forked-daapd is an open source networked audio player similar to iTunes and Squeezebox. It runs as a daemon on Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS and plays audio files stored locally or from other sources like AirPlay devices, Spotify, and internet radio streams.
forked-daapd is an open source networked audio player similar to iTunes and Squeezebox. It runs as a daemon on Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS and plays audio files stored locally or from other sources like AirPlay devices, Spotify, and internet radio streams.
What is Forked-daapd?
forked-daapd is an open source networked audio player software designed to play audio files stored locally or streamed from other sources. It was originally forked from the Firefly Media Project's mt-daapd codebase and aims to be a modern replacement that adds support for more services and protocols.
As a daemon, forked-daapd runs in the background on Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS platforms. It can play audio files in formats like MP3, AAC, OGG, FLAC, WAV, AIFF from local storage or over the network. It supports protocols like DAAP and AirPlay for streaming from media libraries and compatible devices.
Some key features of forked-daapd include:
Native support for various streaming protocols - AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, internet radio stations
Multiroom audio with synchronization between players
Web-based user interface for administration and playback control
Metadata caching for efficient browsing of large libraries
On-the-fly audio format transcoding
Customizable smart playlists and advanced library queries
With its actively developed codebase and feature set, forked-daapd is a compelling self-hosted alternative to commercial offerings for whole-home audio and media streaming.
Forked-daapd Features
Features
Plays audio files stored locally or streamed over the network
Supports common audio formats like MP3, AAC, OGG, FLAC, WAV
Can discover music libraries on the local network
Web-based user interface for remote control and playback
Supports multi-room audio with synchronization
Supports AirPlay streaming
Supports internet radio and podcasts
Supports Spotify Connect
Supports MPD and iTunes/DAAP clients
Available on Linux, FreeBSD, macOS
Pricing
Open Source
Pros
Free and open source
Active development community
Wide protocol and client support
Easy to install and configure
Low resource usage
Cons
Setup can be complex for novice users
Lacks some features of commercial offerings
Dependent on command line for some advanced functions
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