raspotify

Pros of librespot

• More actively maintained with frequent updates and bug fixes
• Offers a wider range of features and customization options
• Supports multiple audio backends (ALSA, PulseAudio, PortAudio)

Cons of librespot

• Requires more technical knowledge to set up and configure
• Less user-friendly documentation for beginners
• May have higher resource usage on low-powered devices

Code Comparison

librespot:

let (mut player, credentials) = Player::new(config, session.clone(), audio_setup, move |_| {});
player.load(SpotifyId::from_uri("spotify:track:0GiWi4EkPXM0HLWuCiZOom").unwrap(), true, 0);
player.play();

raspotify:

sudo apt-get -y install curl && curl -sL https://dtcooper.github.io/raspotify/install.sh | sh

Summary

Librespot is a more flexible and feature-rich Spotify client library, offering greater customization and active development. However, it requires more technical expertise to implement. Raspotify, built on librespot, provides an easier installation process and is more beginner-friendly, but with fewer customization options. The choice between the two depends on the user's technical skills and specific requirements for their Spotify streaming setup.

Pros of Snapcast

• Multi-room audio synchronization: Snapcast allows for synchronized playback across multiple devices, creating a seamless multi-room audio experience.
• Flexible audio sources: Supports various audio sources, including Spotify, MPD, and custom streams, offering more versatility than Raspotify's Spotify-only focus.
• Cross-platform compatibility: Works on multiple platforms, including Linux, macOS, and Windows, providing broader device support.

Cons of Snapcast

• More complex setup: Requires configuration of both server and client components, which can be more challenging for beginners compared to Raspotify's simpler installation.
• Higher resource usage: May consume more system resources due to its multi-room synchronization features, potentially impacting performance on low-powered devices.

Code Comparison

Snapcast (server configuration):

{
  "streams": [
    {
      "name": "Spotify",
      "uri": "spotify:///librespot?name=Spotify&devicename=Snapcast&bitrate=320"
    }
  ]
}

Raspotify (configuration):

OPTIONS="--username <USERNAME> --password <PASSWORD> --device-name Raspotify"
BITRATE="320"

Both projects offer audio streaming capabilities, but Snapcast provides more advanced features for multi-room setups, while Raspotify focuses on a simpler, Spotify-specific solution. The code examples show the different approaches to configuration, with Snapcast using a JSON format and Raspotify using environment variables.

Pros of OwnTone

• Supports multiple audio sources beyond Spotify, including local files and internet radio
• Offers more advanced audio features like gapless playback and ReplayGain
• Provides a web interface for remote control and management

Cons of OwnTone

• More complex setup and configuration process
• Requires more system resources due to its broader feature set
• May have a steeper learning curve for users new to media servers

Code Comparison

OwnTone configuration example:

general:
  uid: "owntone"
  db_path: "/var/cache/owntone/songs3.db"
  logfile: "/var/log/owntone.log"

library:
  name: "My Music Library"
  port: 3689

audio:
  type: "alsa"
  card: "default"

Raspotify configuration example:

DEVICE_NAME="My Spotify Connect Device"
BITRATE="320"
CACHE_ARGS="--disable-audio-cache"
VOLUME_ARGS="--enable-volume-normalisation --linear-volume --initial-volume=100"

The code comparison shows that OwnTone uses a YAML-based configuration file with more detailed options, while Raspotify uses a simpler bash-style configuration with environment variables. This reflects the difference in complexity and feature sets between the two projects.

Pros of Spotifyd

• Written in Rust, offering better performance and memory safety
• Supports a wider range of audio backends (ALSA, PulseAudio, PortAudio)
• More actively maintained with frequent updates and bug fixes

Cons of Spotifyd

• Requires compilation from source, which can be more complex for some users
• May have higher system requirements due to Rust runtime

Code Comparison

Spotifyd (Rust):

let (mut stream, creds) = Session::connect(session_config, credentials, true, start_loading_cb).await?;

Raspotify (Shell script):

librespot \
  --name "$DEVICE_NAME" \
  --backend alsa \
  --bitrate 320 \
  --cache "$CACHE_ARGS" \
  --enable-volume-normalisation

Key Differences

• Raspotify is a shell script wrapper around librespot, while Spotifyd is a standalone Rust application
• Spotifyd offers more customization options and flexibility
• Raspotify is easier to install and set up, especially on Raspberry Pi devices
• Spotifyd may have better long-term prospects due to its active development and use of Rust

Use Cases

• Raspotify: Ideal for quick setup on Raspberry Pi devices with minimal configuration
• Spotifyd: Better for users who need advanced features, cross-platform support, or prefer a native Rust application

Pros of spotify-adblock

• Blocks ads in the Spotify desktop application
• Works on Linux systems
• Lightweight and easy to install

Cons of spotify-adblock

• Limited to desktop use, not applicable for Raspberry Pi or other devices
• May require more frequent updates to keep up with Spotify changes
• Potential legal concerns due to ad-blocking functionality

Code Comparison

spotify-adblock:

static const char *blacklist[] = {
    "https://spclient.wg.spotify.com/ads/",
    "https://spclient.wg.spotify.com/ad-logic/",
    "https://spclient.wg.spotify.com/gabo-receiver-service/",
};

Raspotify:

ExecStart=/usr/bin/librespot --name ${DEVICE_NAME} --backend alsa --device ${DEVICE_NAME} --bitrate 320 --cache /var/cache/raspotify --enable-volume-normalisation --linear-volume --initial-volume=${INITIAL_VOLUME}

Key Differences

1. Purpose: spotify-adblock focuses on blocking ads in the desktop app, while Raspotify enables Spotify playback on Raspberry Pi devices.
2. Platform: spotify-adblock is for Linux desktops, Raspotify is for Raspberry Pi and similar devices.
3. Functionality: spotify-adblock modifies the Spotify client behavior, Raspotify acts as a Spotify Connect receiver.
4. Implementation: spotify-adblock uses C for ad-blocking logic, Raspotify uses shell scripts and Rust (librespot) for playback.

Both projects serve different needs in the Spotify ecosystem, with spotify-adblock enhancing the desktop experience and Raspotify extending Spotify's reach to IoT devices.