# Mpris
Library and CLI tool for interacting and monitoring media players
exposing an mpris interface through dbus.
An alternative for [playerctl](https://github.com/altdesktop/playerctl) that better integrates
with astal.
## Usage
You can browse the [Mpris reference](https://aylur.github.io/libastal/mpris).
### CLI
```sh
astal-mpris --help
```
### Library
:::code-group
```js [ JavaScript]
import Mpris from "gi://AstalMpris"
const spotify = Mpris.Player.new("spotify")
if (spotify.available)
print(spotify.title)
```
```py [ Python]
from gi.repository import AstalMpris as Mpris
spotify = Mpris.Player.new("spotify")
if spotify.get_available():
print(spotify.get_title())
```
```lua [ Lua]
local Mpris = require("lgi").require("AstalMpris")
local spotify = Mpris.Player.new("spotify")
if spotify.available then
print(spotify.title)
end
```
```vala [ Vala]
// Not yet documented
```
:::
## Installation
1. install dependencies
:::code-group
```sh [ Arch]
sudo pacman -Syu meson vala valadoc gvfs json-glib gobject-introspection
```
```sh [ Fedora]
sudo dnf install meson vala valadoc gvfs json-glib-devel gobject-introspection-devel
```
```sh [ Ubuntu]
sudo apt install meson valac valadoc gvfs libjson-glib-dev gobject-introspection
```
:::
2. clone repo
```sh
git clone https://github.com/aylur/astal.git
cd astal/lib/mpris
```
3. install
```sh
meson setup --prefix /usr build
meson install -C build
```
:::warning
In order for network cover art urls to be cached (spotify for example)
make sure `gvfs` is enabled.
:::code-group
```nix [ configuration.nix]
services.gvfs.enable = true;
```
:::