Qt_MusicPlayer

Qt_MusicPlayer is a desktop music player application built with Qt 6 (C++ + QML).
The project demonstrates integration between native C++ backend logic and a modern QML user interface, including playlist management and REST API communication.

Originally developed while following a Qt/QML tutorial, the project required adjustments for newer Qt 6 versions.

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Project Overview

This application demonstrates:

• Separation between QML presentation layer and C++ model/controller layer
• Use of QAbstractListModel to expose C++ models to QML
• REST API communication using QNetworkAccessManager
• JSON parsing using Qt JSON utilities
• Playlist management and dynamic model updates
• Modular QML component design

The project focuses on understanding how real-world Qt applications are structured and how backend logic can be exposed efficiently to a declarative UI.

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Key Features

Local Audio Player

• Load local audio files (MP3, WAV)
• Play / Pause / Resume
• Next / Previous navigation
• Display basic metadata (title, artist)

Playlist System (Model/View Architecture)

• PlayerController derived from QAbstractListModel
• Internal QList<AudioInfo> used as playlist container
• Add / remove tracks dynamically
• Play track by index
• Playlist rendered in QML using ListView
• Full C++ ↔ QML data binding

Online Music Search (REST Integration)

• Integration with Jamendo Public REST API
• HTTP requests handled via QNetworkAccessManager
• Asynchronous response handling with signals/slots
• JSON parsing using:
  • QJsonDocument
  • QJsonObject
  • QJsonArray
• Custom AudioSearchModel exposed to QML
• Search results displayed in QML ListView
• Add online tracks directly to playlist

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Architecture

The project follows a simplified layered architecture:

UI Layer (QML) ↓ C++ Models (QAbstractListModel) ↓ Media / Networking Layer ↓ Qt Framework (Multimedia, Network)

Main components:

• PlayerController
  Playlist model + playback control logic.

• AudioSearchModel
  Stores and exposes REST search results to QML.

• AudioInfo
  Data structure representing audio metadata.

• QML Panels

  • PlaylistPanel
  • SearchPanel
  • Reusable UI components

This architecture ensures:

• Clear responsibility separation
• Reactive UI updates via Qt's Model/View system
• Testable backend logic independent from UI

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Technologies Used

• C++11/14
• Qt 6
• QML
• Qt Multimedia
• Qt Network
• QAbstractListModel
• QNetworkAccessManager
• JSON handling (Qt JSON API)
• CMake

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Build Instructions

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/r-lapins/Qt_MusicPlayer.git
cd Qt_MusicPlayer

2. Configure the project

mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..

3. Build

cmake --build .

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Running

After building:

./Qt_MusicPlayer

(On Windows, run the generated .exe file.)

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Project Structure

/assets/                    # Icons and UI resources
/qml/                       # QML UI components

AudioInfo.h/.cpp            # Audio metadata representation
PlayerController.h/.cpp     # Playlist model + playback logic
AudioSearchModel.h/.cpp     # REST search results model

main.cpp                    # Application entry point
CMakeLists.txt              # Build configuration
README.md

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What This Project Demonstrates

• Practical understanding of Qt Model/View architecture
• Real-world C++ ↔ QML integration
• Asynchronous networking in Qt
• JSON parsing and data mapping
• Designing modular UI in QML
• Clean separation of concerns in desktop applications

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Possible Future Improvements

• Shuffle / repeat modes
• Network error handling improvements
• Caching of search results
• Refactoring networking into dedicated service layer
• Unit testing for models
• UI/UX refinements

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License

MIT