Speed Up Amarok: Managing Large Music Libraries

Optimizing Amarok Performance with MySQL

Amarok is a powerful application designed for music collection management and playback. However, the standard configuration may not deliver optimal speed, particularly when dealing with extensive music libraries.

Performance bottlenecks are often most apparent when utilizing the search functionality. This is largely due to the default embedded database, which relies on sqlite. While functional, sqlite doesn't scale as efficiently as a dedicated database system like MySQL.

Therefore, transitioning to MySQL is recommended to enhance Amarok’s responsiveness. This guide details the necessary steps for configuring MySQL for Amarok.

MySQL Installation

The following instructions presume that MySQL is not currently installed on your system. If you already have a MySQL installation, proceed by skipping the initial steps.

For Ubuntu users, install the MySQL server and client using the following command in a terminal:

sudo apt-get install mysql-client mysql-server

Enhance security by establishing a root password for your MySQL server. Execute this command:

sudo mysqladmin -u root password "mynewpassword"

To activate the new password, either use the "flush privileges" command or restart the MySQL service:

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql restart

Database and User Creation

Utilize the mysqladmin command to create a dedicated database for Amarok:

sudo mysqladmin -u root -pMyRootPassword create amarokdb

Subsequently, create a user account specifically for Amarok within MySQL. It’s crucial to employ a distinct password for this account:

mysql -u root -pMyRootPassword > GRANT ALL ON amarokdb.* TO amarok@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'amarokpassword'; > FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Amarok Configuration

Access the Amarok configuration dialog through the tools menu. Select the Collection icon located on the left-hand side.

Change the database type selection to MySQL. Then, input the following details:

• Hostname: localhost
• Database: amarokdb
• Username: amarok
• Password: password from step above

After closing the configuration dialog, initiate a rescan of your music collection. This process will transfer all data into the MySQL database, which may take some time during the initial execution.

Once completed, you should experience significantly improved search speeds within Amarok. Enjoy the enhanced performance!