Linux Spotify client 1.x now in stable

[jooon]

In June 2015 we released version 1.x of the client for Linux in the testing repository.

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Spotify-Community-Blog/Spotify-Client-1-x-beta-for-Linux-has-been-r...

The intention was to fix a few of the bigger issues and then quickly move this to stable. That never happened, since after September, we have had no developers working on the linux client. There are still lots of problem with this version of the client for linux, but we are now seeing much more problems with the old client.

Known linux specific issues in 1.0.23

• Improper MPRIS support (there is support since 1.0.13, but limited functionality). [Linux] Spotify DBus MPRIS2 support not fully working
• Sometimes crashes when streaming and playing local files (these very likely have more than one root cause) Linux Client crashing (segfault) on certain songs -- Segfaults when playing local files
• Improper package dependencies for installation outside Ubuntu LTS The return of the libssl trouble on Linux
• Missing application menu
• Missing tray icon
• Minimize (to tray)

Most of these we want to fix, but others (like missing tray icon) we probably won't. Link to threads with more issues you have and I will try to add them here. If you can't find your issue already reported, create a new thread and follow this troubleshooting guide for linux.

From now on, the idea is to first release a client to the testing repository as soon as possible, when it is ready internally, then after a week or so if we haven't discovered any serious new crash bug that affects lots of users, it will move to stable. Most of the time, a new linux release will have no linux specific changes, only the changes it shares with the mac and win clients.

Stable repository

To install a client from the stable repository follow the instructions on https://www.spotify.com/download/linux/

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80 --recv-keys BBEBDCB318AD50EC6865090613B00F1FD2C19886
echo deb http://repository.spotify.com stable non-free | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/spotify.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install spotify-client

Testing repository

To install a client from the testing repository, follow the same instructions, but replace the word stable with testing.

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80 --recv-keys BBEBDCB318AD50EC6865090613B00F1FD2C19886
echo deb http://repository.spotify.com testing non-free | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/spotify.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install spotify-client

[tomaszm700]

Until last update that I notice on 02-03-2016 everything was fine on Linux Mint Cinamon. After update begins problems with Repository connections I wrote about this Here - Noone even respond to say something from Spotify.

There is few other problem that comes with new version:

1. Spotify in Mint Linux Cinamon working over Applet player before update it works fine it shown CD Covers, Titels and Artist name

 After update this all things are not visible any more however are visible in main Spotify window and in Notifier aplet.

2. Control buttons of the same applet do not control spotify anymore, and again in previouse version it did make what they supoused to.

I don't know what to do now - you do not give any solutions, you do not inform about eventual problems in news letters - I reinstall My system becouse I made something parallel and I thing something damage Spotify.

I pay you for 2 acounts My and my two kids - So maybe is time to be seriouse, answare to questions not just send me notifications that I get next stupid level bage in the forum.

On The End Why you do not let us joice version of download we would like to use? I really do not care what my friends from FB are listen to 

I need simple working Player with my Music in it, and I belive many people use it same way. I start using Spotify becouse it was usefull and economize my time so I stop to use own server to play music on my Home and Mobile units. Last Version work like a charm this is cousing problems so let us choice ASAP.

I trust this little "shake" will change something and you will guys make something that will cousing Spotify will work proper again. 

[zakhrmi]

A huge problem is the lack of integration with the system.

In Ubuntu (Kubuntu, actually) there is a handy tray icon which shows all the media playing, no matter the actual platform (might even be the native Amarok player). It is a systen service.

Until now (I updated Spotify just an hour ago, system is kept up to date daily), Spotify used to be integrated with the system and could make use this feature: meaning that at any moment, whatever I was doing, I could quickly pause Spotify from that system tray icon. Now, this integration is gone. Doesn't even work with the "play" key of the laptop, of course, since it calls the very same system service shown in the tray.

And also the integration with KDE Connect is gone, which automatically pauses music and videos playing in the laptop when the cell phone rings (I think everyone can see how handy this feature is).

Basically, my impression is that Spotify is no longer recognized by the system as a "media player", most likely because it simply does not comply to the system API (maybe it's the reason why the tray is gone, perhaps?).

Seems a little thing, but I (and not only I, I presume) use Spotify mostly when working. If someone wanted to talk with me, or if the phone started ringing, or whatever else, I could pause music in a couple of seconds, without having to browse all the windows (and generally a lot: one IDE, mail, web browser, Skype are the basics, plus file manager, ftp clients, documents, ecc)  I have open.

Don't want to sound tragic, nor I think it will change anything on your plans, but honestly under these conditions, I don't see why I should keep using Spotify. Unless I will manage to revert to the old (and, honestly, better - a cool GUI isn't enough) version.

[simonthchipmunk]

This update broke the MPRIS support completely.

With the 0.9 version at least the song title and cover icon were displayed correctly and the play-time was transmitted (even if buggy).

In other words it was working fine with this extenion for gnome: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/55/media-player-indicator/

Now nothing is working except the controls for play/pause/next.

I understand there is no developer for these kind of issues, but seriously how did you manage to make it even worse than before?

I just hope I can downgrade to version 0.9 because I need working controls on the panel.

[zakhrmi]

For everyone looking for a way to downgrade on Debian based systems:

apt-get remove spotify-client

apt-get purge spotify-client

apt-get install spotify-client-0.9.17

(as super user of course).

I just did that and now I got my old and reliable version of Spotify running as before, with full system support + KDE Connect.

Needed a couple of application restart, though, to have everything back.

I suppose that for different distros commands should be quite similar

[tomaszm700]

 Zakhrmi,

Thanks a lot you make my day everything I use working again !!!!.

My grandfather always said - Is Working DONT TOUCH IT. He add to this one more word in beetween  Dont and Touch but I schould not say what it was 😉

ONE MORE TIME THANKS !!!

[Jasvanc]

One of the main reasons I can justify my Spotify Premium account is the fact I can use a native client when I am using Ubuntu, my main OS.

[osornios]

For a long while, the LInux version of Spotify was way better than the Windows one. Now, apparently that's no longer the case. 😞

[Jim2029]

I'm a Linux Newbie. I just installed this onto Linux Lite Distro which is geared to older systems. Its a Pentium 4 3.0Ghz HT with 2GB ram and a Intel 915G chipset.

It works fine! Its nice seeing this is available. Hope it is here to stay.

https://www.linuxliteos.com/

[3fralnc]

Hola.

Hay una versión de escritorio de spotify para opensuse leap 42.1?????

Quiciera tener una versión de escritorio para usarla.

Los comando que ponen en la decripción no funcionan ya que son pa ubuntu.

Saludos.

[tomaszm700]

Most of us is paying to spotify because of Linux support I use Spotify also on my Amplituner and Mobile phone. 

Developers should be in contact with users not only beta testers, otherwise it will go in wrong way. I would say more - Best way to check eventual problems is release Beta and let it check all users - Noone will check it better than customer - and then LISTEN to the voices of people, solve problems together then make final update.

[hbayindir]

I'm asking this to everyone with the intent of being more constructive and to build a solution to the woes we're having:

Is there any way we can help Spotify to develop their Linux client? I think more than one people in this thread can help. We're here to help one another? Why can't we build a better Spotify client together (incl. Spotify guys)?

[schuhumi]

---

@hbayindir wrote:

Is there any way we can help Spotify to develop their Linux client? I think more than one people in this thread can help. We're here to help one another? Why can't we build a better Spotify client together (incl. Spotify guys)?

---

We could help no problem if Spotify would release the source code of the client, but so far they're to stuborn to do so. Suppose they would completely open the client there would be two issues:

• One could build a client where it is possible to steal the music in form of unencrypted ogg vorbis
• One could build a client that doesn't show ads / allows for all premium features

But the solution to this is easy:

• Make a small proprietary library that allows playing the encrypted files
• Make that library only work with premium accounts

This comes out to:

• premium users can do what ever the hell they want with the client, except for stealing the music (read: improve the client)
• Spotify publishes it's own build of this very client but they make sure that ads / non premium restrictions are in place and use the same library with non premium accounts enabled

It a pretty similar model with Google Chrome: There's chromium which is the open source browser, and then Google puts some proprietary additions in and releases it as Chrome.

Spotify rents out it's music library, the don't make money from their software. Thus with a ecosystem like above everyone wins. Maybe even the following happens: A small family of clients evolves with different features, but to use a client different to the official release one needs the premium account. Thus there may be one more reason for people to get premium

Also remember that is is not Linux exclusive, it would help to improve the windows and mac client as well (in the end they are the same software except for a few OS specific details like MPRIS)

[jooon]

---

@hbayindir wrote:

1. Volume is set to 100% on startup, on random: This is a big no-no in my book. It was working well before, in coordination with PulseAudio and other components. So it always restored its volume level. Now it sets to 100% at random. Combined with powerful speakers (at home, at night) and headphones (at work) it's disturbing at least, ear damaging at most. 

---

Can you figure out a way to reproduce this problem? I have tried, but not managed to reproduce it. We had this problem many years ago and it drove me crazy for the same reasons you describe. If you figure out a pattern, follow this troubleshooting guide to describe the problem:

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Help-Desktop-Linux-Windows-Web/Troubleshooting-Linux-Spotify/td-p/1...

1. Your device and operating system:
2. Type of Spotify account you have (Free/ Premium):
3. The app version of Spotify you’re using:
4. Brief description of the issue:
5. Steps to reproduce the issue:

• First I did this
• Then I did that
• I also did this

[corsseir]

They dont care about us and our help. Nine pages and zero response. They just can take from Linux community, but they wont give anything back. Classic.

[user-removed]

The Spotify app for Linux is just awful, impossible to use. Much of the bugs would be easily resolved and affect usability. I will cancel my premium subscription, I will not pay for something that I can not use.

[hbayindir]

---

@jooon wrote:

---

@hbayindir wrote:

1. Volume is set to 100% on startup, on random: This is a big no-no in my book. It was working well before, in coordination with PulseAudio and other components. So it always restored its volume level. Now it sets to 100% at random. Combined with powerful speakers (at home, at night) and headphones (at work) it's disturbing at least, ear damaging at most. 

---

Can you figure out a way to reproduce this problem? I have tried, but not managed to reproduce it. We had this problem many years ago and it drove me crazy for the same reasons you describe. If you figure out a pattern, follow this troubleshooting guide to describe the problem:

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Help-Desktop-Linux-Windows-Web/Troubleshooting-Linux-Spotify/td-p/1...

1. Your device and operating system:
2. Type of Spotify account you have (Free/ Premium):
3. The app version of Spotify you’re using:
4. Brief description of the issue:
5. Steps to reproduce the issue:

• First I did this
• Then I did that
• I also did this

---

Hi Joon,

I'll do my best to reproduce and report here if I can reproduce it reliably.

Best Regards

[tsv_dimitrov]

I am also a disapointed Linux user with preimum support, but I won't rant here.

As far as I understand the Linux version is an 'unofficial' effort of few developers at Spotify. Great work, guys! And BIG THANKS!

About the latest Linux version (1.0.24.104.g92a22684) - in my opinion it's far better than the previous. However the DBUS support is a must. At this state there is no easy way to play/pause which makes the app pointless. 

Good luck and keep up the good work!

[bitelaum]

Premium subscriber here, which is currently paying only because of Linux support (rarely use the android client).

I'm a Linux Mint 17.3 user both at work and at home, and the update to the 1.23 client just broke everything to me.
The media controls, the tray, even the window is not showing in the windows list...
I appreciate the efforts of making a Linux client, and that's why I'm paying, but a Linux client that works at least in the most common distros.

Please hire a Linux developer to work in the project full time, or at least move someone who's  working at other clients.

I downgraded to 0.9.17 for now, simply because it works, but I'd love to have an updated client which has less bugs, is safer and has new features (for example the lyrics that is present in Windows and in 1.x but was not in 0.9).
But if the new client stays like this longer I'll just have to cancel my subscription and move to another service...

[osornios]

You can downgrade to a version that still support apps, and add the musixmatch app to get lyrics. 🙂

[AhmedKamal20]

How Can I Downgrad , and prevent the system from upgrading again ? 

I surprised by the new virsion , and said "finally" , but after some browsing , i think it needs more time .