Control VLC with web browser

 Goto Preferences

In the bottom change 
Show settings ALL

Click the arrow beside INTERFACES. Then select LUA (most tutorials don't mention that arrow)

Give it a password and save.   Then restart VLC

Open a browser and goto 

http://localhost:8080

Leave username blank and put in your password and click "SIGN IN"

You'll be prompted with a GUI version of the VLC interface that you can now control VLC with