Why there is no available version of AIMP for Linux and macOS?

[fluxtion]

I already have tried few ways some times ago:
1. Two developers contact to me and tried to port the core library to Linux, they failed, because architecture and code are optimized to Windows API platform.
2. I have tried to make my code compatible with WINE, but users don't like Wine, they want native port only. Its not a way.

Next, AIMP for Windows is written on Delphi (latest version). So, you will need to re-write it to C++ first, because FreePascal is not compatible with latest version of Delphi.

Another thing that I want to ask you: what reason to port Windows-specific player to another (too different) platform? Why Linux Community does not improve already created native players? Its easier way as I think.

Thanks for replying so quickly.

Yeah, I know AIMP is written in Delphi. I got just far enough into reversing it to figure that out. I don't remember anything else about its architecture though -- this was several years ago.

Without looking at the code, it's hard to say which option is best but I have multiple potential paths in mind for porting (maybe a combination of one or more):
(1) use my CrossVcl/Fmxlinux license and Delphi cross-compilation (depending on whether you use VCL or Firemonkey -- probably FMX)
(2) use my knowledge of Object Pascal and its related dialects to convert the Delphi code into FreePascal/LCL compatible code.
(3) swap out the graphics library for something similar and recreate the theming engine.
(4) (will have to do this regardless of any other steps) convert the WINAPI interactions into Linux/POSIX equivalents.

I'm pretty confident that there's no need for a full rewrite in a different language, but obviously I can't say for certain without seeing the source.

Why not Wine? I get why people don't like relying on Wine. It's the same reason that I'm willing to go to the effort of porting AIMP rather than using Wine. Apps through Wine are less stable, less performant, prone to regressions at a moment's notice, don't take advantage of many Linux features, and don't integrate nicely into the standard filesystem structure (i.e. they're squirrelled away in some ugly imitation of the Windows structure) or Linux standards in general. With a lot of apps on Wine, I constantly feel like I'm just waiting for some bug to appear to ruin the experience and remind me that I'm not actually running the app natively or on Windows.

I must admit that I haven't tested AIMP extensively on Wine. If the best that could be done was to make it work as well as possible on Wine, I would be happy to help with any issues that exist, but I still believe that we can do better and do it natively.

Why AIMP? Well, why is AIMP so popular in the first place? A lot of people, myself included, think it's the best music player on any desktop OS. Porting it should require far less effort than creating something similar from the ground up. In particular, the theming engine and themes are remarkable. Implementing that from scratch in Qt or whatever would be very difficult, especially while retaining compatibility with existing themes. Hell, I'm not convinced that many GUI toolkits/libraries can look as good as AIMP does, regardless of how they're used. It'd potentially require an OpenGL (or similar fundamental graphics API) wrapper rather than a GUI toolkit, and yet you've got something beautiful implemented in a relatively simple language and library combination. That's why AIMP and why I'd like to port it rather than attempt to create something else. Frankly, I have no interest in any other music player because I don't use any other music player, so I wouldn't want to waste my time and talent writing one or writing for one.

[Artem]

Without looking at the code, it's hard to say which option is best but I have multiple potential paths in mind for porting (maybe a combination of one or more):
(1) use my CrossVcl/Fmxlinux license and Delphi cross-compilation (depending on whether you use VCL or Firemonkey -- probably FMX)
(2) use my knowledge of Object Pascal and its related dialects to convert the Delphi code into FreePascal/LCL compatible code.
(3) swap out the graphics library for something similar and recreate the theming engine.
(4) (will have to do this regardless of any other steps) convert the WINAPI interactions into Linux/POSIX equivalents.

1 No, my code based on VCL. AIMP has been published in 2006 (Delphi has no FMX framework at this time). Next, FMX still sux. So, I have no reason to use it. I have no one standard component in the project except TForm. So, you will need to port all UI framework too.

2. FreePascal has no package support, so you will need to re-design shared libraries and standard plugins, because these are package-based now.

3. We have own themes at all, but some graphic effects are accelerated via Direct2D.

4. Like a Wine, so...

Why not Wine? I get why people don't like relying on Wine. It's the same reason that I'm willing to go to the effort of porting AIMP rather than using Wine. Apps through Wine are less stable, less performant, prone to regressions at a moment's notice, don't take advantage of many Linux features, and don't integrate nicely into the standard filesystem structure (i.e. they're squirrelled away in some ugly imitation of the Windows structure) or Linux standards in general. With a lot of apps on Wine, I constantly feel like I'm just waiting for some bug to appear to ruin the experience and remind me that I'm not actually running the app natively or on Windows.

So, As I say, to implement native app you need to re-write and re-design the app, because code that optimized for Windows API cannot work effectively using different API.
For example: in this year Google have closed an access to native file api in Android. I have used 4 months to re-write core of mobile app to migrate to SAF API and use it effectively.

I must admit that I haven't tested AIMP extensively on Wine. If the best that could be done was to make it work as well as possible on Wine, I would be happy to help with any issues that exist, but I still believe that we can do better and do it natively.

I think we cannot do it natively in a reasonable time.

Porting it should require far less effort than creating something similar from the ground up.

Yes, I suggest to improve already existed open source player. It easier that porting Windows-optimized app.

P.S. Anyway, if you want to try yourself, look at archive. This is one of core libraries. Try to make it compatible with FreePascal and Linux API.

[fluxtion]

@Artem I send you a PM a while back about my progress and I've noticed that this forum (maybe SMF in general?) doesn't have notifications for them, so I wanted to make sure you definitely knew about it. Cheers.

[Artem]

I have no idea why, but I skipped your message from Nov 9. I will answer now.

Update: I have answered.

[0r4ng3]

Any updates? Sorry, your conversation got me pretty curious.

[Artem]

Any updates? Sorry, your conversation got me pretty curious.

No news, no updates. You can use Wine to run AIMP on Linux or MacOS.

[0r4ng3]

A pity, but understandable, thank you! And thanks for the great player!

[kelokera]

ORLY? So, why "your best" OS still not have "best" software?

The best of anything is just what fit you better for the task... also, popularity don´t meant the product is better... also! no aimp? no problem! QMMP...

I enjoy AIMP on windows! but the main reason is because I'm almost 50 and Winamp was my go to music player! I dont care about themes... so, no AIMP for linux? then QMMP! lol

[firekeeper]

No news, no updates. You can use Wine to run AIMP on Linux or MacOS.

Well, is not the same, not wine, not bottles... is working, sort of, but is so far from the truth.
Let me tell you something, after a very long experience with windows I'm kind of tired to fight Microsoft policies and all the crap they do to organizations and home users so at least for home I decided to give one more try to Linux after few disappointments in the past.
To my surprise the installation process went very smooth, no hassle with drivers on my old thinkpad, pretty decent software alternatives for home use except one, a big one for me: a decent hi-fi-like audio player.
I've been an aimp fan for years and I remember the first time I installed aimp coming from winamp. What a difference it was, fuctionality, sound quality, vumetters, skins, playlist management man I was thrilled, I tried all blackavp skins in fact I tried over the years all the hi-fi skins and although some of them looked fantastic each one of them had a minus so I started to look allover the net for aimp skins. It was very clear to me that aimp itself is a masterpiece of player, all it needed was a properly designed skin the way I want it hi-fi retro style.
So after few years of search I stumbled across a post on deviantart of a guy called Eddie Drakulas that have made some aimp skins somehow close to what I was searching for. I ask him if he could design me an aimp skin the way I want it - of course not for free. So he agreed and I send him few drawings and several months later he was able to make a fully functional aimp skin tailored for me GXPro Player GoldEX - a slightly different version is still available for download if you're curious. I am using this skin every day since then 5-10 years I cannot even remember, the good thing is that is still working on latest aimp x86 and x64 vers.
My point is whatever player I tried I always compared it with aimp and NONE of them gives me the functionality the sound quality and the feel of a good old 80's reel machine. So for me aimp is the best for years, in fact now I don't even care to test other players since I have my beloved aimp with my precious custom skin.
Reading this forum I'm glad that I'm not the only one feeling that way. People simply love aimp, some for functionality some for crazy designs, some for the nostalgic feeling of the retro hifi analog VU or technics like vumetters doesn't matter, it is loved and I'm kind of sad to see you guys arguing around.
I do understand it was and still is a huge amount of work and if is about the money perhaps we can all rise a certain amount to make this happen.
I use linux mint and I'm telling you aimp-wine-bottles it is not aimp is like an win11 on a pentium1 machine!
Oh and btw I use aimp an my android auto unit as well
Let us know what you need to make it real on linux, please
Regards,