zicbee 0.9-rc1

To know more, visit `the website <http://zicbee.gnux.info/>`_, **easy_install
zicbee** or get some `hive <http://zicbee.gnux.info/hives>`_ (only available
for linux) and watch `the video tutorial <http://zicbee.gnux.info/files/
tutorial>`_

Features
========

* Still fast even on big playlists and libraries (OK with 30k entries on a
netbook)
* Nice syntax for queries, accessible to any user, *search* and *play* takes
the same parameters so you just replace the command name when you are happy
with the output
* Daemon/Network oriented (not unlike mpd)
* Access songs on remote computers
* Close the client, songs will continue playing
* Open as many clients as you want at any moment
* You can mix songs from several computers on the same playlist
* Pure Python (it should run on any computer, mac, etc...)
* HTTP everywhere (you can use the web browser on your phone to control the
playback or do a query on your library, try "http://host:9090/basic" HTTP
address for minimal embedded devices support)
* Always growing set of features:
* nice playlist handling
* real shuffle (not random)
* last fm support (auto-generation of playlist based on small request)
* song downloading
* blind test mode (very minimalistic btw, see *guess* command)
* duplicates detection (alpha quality)

And much more... try *help* parameter to get an idea ! :)

Including projects
==================
* zicbee (server (zicserve) / admin utilities (zicdb) / lightweight client
(wasp))
* zicbee-lib (base library for zicbee)
* zicbee-mplayer (mplayer bindings, allow zicbee to play music)
* zicbee-vlc (vlc bindings, allow zicbee to play music)
* zicbee-quodlibet (plugin that turns quodlibet into a zicbee client)

Install
=======

Install it on your system::

easy_install zicbee

Alternatively, you may try using `hives <http://zicbee.gnux.info/hive/>`_, a
self-contained package, for linux only for now...

Scan your songs (you can reproduce this step several times)::

zicdb scan <a directory with many songs>

Start the server (you may want to do this uppon your session startup)::

zicserve

Quickstart
==========

Connect to the www interface::

firefox http://localhost:9090/

Read help::

zicdb help

Fire up the client::

wasp

Play songs from another computer here, after doing some search, zap first song
& show playlist::

wasp search artist: black
wasp set db_host 192.168.0.40
wasp set player_host localhost
wasp search artist: black
wasp play artist: black sab
wasp next
wasp show


Dependencies
============
The software and all the dependencies are available in pure python without
native code requirement,
it should run on any OS. Wherever many packages answers that requirement,
then evaluate speed and simplicity.

* A JSON implementation (python-cjson, simplejson, demjson or builtin if
using python >= 2.6)
* mutagen (song metadatas handling)
* buzhug (database)
* web.py (minimalistic www providing library)

You will also need *mplayer* executable if you want your server to play music
by itself.
Note that it's not required to play music easily, since you can generate m3u
output that will open
in your favorite music player.


Changelog
=========

0.9
...

* shiny new client (wasp), comes with many new features (grep, append, inject,
get...)
* improve shell completion
* abbreviations everywhere
* better completion
* autoshuffle mode (can be disabled of course)
* visual notification for player
* satisfying duplicates detection [WIP]
* more flexible commands (handles short commands)
* allow easy player backends integration (packages splitting via entry-points)
* there is two available backends so far (mplayer and vlc)
* see Developers section
* minimal www interface (for low power machines, don't expect too much)
* use /basic on any server with a player, it's quite rought now
* Integrate automatic playlists with `*AUTO*` keyword
* minimalistic last.fm support (no account needed, only works with "artist"
keyword)
* modulable tolerence giving a digit (ex: `*AUTO 15*`)
* "artist: wax tailor or artist: birdy nam nam `*AUTO*`" automatically
generates a playlist of similar artists
* Split project for clarity
* stored playlists (including position)
* related wasp commands: load, save, append, inject
* inc. playlist resume
* you can alternatively use "pls:" option in play:
* use "#" to act on current playlist
* use "pls: <playlist name>" to WRITE a playlist
* prefix playlist name with ">" to append results to playlist
* prefix playlist name with "+" to insert results into playlist just
after the current song
* cleaner javascript/cookies/sessions (prepare theme support)

0.8
...

* add support for FLAC
* interactive shell support with completion and history
* see "zicdb shell" or "zicbee" commands
* integrate/complete tagging & scoring support
* add support for multiple DBs at once
* (ie. have separate databases for your mp3 player & your local drive)
* see "use" command for usage
* complete admin commands (see "set" command)

0.7
...

* add play, pause, next, prev, list
* add cleaner configuration:: more unified (prepare themes handling)
* ensure default host is well given

0.7-rc1 (first public release)
..............................

* site launch
* fixes egg/root installation (temporary file created)