How to Install LibreTime on Arch Linux

LibreTime is a free and open-source radio automation software that allows you to manage and schedule audio programs for your radio station. In this tutorial, we will show you how to install LibreTime on Arch Linux.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

  • A server running Arch Linux.
  • Root or sudo access to your server.
  • Basic knowledge of Linux commands.

Step 1: Update your System

Before installing any new package on your system, it's essential to update your system's package database and upgrade any existing packages.

To do this, run the following command:

sudo pacman -Syu

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

LibreTime requires several packages to be installed on your system before it can be installed. These include:

  • Apache web server
  • PHP
  • MySQL/MariaDB
  • Icecast2 streaming server
  • Liquidsoap audio engine

To install these packages, run the following command:

sudo pacman -S apache php mariadb mariadb-clients mariadb-libs icecast liquidsoap

Step 3: Install LibreTime

Once the dependencies are installed, you can proceed with the installation of LibreTime.

  1. Download the latest stable release of LibreTime from the official website or use the following command:
wget https://github.com/LibreTime/libretime/releases/download/v3.1.0/libretime-3.1.0.tar.gz
  1. Extract the archive to the /var directory:
sudo tar -xvzf libretime-3.1.0.tar.gz -C /var
  1. Rename the extracted directory:
sudo mv /var/libretime-3.1.0 /var/www/libretime
  1. Set the correct file and directory permissions:
sudo chown -R http:http /var/www/libretime
sudo chmod -R 775 /var/www/libretime

Step 4: Configure MySQL/MariaDB

The LibreTime installation requires you to create a new MySQL/MariaDB user and database for LibreTime. Follow the steps below to create a new user and database:

  1. Login to MySQL/MariaDB using the root user:
sudo mysql -u root -p
  1. Create a new database and user for LibreTime:
CREATE DATABASE libretime;
CREATE USER 'libretime'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON libretime.* TO 'libretime'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Step 5: Configure Apache

To configure Apache for LibreTime, you need to create a new virtual host. Follow the steps below:

  1. Create a new virtual host file:
sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf/extra/libretime.conf
  1. Add the following lines to the file:
<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost
    DocumentRoot /var/www/libretime/public
    ServerName your_domain.com

    <Directory /var/www/libretime/public>
        Options FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog /var/log/httpd/libretime_error.log
    CustomLog /var/log/httpd/libretime_access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

  1. Save and close the file.

  2. Enable the Virtual Host:

sudo a2ensite libretime.conf
  1. Restart Apache:
sudo systemctl restart httpd

Step 6: Configure LibreTime

  1. Open your web browser and access the LibreTime installation page by navigating to http://your_domain.com/setup.

  2. Follow the instructions on the screen to configure LibreTime. When prompted for database details, enter the MySQL/MariaDB database details you created in Step 4.

  3. Once the installation is complete, you can access LibreTime by navigating to http://your_domain.com.

Conclusion

You've successfully installed LibreTime on your Arch Linux server. You can now start broadcasting your audio programs and manage your radio station using LibreTime.