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Version: 1.0

Getting Started

Control Spotify locally from VS Code without any external APIs or internet connection.

What is Spotify Controller?​

Spotify Controller is a VS Code extension that lets you control your Spotify playback directly from Visual Studio Code. It works on both Windows and macOS using native system APIs.

Key Features​

  • 🎵 Playback Controls: Play, pause, next, and previous track controls
  • 📱 Track Information: See current song, artist, and album in the sidebar
  • 💻 Cross-Platform: Works on Windows 10/11 and macOS
  • 🔒 Privacy-First: No Spotify Web API, no OAuth, no internet required
  • ⚡ Instant Response: Uses native system media transport controls

Quick Start​

Installation​

  1. Open VS Code
  2. Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
  3. Search for "Spotify Controller"
  4. Click Install

Or install directly from VS Code Marketplace.

Requirements​

Windows​

  • Windows 10/11
  • Spotify desktop app running

macOS​

  • macOS 10.12 or later
  • Spotify desktop app running

Usage​

  1. Start Spotify: Make sure the Spotify desktop app is running
  2. Open Extension: Click on the Spotify icon in the VS Code Activity Bar
  3. Control Playback: Use the play/pause, next, and previous buttons
  4. View Track Info: See current song information in the sidebar

The extension will automatically detect your current track and display controls in the sidebar view.

How It Works​

Windows​

The extension uses a local .NET 6 helper that communicates with Windows' System Media Transport Controls (SMTC) to control Spotify and retrieve track information.

macOS​

The extension uses embedded AppleScript commands to communicate directly with the Spotify application.

Both implementations provide instant, local control without requiring any external services or internet connectivity.

Next Steps​