Complete guide to ncmpcpp: the most powerful MPD client for your terminal

Introduction

ncmpcpp is an ncurses-based music client designed to work with the Music Player Daemon (MPD). It offers a rich, highly configurable interface that lets you control playback, create playlists, and browse your audio library directly from the terminal.

Installation

On most Linux distributions, ncmpcpp is available in the official repositories. For example, on Ubuntu or Debian you can install it with:

• sudo apt update
• sudo apt install ncmpcpp

On Arch Linux and derivatives:

• sudo pacman -S ncmpcpp

If you prefer to compile from source, visit the official repository on GitHub and follow the instructions in the README file.

Basic Configuration

The configuration file is located at ~/.ncmpcpp/config. When you run ncmpcpp for the first time, a sample file is created that you can copy and edit.

• cp /usr/share/doc/ncmpcpp/config.example ~/.ncmpcpp/config
• Edit the file with your favorite editor to adjust options such as the visualizer, column format, and colors.

A minimal configuration could include:

• mpd_host = 'localhost'
• mpd_port = '6600'
• visualizer_in_stereo = yes
• header_visibility = yes

Main Features

• Navigation by artist, album, and genre with a tree view.
• Support for dynamic and static playlists.
• Built‑in spectrum visualizer (e.g., spectrum, scope).
• ID3 tag editing from the interface.
• Support for lyrics and album art.
• Access to streaming services via plugins (e.g., Spotify, Tidal) through MPD and external add‑ons.

Keyboard Shortcuts

ncmpcpp is designed to be used entirely with the keyboard. Some of the most useful shortcuts are:

• Enter: play the selected song or enter a directory.
• Space: pause or resume playback.
• s: stop playback.
• + and -: increase or decrease volume.
• ] and [: seek forward and backward in the current track.
• l: load the current playlist.
• L: save the current playlist.
• F1: show help.

Customization and Themes

The appearance of ncmpcpp is controlled via color and format variables in the configuration file. You can define custom color palettes, change the column format, and enable different visualizers.

• Colors: use ANSI codes or names like white, red, green.
• Track format: song_format = '{%a - }{%t}|{%f}'
• Visualizer: visualizer_type = 'spectrum' or visualizer_type = 'wave'

Communities share predefined themes on sites like GitHub or Reddit; simply copy the configuration block and restart ncmpcpp.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: very low resource consumption, great flexibility, works without a graphical environment, ideal for servers or minimalist workstations.
• Cons: requires MPD to be running and configured; the initial learning curve can be steep for users accustomed to graphical players.

Conclusion

ncmpcpp combines the power of MPD with an elegant, fully customizable terminal interface. If you’re looking for a lightweight, fast music player that can adapt to any workflow, it’s worth spending time on its installation and configuration. With the right shortcuts and a theme that suits your taste, you’ll turn your terminal into a professional audio control center.

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