoids the
+#    Sequel create_table DSL, which is unreliable under JRuby (instance_exec'd
+#    generator methods can resolve to nil). Works on CRuby and JDBC alike.
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 echo "==> Initializing SQLite databases via Sequel/jdbc-sqlite3 ..."
 GEM_HOME="$GEMS_DIR" GEM_PATH="$GEMS_DIR" "$JRUBY_BIN" -e '
 require "sequel"
 
-state_dir = ARGV[0]
-subs_path = File.join(state_dir, "subscriptions.db")
+state_dir   = ARGV[0]
+subs_path   = File.join(state_dir, "subscriptions.db")
 played_path = File.join(state_dir, "played.db")
 
-db = Sequel.connect("jdbc:sqlite:#{subs_path}")
-db.extension :pragma
-db.pragma journal_mode: :wal
-db.pragma busy_timeout: 5000
-unless db.table_exists?(:shows)
-  db.create_table(:shows) do |t|
-    t.primary_key :slug, type: :string
-    t.string :guid, null: false, unique: true
-    t.string :name, null: false
-    t.string :feed_url, null: false, unique: true
-    t.string :source, default: "manual"
-    t.integer :opml_import, default: 0
-    t.integer :archived, default: 1
-    t.string :media_class
-    t.string :created_at
-  end
+def tune(db)
+  db.execute("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL;")
+  db.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout=5000;")
 end
+
+SHOWS_SQL = <<~SQL
+  CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS shows (
+    slug        TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+    guid        TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
+    name        TEXT NOT NULL,
+    feed_url    TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
+    source      TEXT DEFAULT '"'"'manual'"'"',
+    opml_import INTEGER DEFAULT 0,
+    archived    INTEGER DEFAULT 1,
+    media_class TEXT,
+    created_at  TEXT
+  );
+SQL
+
+EPISODES_SQL = <<~SQL
+  CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS episodes (
+    id            INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+    show_slug     TEXT NOT NULL,
+    guid          TEXT NOT NULL,
+    title         TEXT,
+    file_path     TEXT,
+    enclosure_url TEXT,
+    runlength     INTEGER,
+    played        INTEGER DEFAULT 0,
+    played_at     TEXT,
+    UNIQUE (show_slug, guid)
+  );
+SQL
+
+INDEX_SQL = <<~SQL
+  CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_episodes_show_played ON episodes (show_slug, played);
+SQL
+
+db = Sequel.connect("jdbc:sqlite:#{subs_path}")
+tune(db)
+db.execute(SHOWS_SQL)
 db.disconnect
 
 db = Sequel.connect("jdbc:sqlite:#{played_path}")
-db.extension :pragma
-db.pragma journal_mode: :wal
-db.pragma busy_timeout: 5000
-unless db.table_exists?(:episodes)
-  db.create_table(:episodes) do |t|
-    t.primary_key :id
-    t.string :show_slug, null: false
-    t.string :guid, null: false
-    t.string :title
-    t.string :file_path
-    t.string :enclosure_url
-    t.integer :runlength
-    t.integer :played, default: 0
-    t.string :played_at
-    t.unique_constraint %i[show_slug guid]
-  end
-end
-unless db.index_exists?(:episodes, [:show_slug, :played])
-  db.create_index(:episodes, [:show_slug, :played], name: :idx_episodes_show_played)
-end
+tune(db)
+db.execute(EPISODES_SQL)
+db.execute(INDEX_SQL)
 db.disconnect
 
 puts "    subscriptions.db and played.db initialized."
@@ -296,13 +303,12 @@ exec("liquidsoap", File.expand_path("station.liq"))
 RBRUN
 chown "$LIQUIDSOAP_USER":"$LIQUIDSOAP_USER" "${INSTALL_DIR}/station.rb"
 
-# Allow the service user to traverse the install dir.
 chmod o+x "$INSTALL_DIR"
 
 systemctl daemon-reload
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# 11. Cron jobs — installed into the liquidsoap user's crontab so all
+# 11. Cron jobs - installed into the liquidsoap user's crontab so all
 #     database/media writes happen under the same identity as the service.
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 echo "==> Setting up cron jobs under user '${LIQUIDSOAP_USER}' ..."
@@ -311,14 +317,12 @@ UPDATE_PREFIX="cd ${INSTALL_DIR} && GEM_HOME=${GEMS_DIR} GEM_PATH=${GEMS_DIR} ${
 FETCH_CRON="0 * * * * ${FETCH_PREFIX} >> ${STORAGE_PATH}/logs/fetch.log 2>&1"
 UPDATE_CRON="30 * * * * ${UPDATE_PREFIX} >> ${STORAGE_PATH}/logs/update.log 2>&1"
 
-# Remove any stale entries from the liquidsoap user's crontab, then add ours.
 sudo -u "$LIQUIDSOAP_USER" crontab -l 2>/dev/null | grep -vF "fetch_podcasts.rb" | grep -vF "update_playlists.rb" > /tmp/cron_ls_rb.$$ || true
 echo "$FETCH_CRON"  >> /tmp/cron_ls_rb.$$
 echo "$UPDATE_CRON" >> /tmp/cron_ls_rb.$$
 sudo -u "$LIQUIDSOAP_USER" crontab /tmp/cron_ls_rb.$$
 rm -f /tmp/cron_ls_rb.$$
 
-# Also scrub these from root's crontab in case an earlier install put them there.
 crontab -l 2>/dev/null | grep -vF "fetch_podcasts.rb" | grep -vF "update_playlists.rb" > /tmp/cron_root_rb.$$ || true
 crontab /tmp/cron_root_rb.$$
 rm -f /tmp/cron_root_rb.$$
diff --git a/update_playlists.rb b/update_playlists.rb
index f4889bb..1a29751 100755
--- a/update_playlists.rb
+++ b/update_playlists.rb
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ require "json"
 require "logger"
 require "time"
 
-ROOT = File.expand_path(File.dirname(__file__))
+ROOT = File.expand_path(File.dirname(__FILE__))
 CONFIG_PATH = File.join(ROOT, "config.json")
 
 $state_dir = nil
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def init_paths!
 end
 
 $log = Logger.new(STDOUT)
-$log.formatter = proc { |msg, _sev, _time, _prog| "#{Time.now} [INFO] #{msg}\n" }
+$log.formatter = proc { |msg, _severity, _time, _progname| "#{Time.now} [INFO] #{msg}\n" }
 
 def log_error(msg)
   $log.error(msg)
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ def setup_logging!
     Logger::LogDevice.new([STDOUT, File.join($logs_dir, "update.log")]))
 end
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Schema: single source of truth, applied idempotently via Sequel.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 SHOWS_COLUMNS = {
   slug:        { type: :string, primary_key: true },
   guid:        { type: :string, null: false, unique: true },
@@ -60,7 +63,7 @@ SHOWS_COLUMNS = {
   opml_import: { type: :integer, default: 0 },
   archived:    { type: :integer, default: 1 },
   media_class: { type: :string },
-  created_at:  { type: :string, default: Sequel.function(:datetime, "'now'") }
+  created_at:  { type: :string }
 }.freeze
 
 EPISODES_COLUMNS = {
@@ -75,20 +78,24 @@ EPISODES_COLUMNS = {
   played_at:     { type: :string }
 }.freeze
 
+def tune(db)
+  # Plain-SQL pragmas via Database#execute, which works on CRuby and JRuby/JDBC
+  # across all modern Sequel versions (the :pragma extension is CRuby-only and
+  # db.sql requires Sequel >= 5.42).
+  db.execute("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL;")
+  db.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout=5000;")
+end
+
 def connect_subs
   db = Sequel.connect("jdbc:sqlite:#{$subs_db_path}")
-  db.extension :pragma
-  db.pragma journal_mode: :wal
-  db.pragma busy_timeout: 5000
+  tune(db)
   ensure_schema!(db, :shows, SHOWS_COLUMNS)
   db
 end
 
 def connect_played
   db = Sequel.connect("jdbc:sqlite:#{$played_db_path}")
-  db.extension :pragma
-  db.pragma journal_mode: :wal
-  db.pragma busy_timeout: 5000
+  tune(db)
   ensure_schema!(db, :episodes, EPISODES_COLUMNS)
   unless db.index_exists?(:episodes, [:show_slug, :played])
     db.create_index :episodes, [:show_slug, :played], name: :idx_episodes_show_played
@@ -99,7 +106,9 @@ end
 def ensure_schema!(db, table, columns)
   unless db.table_exists?(table)
     db.create_table(table) do |t|
-      columns.each { |col, opts| t.column(col, **opts) }
+      columns.each do |col, opts|
+        t.column(col, **opts)
+      end
       t.unique_constraint %i[show_slug guid] if table == :episodes
     end
     return
@@ -111,6 +120,9 @@ def ensure_schema!(db, table, columns)
   end
 end
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Mutual exclusion via flock on a shared lockfile.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 $lock_fh = nil
 
 def acquire_lock!
@@ -139,6 +151,9 @@ def release_lock!
   end
 end
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Queue-file generation
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 def annotate_uri(runlength, title, uri)
   def esc(v)
     '"' + v.to_s.gsub('"', '\\"') + '"'
@@ -157,7 +172,7 @@ end
 def mark_as_played(slug, guid, played_db)
   played_db[:episodes]
     .where(show_slug: slug, guid: guid)
-    .update(played: 1, played_at: Sequel.function(:datetime, "'now'"))
+    .update(played: 1, played_at: Time.now.utc.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"))
 end
 
 def write_queue_file(slug, ep, archived)
@@ -200,8 +215,7 @@ def json_summary
   result = {}
   shows.each do |show|
     slug = show[:slug]
-    counts = played_db[:episodes].where(show_slug: slug).hash_and_count
-    total = counts.values.sum
+    total = played_db[:episodes].where(show_slug: slug).count
     unplayed = played_db[:episodes].where(show_slug: slug, played: 0).count
     result[slug] = {
       name: show[:name],
@@ -241,4 +255,3 @@ def main
 end
 
 main if __FILE__ == $PROGRAM_NAME
-