diillson/chatcli/spotify

Spotify / Media Playback (local control)

Control the local Spotify desktop app without any API key or OAuth, using the OS media control layer. (The Web API exists but needs OAuth — prefer local control for play/pause/skip.)

macOS — AppleScript

osascript -e 'tell application "Spotify" to playpause'
osascript -e 'tell application "Spotify" to next track'
osascript -e 'tell application "Spotify" to set sound volume to 60'
osascript -e 'tell application "Spotify" to (name of current track) & " — " & (artist of current track)'
osascript -e 'tell application "Spotify" to play track "spotify:track:TRACKID"'

Linux — playerctl (MPRIS; works with Spotify, and most players)

playerctl -p spotify play-pause
playerctl -p spotify next
playerctl -p spotify metadata --format '{{ artist }} — {{ title }}'
playerctl -p spotify volume 0.6

Detect: command -v playerctl. Install: apt install playerctl.

Windows

The Windows Spotify app exposes media keys via the System Media Transport Controls — simplest is to send media-key virtual inputs from PowerShell, or use spotify-cli. If neither is available, say so rather than improvising.

Search / play a specific song (needs Web API)

Playing an arbitrary search result requires the Spotify Web API with the user's OAuth token (SPOTIFY_TOKEN). If the user wants that, explain the one-time auth; otherwise stick to controlling whatever is already queued.

Rules

• Detect the OS first; the control mechanism differs entirely.
• For "what's playing", read metadata and report artist — title.