LICCHART

A CLI tool to make Last.fm bar chart race animations

Installation

Linux

Make sure you have Python and pip (use your own package manager!):

sudo apt install python3

Install ffmpeg:

sudo apt install ffmpeg

Install/update LICCHART:

pip install --upgrade licchart

macOS

Install Homebrew package manager:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Make sure you have Python and pip:

brew install python 

Install ffmpeg:

brew install ffmpeg

Install/update LICCHART:

pip install --upgrade licchart

Windows

Install Python:

• Make sure to tick a box "Add Python to PATH"

Install ffmpeg:

• Download latest build
• Unzip a folder you find inside to your C:\ drive and rename the extracted folder to ffmpeg
• Make sure that your path to ffmpeg.exe is C:\ffmpeg\bin\ffmpeg.exe
• Run cmd as administrator
• Run the following command: setx /m PATH "C:\ffmpeg\bin;%PATH%"

Install Visual C++ with Build Tools:

• Download latest installer and run it
• Make sure to tick a box "Desktop development with C++" and install
• Restart your PC

Install/update LICCHART:

pip install --upgrade licchart

Please, refer to troubleshooting section at the bottom of this README file if you have difficulties installing

Chances are you can delete Visual C++ / Build Tools after LICCHART was succesfully installed. It hasn't been tested, though. If it doesn't bother you, I suggest leaving it installed

Setting API key

In order to fetch scrobbles from Last.fm, you need to create a Last.fm API key

You can specify what API key LICCHART should use with:

licchart --api KEY

Your key file will be stored in a current directory!

Usage

Using LICCHART is straightforward, just pass in your Last.fm username! LICCHART will generate a chart with default settings for you

licchart USERNAME

Once it's complete, you will see your generated video and CSV in a current directory

CSV file reduces time of your next data fetch

You can make a better chart by customizing it to your liking

Customization

You can add arguments to your command to customize your chart generation, for example:

licchart USERNAME -d -s 06/30/2022 -e July 1st 2022 --bars 10 --fps 60 -l 3.5

Command above generates a chart that:

• Processes each day (-d)
• Shows scrobbles from 06/30/22 til 07/01/22 (-s 06/30/2022 -e July 1st)
• Has 10 artists max (--bars 10)
• Has 60 FPS (--fps 60)
• Lasts 3.5 minutes (-l 3.5)

List of all optional arguments

Option	Description	Value type	Default
-h, --help	Shows help message in terminal and exits	None	None
-v, --version	Prints out current version and exits	None	None
-a KEY, --api KEY	Changes API key and exits	String	None
-m, --months	Takes less time to generate, but gives a less accurate result	None	Yes
-d, --days	Takes quite a while to generate, but gives a very accurate result	None	No
-s DATE, --start DATE	Sets starting date (month goes first)	Date String	Your first scrobble
-e DATE, --end DATE	Sets ending date (month goes first)	Date String	Your last scrobble
-b AMOUNT, --bars AMOUNT	Sets how many artists will be visible on the chart	Integer	20
-l MIN, --length MIN	Sets how long your animation will be	Decimal	Dynamic value
-f FPS, --fps FPS	More frames take more time to generate, but provide a smoother animation	Integer	30

Uninstalling

Uninstall LICCHART

pip uninstall licchart

Uninstall dependencies with package manager you used to install them

Troubleshooting

In rare cases you might get an error while installing LICCHART on Windows. To troubleshoot this:

• Open Build Tools installer again
• Uninstall Visual Studio Build Tools
• Find Visual Studio Community in "Available" tab
• Select Python and C++ options and install it