Multiple back-ends?

[psych0munky]

Having not looked at the code, I am not certain of the complexity of this, but it is something that I think could be interesting...

First the Question: How hard would it be to provide a pluggable back-end to interface with existing data stores? For example, one for the current datastore that Subsonic uses (filesystem, plus index file), one for an amarok database (MySQL or Berkely DB), one for winamp's repository, etc.

The reason I ask is that I have about three different ways of using my music collection now:
- When I am in Windows, Winamp is my choice.
- When I am on either of my Linux machines, Amarok connected to a central MySQL database is my choice
- When I am away from home, Subsonic is how I access my music.

Each of these applications has it's fit for a particular use. I like Amarok/Winamp over Subsonic at home, due to their integration with the desktop and it's ability for more refined searches than Subsonic currently allows. Plus Amarok has features I use while I am just playing around at home, like context browsing, etc. Subsonic is a good fit when I am away, because I am generally listening to music through whatever player is available to me (VLC, WMP, Winamp, etc) and am likely doing it to blockout the excess noise from our open workspaces at work.

I understand that I can stream content to Winamp/Amarok, but I find it cumbersome mostly because of the limited search capability. Also because I can see many uses for many different front-ends to a music collection, one of my other biggest issues with Subsonic' music collection management is the fact that one is forced to place music in a certain structure in order to get the most from the application.

I am thinking if I can use an existing database for the back-end, it might be easier to implement new features in subsonic, like dynamic playlists (all music I haven't listened to yet, The music I listen to most). That way if people already have a vested interest in a particular collection, subsonic can just leverage that, instead of needing to rebuild their collections.

I am an experienced Java programmer, and now that I am a software architect where I work, I have been looking for a project that I can keep my programmer skills honed on. So, I'd be willing to help out with this initiative, if it sounds like a fit.

- psych0munky

[nymusicman]

I'm no programmer. But if it were possible to use the REST API in amarok or winamp both those players could access your subsonic server.