Kopuz is an open-source music player that aims to bring together both the user's local music collection and various music services and servers into a single application. Developed in Rust and based on the Dioxus framework, the project boasts a modern, cross-platform interface, with versions for Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android.
Its offering goes far beyond simply playing files stored on your computer. The application can organize local music and connect to services like Jellyfin, Navidrome, and other servers compatible with Subsonic, as well as integrate platforms such as YouTube Music, SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Music, and Nextcloud . All of this is presented within a shared library from which you can browse artists, albums, genres, songs, and playlists.
Kopuz wants to unify local music and services into a single application
Kopuz's main feature is precisely its ability to work with multiple music sources. A user can add local folders and combine them with a personal server or online services, avoiding the need to use a different application for each library.
Connected sources are integrated into the player's library and can be managed from a common interface. This allows access to artists, albums, songs, favorites, and playlists without the application being limited exclusively to files stored on the device.
This approach is particularly interesting for those who maintain a local collection but also use home servers. Jellyfin, Navidrome, and other services compatible with the Subsonic API can act as music sources within the same application.
A modern music player developed in Rust
The project is developed in Rust and uses Dioxus to build its interface. The combination aims to offer a lightweight and modern application with an architecture capable of running on different operating systems.
The library, playlists, favorites, and various settings are stored locally using an SQLite database. This infrastructure keeps user information organized and updates the interface when changes occur in the sources or the library.
The player also features native integration with each platform's media controls. On Linux, it uses MPRIS, so it can appear in the desktop environment controls and respond to standard multimedia keys.
Kopuz includes support for synchronized lyrics and various playback options
Among the available features is support for synchronized lyrics, including conventional lyrics and systems that display the text in sync with the song. More recent versions have also expanded this feature to include word-by-word synchronized lyrics and various visual effects.
Kopuz also includes playlists, favorites, genre browsing, search, and a theme system to customize the app's appearance. Users can use the included themes or create their own by modifying the available visual variables.
It also features a mini player that allows you to keep the main controls visible without using the full window. Another feature available on desktop systems is the ability to minimize the application to the system tray to keep playback running in the background.
A ten-band equalizer and additional features
The app includes a ten-band equalizer with presets and custom settings. This feature allows you to modify the sound directly from the player without needing an external equalizer.
The library also allows you to visually identify the file type used by local tracks. Formats can be displayed next to the songs, making it easy to quickly differentiate between files like MP3, FLAC, or WAV.
In addition to playback, the program includes features for managing collections. You can mark songs as favorites, create playlists, and add tracks or entire albums. With certain connected services, favorites and playlists can also be synchronized with the server.
Jellyfin, Navidrome, and Subsonic are part of their approach
One of the advantages for Linux users is integration with self-hosted music servers. Kopuz can connect to Jellyfin and Subsonic-compatible services, a category that also includes Navidrome.
This allows you to use the application as a client for a music library stored on another computer or server. The user can thus keep their collection centralized and access it from different devices.
The combination of local playback and self-hosted services fits particularly well with the free software ecosystem. Instead of forcing the user to choose between files on their computer and a personal server, both sources can coexist within the same library.
Kopuz also connects with online music services
The project has expanded its capabilities through various streaming services. These include YouTube Music, SoundCloud, and Spotify, although each integration has its own requirements and limitations.
In the case of Spotify, the application uses the service's official APIs and tools. Local playback via the integrated player relies on the Web Playback SDK and requires a Premium account, as well as initial user setup.
YouTube Music can also be used as a music source, while SoundCloud allows access to the service directly from the player. These integrations make Kopuz a very different alternative to a traditional player focused solely on local files.
Apple Music and Nextcloud expand available sources
The latest updates to the project have added new possibilities to the application. One of these is integration with Apple Music , which allows access to the user's catalog and library, as well as synchronizing certain elements and working with playlists and favorites.
Another addition is Nextcloud, which can be used via WebDAV to access music files stored on the server. Users can select the folders that will be part of their library and play or download tracks depending on the available options.
With these additions, Kopuz continues to expand its range of compatible sources. The idea is for the app to act as a central hub for different ways of consuming and storing music.
Linux has several installation options
Linux users can install Kopuz using various methods. The project offers pre-built versions in several formats, including DEB , RPM , Flatpak, and AppImage packages.
The application can also be installed from Cargo and supports Nix and NixOS. For Arch Linux, a package is also available in the AUR, allowing users of this distribution family to integrate it with their system's standard tools.
The availability of multiple distribution methods makes it easy to use the player on different distributions without relying exclusively on a single packaging technology. For many desktop users, Flatpak may be the simplest option, while others may prefer native packages or the AppImage version.
A cross-platform player that is also available for Android
Although Linux is one of the project's key platforms, Kopuz isn't limited to the desktop. The player also has versions for Windows, macOS, and Android, allowing the same application to be available on different devices.
The return of Android support has been one of the project's recent developments. This opens up the possibility of using the player on computers and mobile devices, especially for those who want to maintain a consistent experience across multiple platforms.
Cross-platform development can also be useful for users who use more than one operating system. A library connected to a personal server can be accessed from different devices using the same application family.
A different alternative within the music players for Linux
Linux offers numerous music players, ranging from lightweight applications focused solely on local files to media centers and clients for specific services. Kopuz attempts to occupy a different position by combining several of these concepts within a single interface.
Its ability to bring together local files, self-hosted servers, and online services is one of its most outstanding features. This is complemented by synchronized lyrics, themes, an equalizer, playlist management, and integration with desktop media controls.
The project is still evolving rapidly, but its proposal is particularly interesting for those looking for a modern and flexible music player. With support for different sources, multiple platforms, and various installation options on Linux, Kopuz presents itself as an open-source alternative that aims to become the central hub for organizing a large part of the user's music.