Using the 'ncmpcpp' Command (with examples)

ncmpcpp is a powerful and flexible terminal-based music player client for the Music Player Daemon (MPD). It’s known for its extensive functionality, including the ability to manage music playback, view and customize playlists, and even manage your music library—all from the command line. While being text-based, it offers a rich interface, complete with visuals like progress bars and waveform visualizers. This utility is especially appreciated by those who prefer lightweight, customizable applications, or by users looking to manage their music through the terminal without switching to a graphical interface.

Use case 1: Connect to a music player daemon on a given host and port

Code:

ncmpcpp --host ip --port port

Motivation:

Imagine you’re running a central music library on your home server, accessed through MPD. You might want to use ncmpcpp on your laptop to connect remotely to this library so you can access your music collection from anywhere within your network. This setup is particularly useful for households or small offices where multiple users wish to access shared music resources remotely.

Explanation:

• --host ip: This option specifies the IP address of the host where the MPD server is running. ‘ip’ should be replaced with the actual IP address of your server. This allows ncmpcpp to find and connect to the correct server.
• --port port: This option determines the port on which the MPD server is listening. ‘port’ should be replaced with the actual port number configured in your MPD setup. MPD typically runs on port 6600, which is its default setting.

Example output:

Upon execution, you will see the ncmpcpp interface loading, establishing a connection to the specified MPD server. Once connected, the interface will display your current playlist or library content.

Use case 2: Display metadata of the current song to console

Code:

ncmpcpp --current-song

Motivation:

If you’re scripting or automating tasks on your machine, knowing what song is currently playing can be crucial. For instance, you might want to display the current song’s metadata on an information dashboard, or use it to update a status message on social media in real-time. This command provides a simple way to output song information without manually navigating through the ncmpcpp interface.

Explanation:

• --current-song: This flag tells ncmpcpp to retrieve and display metadata for the currently playing song directly in your terminal. This metadata typically includes information like the song’s title, artist, album, and duration.

Example output:

Now playing: 'Artist Name - Song Title - Album Name'

This output provides a quick glance at the essential information about the currently playing song.

Use case 3: Use a specified configuration file

Code:

ncmpcpp --config file

Motivation:

Suppose you’re using ncmpcpp on various computers or in different environments where each requires different configurations. Instead of manually changing settings within ncmpcpp each time, you could maintain separate configuration files. Using this command, you immediately switch to the desired settings by specifying the appropriate configuration file for your current environment.

Explanation:

• --config file: This option allows you to specify a configuration file that ncmpcpp will use instead of the default one. ‘file’ should be replaced with the path to your custom configuration file. This file contains key settings like interface layout, appearance details, and other personalized options.

Example output:

No direct output is visible with this command, as it only affects the backend configuration load process. However, upon starting ncmpcpp, you would notice changes reflecting the specified configurations, such as layout adjustments or different side panels activated.

Use case 4: Use a different set of key bindings from a file

Code:

ncmpcpp --bindings file

Motivation:

Default key bindings in ncmpcpp might not suit everyone’s preferences or workflow. Maybe you are used to a different set of key commands from other applications or personal habits. You can tailor ncmpcpp to mirror those preferences by using a custom key binding file, enhancing your efficiency and comfort with the application.

Explanation:

• --bindings file: This argument allows you to load a set of custom key bindings from an external file. ‘file’ should be replaced with the path to the file containing your preferred key mappings. This setup not only personalizes your experience but can also make transitioning to ncmpcpp from other applications more seamless.

Example output:

There won’t be any textual output; however, your interaction with ncmpcpp would change. You’d notice that pressing keys specified in your binding file performs the intended actions within the application interface.

Conclusion

ncmpcpp is a versatile command-line utility that significantly enhances the experience of managing music played through MPD. Its flexible configuration options, remote connection capabilities, and customizable interaction methods make it valuable for users who value efficiency, customization, and powerful controls within a console environment. Whether you’re remotely accessing a music library, automating data retrieval through scripts, or tailoring the interface to your liking, ncmpcpp provides robust tools to suit a broad range of needs and preferences.