How To Install Feishin on Manjaro

Feishin represents a significant advancement in self-hosted music player technology, offering Manjaro Linux users a powerful way to manage and stream their personal music collections. As a complete rewrite of the popular Sonixd music player, Feishin delivers a modern interface combined with robust functionality for music enthusiasts who prefer maintaining control over their audio libraries. This comprehensive guide walks you through every aspect of installing, configuring, and optimizing Feishin on your Manjaro system, ensuring you can enjoy your music collection with minimal hassle and maximum performance.

Introduction

Feishin stands out in the landscape of self-hosted music applications as a feature-rich player designed with modern sensibilities. Built on TypeScript and distributed under an open-source license, this application offers seamless compatibility with popular music server solutions including Navidrome and Jellyfin API servers. For Manjaro Linux users, Feishin provides a compelling option to stream music across multiple devices while maintaining complete control over their music library.

This guide explores multiple installation pathways tailored specifically for Manjaro Linux, including using the Arch User Repository (AUR) and the more portable AppImage format. We’ll cover every step from initial installation through advanced configuration, ensuring you can make the most of this powerful music player regardless of your Linux experience level.

What is Feishin?

Feishin represents the evolution of self-hosted music player technology, designed as a comprehensive rewrite of Sonixd with significant enhancements in both functionality and user experience. This modern application delivers a sleek, intuitive interface while providing robust features for managing and enjoying your music collection.

At its core, Feishin focuses on providing a seamless listening experience across your personal devices. The player supports multiple backends, including MPV for superior audio quality and a web player for flexibility. Unlike proprietary streaming services, Feishin connects to your self-hosted music servers such as Navidrome or Jellyfin, giving you complete control over your music library without monthly subscription fees or internet connectivity requirements.

The application’s interface balances sophistication with usability, offering customization options while maintaining an approachable design. Users can enjoy features like synchronized lyrics display, smart playlist creation, and scrobbling capabilities. The open-source nature of Feishin ensures continuous improvement through community contributions, while its TypeScript foundation provides a stable and responsive experience.

When compared to alternatives like Airsonic or standalone Jellyfin clients, Feishin distinguishes itself through its cohesive integration of advanced features with an elegant, modern interface that feels at home on contemporary Linux desktop environments including Manjaro’s various flavors.

Prerequisites

Before beginning the Feishin installation process on your Manjaro system, several prerequisites must be addressed to ensure a smooth setup experience. The primary dependency for Feishin is MPV, a powerful and versatile media player that serves as the audio backend.

To verify whether MPV is already installed on your system, open a terminal and execute:

whereis mpv

If the command returns only “mpv:”, this indicates the package is not yet installed. You’ll need to install it using Manjaro’s package manager:

sudo pacman -S mpv

Alternatively, several MPV variants exist in the AUR, offering specialized features for different use cases:

• mpv-light-pulse
• mpv-git
• mpv-build-git
• mpv-full-luajit-git
• mpv-full

Basic familiarity with terminal commands will prove helpful throughout this installation process, though the instructions provided aim to be accessible even for those with limited command-line experience. Additionally, ensure your Manjaro system is updated to the latest packages by running:

sudo pacman -Syu

This update process helps avoid potential compatibility issues and ensures your system has the latest security patches before installing new software.

Method 1: Installing Feishin via AUR

The Arch User Repository (AUR) offers the most integrated method for installing Feishin on Manjaro, providing automatic updates and dependency management. Manjaro, being Arch-based, offers seamless access to the vast software collection in the AUR through helper applications like yay or pamac.

Installing an AUR Helper

If you haven’t already set up an AUR helper, pamac comes pre-installed on Manjaro and can be used to access AUR packages. To enable AUR support in pamac:

1. Open Manjaro Settings Manager
2. Select “Software Repository”
3. Enable the AUR toggle
4. Click “Apply”

Alternatively, you can install yay, a popular AUR helper known for its simplicity:

sudo pacman -S --needed git base-devel
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si

Installing Feishin with Pamac

With AUR support enabled, install Feishin using pamac:

pamac install feishin-bin

The interface will prompt you to review the package details and dependencies before proceeding with the installation. Review the information, particularly noting that feishin-bin has a dependency on mpv as shown in the search results.

Installing Feishin with Yay

If you prefer using yay, the installation command is equally straightforward:

yay -S feishin-bin

During installation, yay will display package details including the description (“Rewrite of Sonixd”), the GitHub repository URL, license information (GPL3), and conflicts. The installation process automatically handles dependencies, downloading the necessary files, and configuring the application for your system.

Verification and Troubleshooting

After installation completes, verify that Feishin appears in your application menu. If it doesn’t appear immediately, try refreshing your desktop environment or logging out and back in.

Common installation issues include:

1. Dependency conflicts: If you encounter dependency-related errors, try installing the specific dependencies manually:

   sudo pacman -S mpv

2. Permission errors: Ensure your user has the necessary permissions to install packages:

   sudo chown -R $(whoami):$(whoami) ~/.cache/yay

3. Network issues: If package download fails, verify your internet connection and try again, or attempt using a different AUR helper.

The AUR package provides seamless integration with your Manjaro system, allowing for easy updates through your regular system update process, making it the preferred installation method for most users.

Method 2: Installing Feishin via AppImage

Installing Feishin through the AppImage format offers excellent portability and eliminates potential package management conflicts. This method works independently of Manjaro’s package management system, providing a self-contained application that can run without additional dependencies (beyond MPV itself).

Downloading the AppImage

1. Visit the official Feishin GitHub releases page.
2. Look for the latest release and download the file named Feishin-x.x.x.AppImage (where x.x.x represents the version number)
3. Save the file to a convenient location, such as your Downloads folder or a dedicated Applications directory

Making the AppImage Executable

AppImage files require execution permissions before they can be run. Open a terminal and navigate to the directory containing your downloaded AppImage:

cd ~/Downloads
chmod +x Feishin-*.AppImage

This command grants execution privileges to the AppImage file, allowing you to run it by double-clicking in your file manager or through the terminal.

Creating a Desktop Entry

For a more integrated experience, create a desktop entry to make Feishin accessible from your application menu:

1. Create a new file named feishin.desktop in ~/.local/share/applications/:

   mkdir -p ~/.local/share/applications
   nano ~/.local/share/applications/feishin.desktop

2. Add the following content to the file (adjust the paths to match your actual AppImage location):

   [Desktop Entry]
   Name=Feishin
   Comment=Modern self-hosted music player
   Exec=/path/to/your/Feishin-x.x.x.AppImage
   Icon=/path/to/icon.png
   Terminal=false
   Type=Application
   Categories=Audio;Music;Player;AudioVideo;

3. Save the file (Ctrl+O, then Enter, then Ctrl+X in nano)

For the icon, you can extract it from the AppImage itself:

./Feishin-*.AppImage --appimage-extract
cp squashfs-root/usr/share/icons/hicolor/512x512/apps/feishin.png ~/.local/share/icons/

Then update the Icon path in your desktop file to point to ~/.local/share/icons/feishin.png.

Organizing AppImages

To maintain an organized system, consider creating a dedicated directory for AppImage applications:

mkdir -p ~/Applications
mv ~/Downloads/Feishin-*.AppImage ~/Applications/

Remember to update your desktop file’s Exec path if you move the AppImage after creating the desktop entry.

AppImage vs. AUR Comparison

The AppImage installation offers several advantages:

• No dependency on package management
• Easy portability between systems
• Simple updates by replacing the file
• No system-wide installation (runs in user space)

However, it also has limitations:

• Manual updates required
• Lacks automatic integration with system
• Potentially larger disk space usage
• Requires separate steps for desktop integration

Choose this method if you prefer a self-contained application or if you’ve encountered issues with the AUR installation.

Initial Setup and Configuration

Upon launching Feishin for the first time, you’ll encounter a configuration prompt that requires your attention before the application becomes fully functional. This initial setup process ensures Feishin can correctly locate and utilize your MPV installation.

MPV Binary Configuration

When you first start Feishin, a dialog will appear requesting the path to your MPV binary. This is a critical step as MPV serves as the primary audio backend for Feishin. The dialog operates as a file picker rather than a text input field, so you’ll need to navigate to your MPV installation location.

In most Manjaro installations, the MPV binary is located at:

/usr/bin/mpv

Use the file picker dialog to navigate to this location and select the mpv executable. If you’ve installed an alternative MPV variant from the AUR, you may need to locate that specific binary instead.

Restarting After Selection

After selecting the MPV binary path, Feishin will prompt you to restart the application for the changes to take effect. Close the application completely and restart it from your application menu or command line.

Troubleshooting MPV Configuration

If Feishin fails to recognize your MPV installation or encounters errors after configuration, several troubleshooting steps can help resolve the issue:

1. Verify MPV Installation: Ensure MPV is properly installed and functional by running it directly from the terminal:

   mpv --version

2. Permission Issues: Check that Feishin has execution permissions for the MPV binary:

   ls -la /usr/bin/mpv

   The permissions should include execution rights for all users.

3. Alternative MPV Packages: If you’re using a specialized MPV variant, ensure it’s properly configured and functional outside of Feishin.
4. Reset Configuration: If problems persist, you can reset Feishin’s configuration by removing its configuration files:

   rm -rf ~/.config/Feishin

   Note that this will remove all your Feishin settings, requiring you to reconfigure the application from scratch.

Once MPV is properly configured, Feishin will proceed to the main interface, ready for you to connect to your music server and begin enjoying your music collection.

Setting Up and Connecting to a Music Server

For Feishin to access your music collection, you must configure a connection to a compatible music server. Feishin supports two primary server types: Navidrome and Jellyfin, both offering comprehensive media management capabilities with slightly different feature sets.

Compatible Server Options

1. Navidrome: An open-source music server specifically designed for personal music collections. It offers excellent library management, transcoding capabilities, and compatibility with the Subsonic API.
2. Jellyfin: A full-featured media server that handles music, videos, and photos. Its comprehensive approach makes it ideal for users who want a single solution for all their media needs.

Before proceeding, ensure you have a functioning Navidrome or Jellyfin server accessible from your Manjaro system, noting its URL and your login credentials.

Adding a Server Through the Feishin Interface

With Feishin launched and MPV configured, follow these steps to connect to your music server:

1. Click the “Open menu” button in the Feishin interface
2. Select “Manage servers” from the dropdown menu
3. In the popup dialog, click the “Add server” button
4. Fill out the server details form with the following information:
   • Server Name: A recognizable name of your choice
   • Server Type: Select either “Navidrome” or “Jellyfin” from the dropdown
   • Server URL: Enter the complete URL, including protocol and port (e.g., https://navidrome.example.com or http://192.168.1.100:4533)
   • Username: Your server account username
   • Password: Your server account password
   • Save password: Recommended for convenience, especially with Navidrome
5. Click “Add” to save the server configuration

Navidrome-Specific Configuration

For Navidrome users, it’s recommended to modify your server’s SessionTimeout setting for a better experience with Feishin. This prevents frequent re-authentication requests:

1. Access your Navidrome configuration file (typically navidrome.toml)
2. Add or modify the following line:

   SessionTimeout = "72h"

3. Restart your Navidrome server for the changes to take effect

This extends the session timeout to 72 hours, reducing authentication interruptions during extended listening sessions.

Testing Server Connection

After adding your server, Feishin will attempt to connect automatically. You can verify the connection by:

1. Checking that your music library begins to appear in the Feishin interface
2. Attempting to play a track to confirm proper audio playback
3. Browsing through albums and artists to ensure metadata is correctly displayed

If connection issues arise, verify the following:

• Server URL is correctly entered, including the proper protocol (http/https) and port
• Username and password are accurate
• Server is accessible from your network (try accessing it directly through a web browser)
• Any firewalls or network restrictions are properly configured to allow the connection

With a successful server connection established, your music library will populate in the Feishin interface, allowing you to browse and play your collection.

Advanced Configuration

Feishin offers numerous configuration options that allow you to tailor the application to your specific preferences and requirements. These settings can significantly enhance your listening experience on Manjaro.

Customizing Appearance

Feishin provides several visual customization options:

1. Theme Selection: Access Settings > Appearance > Theme to choose between light and dark modes, or create a custom theme with personalized color schemes.
2. Layout Customization: Modify the interface layout through Settings > Appearance > Layout, adjusting elements like sidebar position, panel sizes, and component visibility.
3. Font Settings: Customize text appearance through Settings > Appearance > Typography, including font family, size, and weight for different interface elements.

These visual adjustments can reduce eye strain during extended listening sessions and match your overall desktop theme for a cohesive experience.

Audio Playback Settings

Fine-tune your audio experience through several playback configuration options:

1. Audio Quality: Configure transcoding settings based on your network conditions and audio equipment capabilities.
2. Replay Gain: Enable and configure replay gain to normalize volume levels across your music collection.
3. Gapless Playback: Enable seamless transitions between tracks for albums designed to flow continuously.
4. Crossfade Options: Set crossfade duration and curve for smoother transitions between unrelated tracks.

Setting Up Scrobbling Functionality

Feishin supports scrobbling to your music server, maintaining a record of your listening history:

1. Navigate to Settings > Player > Scrobbling
2. Enable the “Scrobble to server” option
3. Configure the scrobble threshold (percentage of track completion required)
4. Optionally enable real-time scrobbling for immediate updates

PipeWire vs. PulseAudio Considerations

Manjaro has been transitioning toward PipeWire as its default audio system, which offers advantages for Feishin users:

1. PipeWire Benefits:
   • Lower latency audio processing
   • Better Bluetooth codec support
   • Improved compatibility with professional audio applications
2. Configuration for PipeWire:
   • Ensure PipeWire is properly installed and configured on your Manjaro system
   • Verify that MPV is using PipeWire through its audio configuration
3. PulseAudio Fallback:
   • If using PulseAudio, consider installing mpv-pulse for optimized integration

Password Storage Options

For Linux users, Feishin offers several secure password storage methods:

1. libsecret (Default): Integrates with GNOME keyring for secure credential storage
   • Ensure libsecret is installed: sudo pacman -S libsecret
2. KWallet: For KDE-based Manjaro environments
   • Install KWallet: sudo pacman -S kwallet
   • In Feishin, navigate to Settings > Window > Passwords/Secret Store
   • Select KWallet from the dropdown menu
3. Plain Text (Not Recommended): Stores passwords in configuration files without encryption
   • Only use this option in secure, single-user environments

Proper password storage configuration enhances security while eliminating frequent login prompts, creating a more seamless listening experience.

Library Management

Effective library management is essential for navigating and enjoying your music collection through Feishin. The application provides numerous tools and features for organizing, searching, and discovering music within your personal library.

Browsing and Managing Your Music Library

Feishin offers multiple navigation paradigms to explore your music collection:

1. Album View: Browse your collection by album artwork in a grid layout, sortable by various criteria including release date, artist name, or recently added.
2. Artist View: Navigate through artists alphabetically or by popularity, with expandable sections revealing albums and tracks.
3. Folder View: For those who organize their music in specific directory structures, the folder view provides a hierarchical navigation option mirroring your server’s file system.
4. Genre View: Discover music categorized by genre, ideal for mood-based listening or exploring specific musical styles.

Each view can be customized with sorting options, display density, and information detail level to match your browsing preferences.

Creating and Organizing Playlists

Feishin provides comprehensive playlist management capabilities:

1. Standard Playlists: Create, rename, and delete playlists directly through the Feishin interface.
2. Smart Playlists: With Navidrome servers, utilize the smart playlist editor to create dynamically updated playlists based on criteria like genre, play count, or rating.
3. Queue Management: Save the current playback queue as a new playlist with a single click for preserving spontaneous listening sessions.
4. Playlist Sharing: Export playlists for backup purposes or sharing with other Feishin users who connect to the same server.

Search Functionality

The search system in Feishin allows for rapid location of specific content:

1. Global Search: Quickly find tracks, albums, artists, or playlists with the unified search function, accessible through the interface or keyboard shortcut (typically Ctrl+F).
2. Advanced Search: Utilize search modifiers to narrow results by specific attributes like “artist:”, “album:”, or “year:”.
3. Search History: Access recently performed searches through the search dropdown, streamlining repeat searches.
4. Search Results Filtering: Refine search results through additional filters applied after the initial search.

Library Synchronization

Feishin maintains synchronization with your music server through several mechanisms:

1. Automatic Refresh: The library updates automatically when changes are detected on the server.
2. Manual Refresh: Force an immediate synchronization through the refresh button when you’ve made server-side changes.
3. Cache Management: Control how much library data Feishin stores locally to balance performance with storage usage.

Effective library management in Feishin transforms your music collection from a simple file repository into an organized, easily navigable library that enhances music discovery and enjoyment.

Performance Optimization

Optimizing Feishin’s performance on your Manjaro system ensures smooth playback, responsive navigation, and efficient resource utilization. Several configuration adjustments can significantly enhance your experience, particularly for large music collections or systems with limited resources.

Optimizing Feishin for Better Performance

General performance optimization involves several key adjustments:

1. Memory Usage Configuration: Navigate to Settings > Advanced > Performance and adjust the memory allocation based on your system’s capabilities. Systems with 8GB+ RAM can benefit from increasing the default values.
2. Cache Management: Configure the image cache size and library cache retention period to balance performance with disk usage. For machines with SSD storage, more aggressive caching improves response times.
3. Background Processes: Limit unnecessary background tasks like automatic library scanning during playback to maintain smooth audio performance.
4. Startup Optimization: Configure Feishin to delay certain initialization processes during startup for faster application launch.

MPV Configuration for Audio Quality

Fine-tuning MPV settings can dramatically improve audio performance:

1. Audio Output Device: Specify your preferred audio output device in Settings > Player > MPV Configuration to bypass unnecessary audio routing.
2. Resampling Quality: Adjust the resampling algorithm based on your CPU capabilities. Higher-quality algorithms consume more processing power but deliver better audio fidelity.
3. Buffer Size: Increase buffer sizes for network streaming to prevent stuttering on less reliable connections.
4. Hardware Acceleration: Enable hardware acceleration where available to offload processing from the CPU.

Handling Large Libraries Efficiently

For extensive music collections, consider these optimizations:

1. Pagination Settings: Increase page sizes for library views if your system has adequate RAM, reducing the frequency of server requests.
2. View Simplification: Use simpler views (like list view instead of grid view) when navigating very large collections.
3. Selective Synchronization: Configure Feishin to selectively synchronize only certain parts of your library if the complete collection is overwhelming.
4. Index Optimization: Ensure your server’s search indices are properly maintained for faster query responses.

Troubleshooting Playback Issues

Common playback problems can be resolved through specific adjustments:

1. Audio Stuttering: If experiencing interruptions during playback:
   • Increase the network buffer size in MPV settings
   • Reduce the streaming quality temporarily
   • Check for network congestion affecting server communication
2. High CPU Usage: For systems showing excessive processor utilization:
   • Disable visualization features
   • Reduce the frequency of library updates
   • Close unnecessary background applications
3. Memory Leaks: If Feishin’s memory usage grows continuously during extended use:
   • Restart the application periodically
   • Update to the latest version (memory management improves with updates)
   • Reduce image cache size

Through these optimizations, even modest Manjaro systems can deliver an excellent Feishin experience with responsive navigation and pristine audio playback.

Updating Feishin

Maintaining Feishin at its latest version ensures access to new features, bug fixes, and security improvements. The update process differs depending on your chosen installation method, with each approach offering its own advantages and considerations.

Updating Feishin when Installed via AUR

The AUR installation method provides a streamlined update process integrated with your Manjaro system:

1. Using pamac: If you installed Feishin with pamac, update through the graphical interface or terminal:

   pamac update

   This command updates all installed packages, including Feishin if an update is available.

2. Using yay: If you prefer the yay helper, use:

   yay -Syu

   or specifically target Feishin:

   yay -S feishin-bin

3. Check Current Version: Verify your installed version through:

   pacman -Qi feishin-bin

   Compare this with the latest version in the AUR repository.

The AUR package is maintained by community contributors, so updates may lag slightly behind official releases, typically by just a few days.

Updating AppImage Installations

AppImage updates require a more manual approach:

1. Download the Latest AppImage: Visit the official Feishin GitHub releases page and download the newest version.
2. Replace the Existing File: Remove or rename your current AppImage and move the new one to the same location:

   mv ~/Applications/Feishin-old-version.AppImage ~/Applications/Feishin-old-version.AppImage.bak
   mv ~/Downloads/Feishin-new-version.AppImage ~/Applications/
   chmod +x ~/Applications/Feishin-new-version.AppImage

3. Update Desktop File: If your desktop entry specifies the exact version in the Exec path, update it to point to the new file.

Some users create a symbolic link to the AppImage file with a generic name, allowing them to replace the target without modifying the desktop entry:

ln -sf ~/Applications/Feishin-exact-version.AppImage ~/Applications/feishin.AppImage

Checking for New Versions

Stay informed about Feishin updates through several channels:

1. GitHub Releases Page: Check https://github.com/jeffvli/feishin/releases periodically for new versions.
2. Release Notes: Review the changelog for each release to determine if updates contain important features or fixes relevant to your usage.
3. In-App Notification: Some versions of Feishin include update notifications, though this feature may not be consistent across all releases.

Handling Configuration During Updates

When updating Feishin, your configuration is generally preserved, but taking precautions ensures a smooth transition:

1. Backup Configuration: Before major updates, consider backing up your configuration directory:

   cp -r ~/.config/Feishin ~/.config/Feishin.backup

2. Server Settings: Server credentials and connections are typically maintained across updates, but noting your server details beforehand provides insurance against data loss.
3. Custom Themes: If you’ve created custom themes or modified default ones, these customizations may need to be recreated after major version changes.

By maintaining regular updates, you ensure Feishin continues to operate efficiently while gaining access to the latest enhancements and fixes provided by the development team.

Advanced Usage

Beyond basic music playback, Feishin offers numerous advanced features that power users can leverage to enhance their music experience on Manjaro. Mastering these capabilities allows for more efficient navigation, playback control, and integration with your broader Linux environment.

Keyboard Shortcuts and Navigation

Feishin provides extensive keyboard shortcuts for rapid navigation and control:

1. Playback Controls:
   • Space: Play/Pause
   • Ctrl+Right: Next track
   • Ctrl+Left: Previous track
   • Ctrl+Up/Down: Volume adjustment
   • L: Toggle loop mode
   • R: Toggle random playback
2. Navigation Shortcuts:
   • Ctrl+F: Focus search bar
   • Alt+[1-5]: Switch between main views (Library, Now Playing, etc.)
   • Ctrl+G: Go to currently playing
   • Esc: Close current dialog or return to previous view
3. Queue Management:
   • Ctrl+Q: Show queue
   • Ctrl+S: Save current queue as playlist
   • Ctrl+C/X/V: Copy, cut, and paste for queue items

Memorizing frequently used shortcuts significantly improves navigation efficiency, especially for large libraries.

Command-Line Options

Feishin can be launched with various command-line arguments for specialized behavior:

1. Server Selection:

   feishin --server "Server Name"

   Launches Feishin and automatically connects to the specified server.

2. Debug Mode:

   feishin --debug

   Enables additional logging for troubleshooting.

3. Alternative Config:

   feishin --config "/path/to/config"

   Uses a different configuration directory, useful for testing settings.

4. MPV Override:

   feishin --mpv-path "/path/to/custom/mpv"

   Specifies an alternative MPV binary.

These command-line options can be incorporated into custom launchers or scripts for specialized use cases.

Using Feishin with Different Audio Backends

While MPV serves as the primary audio backend, Feishin also supports web-based audio playback:

1. Switching Backends: In Settings > Player > Backend, select between MPV and Web Audio
   • MPV: Superior audio quality and format support
   • Web Audio: Potentially better compatibility with some setups but limited format support
2. Backend-Specific Settings: Each backend offers unique configuration options:
   • MPV: Access to detailed audio processing settings
   • Web Audio: Browser-like audio behavior with simpler configuration
3. Use Cases for Different Backends:
   • MPV: Home listening on stable connections
   • Web Audio: Troubleshooting or when MPV configuration proves challenging

Integration with Desktop Environments

Feishin can be integrated more deeply with your Manjaro desktop environment:

1. Media Key Support: Configure system media keys to control Feishin playback, even when the application isn’t focused.
2. MPRIS Integration: Enables control through desktop players and system tray interfaces.
3. Notification Settings: Customize how and when Feishin displays track change notifications.
4. Startup Integration: Configure Feishin to launch automatically at system startup through your desktop environment’s session management.

These advanced features transform Feishin from a simple music player into a comprehensive music management system fully integrated with your Manjaro desktop environment.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with careful installation and configuration, users may encounter issues with Feishin on Manjaro. This section addresses the most common problems and their solutions, helping you maintain a smooth music listening experience.

Addressing Connection Problems

Server connection issues represent one of the most frequent challenges:

1. Server Unreachable: If Feishin can’t connect to your server:
   • Verify the server URL is correct, including protocol (http/https) and port
   • Confirm the server is running by accessing it through a web browser
   • Check network connectivity between your Manjaro system and the server
   • Test whether firewalls are blocking the connection with:

     curl -v [server-url]

2. Intermittent Disconnections: For sporadic connection drops:
   • Increase connection timeout settings
   • Check for network stability issues
   • Consider using a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi
   • Verify server resources aren’t being exhausted during peak usage
3. SSL Certificate Errors: When using HTTPS connections:
   • Ensure your server’s SSL certificate is valid and not expired
   • Add the certificate to your system’s trusted certificates if self-signed
   • Temporarily test with HTTP to isolate certificate-related issues

Fixing Audio Playback Issues

Audio problems can manifest in several ways:

1. No Sound Output: When Feishin plays tracks but produces no audio:
   • Verify system volume and mute settings
   • Check audio output device selection in Feishin settings
   • Test audio with another application to confirm system audio works
   • Verify MPV can play audio files directly:

     mpv --no-video [path-to-audio-file]

2. Stuttering or Skipping: For interrupted playback:
   • Increase buffer size in player settings
   • Reduce audio quality if streaming over limited bandwidth
   • Close resource-intensive applications
   • Check for disk I/O bottlenecks if playing local files
3. Format Incompatibility: When specific files won’t play:
   • Install additional codecs on your system:

     sudo pacman -S gst-plugins-good gst-plugins-bad gst-plugins-ugly

   • Verify the server transcoding settings are appropriate
   • Try alternative file versions in more commonly supported formats

Resolving Server Authentication Errors

Authentication problems typically appear during server connection:

1. Invalid Credentials: For rejected logins:
   • Verify username and password accuracy
   • Reset your server password if necessary
   • Check for special characters in passwords that might need encoding
2. Authentication Timeouts: For expired sessions:
   • Increase SessionTimeout in Navidrome configuration
   • Ensure “Save password” is enabled in server settings
   • Check server logs for authentication-related errors
3. Permission Issues: When authentication succeeds but content access fails:
   • Verify user permissions on the server
   • Check folder permissions for music files on the server
   • Review server logs for permission-related errors

Handling Library Scanning Problems

Issues with library content display often relate to scanning:

1. Missing Albums or Tracks: When content doesn’t appear:
   • Force a manual library scan on your server
   • Check file permissions on the server
   • Verify metadata is correctly formatted in your music files
   • Ensure file formats are supported by your server
2. Incorrect Metadata: For albums with wrong information:
   • Use metadata editors like MusicBrainz Picard to correct file tags
   • Check for embedded vs. external album art issues
   • Review file naming conventions for server compatibility
3. Slow Library Loading: When browsing is sluggish:
   • Optimize server-side database indexes
   • Reduce library view complexity in Feishin
   • Consider splitting very large collections into multiple libraries

By systematically addressing these common issues, you can maintain a reliable and enjoyable Feishin experience on your Manjaro system.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Feishin. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Feishin modern self-hosted music player on Manjaro Linux system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Feishin website.