ncspot is a cross-platform ncurses Spotify client written in Rust that provides a lightweight alternative to the official Spotify application.
The tool addresses the need for a resource-efficient Spotify client on platforms lacking official support, particularly BSD systems. It uses librespot to communicate with Spotify's service and presents music browsing and playback through a terminal interface inspired by ncurses-based music players like ncmpc. The interface supports standard music library navigation including tracks, albums, playlists, and genres, along with search functionality. Vim keybindings are available by default, and the tool includes an IPC socket for remote control capabilities.
ncspot requires a Spotify premium account, as free accounts lack the necessary features for the client to function. The tool suits developers and users who prefer terminal-based interfaces, work on BSD systems or other platforms without official Spotify support, or need minimal resource consumption compared to graphical clients. Installation is straightforward across macOS, Windows, Linux, and BSD systems through various package managers and distribution channels. Configuration is handled through a file at the default location of ~/.config/ncspot, with detailed options documented in the project's user guide.
The project maintains active development with regular updates addressing bugs and adding features. The codebase shows consistent engagement with issues and pull requests from contributors. Build requirements are modest, needing only a Rust installation and Python 3, with compilation handled through standard Cargo commands. The project provides comprehensive documentation for users, developers, and package maintainers across separate guides, indicating attention to accessibility for different audiences.
