Providers
How yoink's multi-provider architecture works.
yoink's core idea is simple: no single music service has everything. By combining multiple providers, you get better metadata coverage and more download options.
How Providers Work
Each provider implements one or both of two roles:
- Metadata Provider: searches for artists, albums, and tracks; fetches cover art and biographies
- Download Source: resolves and downloads track audio files (may depend on metadata from the same provider)
Provider Comparison
| Provider | Metadata | Download | Setup Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidal | Optional | Best for hi-res audio downloads | ||
| Deezer | None | Public API, great mainstream coverage | ||
| MusicBrainz | None | Open database, community-maintained | ||
| SoulSeek | slskd instance | P2P, searches by text (works with any metadata provider) |
At minimum, you need one download source (Tidal or SoulSeek) for yoink to download music. Metadata-only providers enrich your library but cannot fetch audio files.