Qmmp

As convenient as media streaming is nowadays due to services that have ad-supported free tiers for would-be customers to try before subscribing, those who prefer to avoid interruptions caused by said advertisements or unstable internet connections are better served by playing their tracks locally.

This also lets users who have purchased the original CDs to listen to the albums in their highest quality available, without any compression artifacts. While Windows’ built-in media player or VLC may suffice for most, those looking for a more minimalist design should find good use in Qmmp.

In an attempt to widen their user-base and ensure the product can be enjoyed regardless of the target operating system, developers employ cross-platform frameworks in their workflows to significantly reduce the development time and effort while also maintaining feature parity across the board.

Thanks to Qt’s efforts of adhering to the “write once, compile anywhere” principle and open-source licenses, developers can spend more time updating the program’s core components more frequently and maintaining transparency of what the code is capable of, resulting in a better user experience.

While some media players tend to launch in a resizable window that makes you browse through multiple sections at a time before reaching the desired panel, others try to emulate the compact nature of physical mp3 players by sticking to the essentials, which is what Qmmp does best.

When launched, the app boots up to a 3-section layout in which users can control the playback, adjust the equalizer settings and alter the playlist structure as they see fit. Similarly to Winamp, a variety of extra themes with skeuomorphic designs that mimic a physical device’s look can be instantly applied.

Those who find themselves frequently switching between Linux for home usage and Windows for carrying out work projects can enjoy the same user experience across both OSes thanks to Qmmp’s cross-platform compatibility.