libcanberra
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Description:
Implementation of XDG Sound Theme and Name Specifications
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Multimedia
Tags: audio sound linux desktop multimedia
Install: brew install libcanberra
About:
Libcanberra is an implementation of the XDG Sound Theme and Name Specifications, designed to provide a simple API for playing event sounds. It decouples sound playback from applications, allowing system-wide sound themes to be managed independently. This enables consistent audio feedback for desktop events like notifications and actions.
Key Features:
  • XDG Sound Theme Specification implementation
  • Simple event sound playback API
  • Decouples sound from application logic
  • Supports multiple backends (ALSA, PulseAudio, GStreamer)
  • System-wide sound theme management
Use Cases:
  • Adding notification sounds to desktop applications
  • Implementing system-wide audio feedback for UI events
  • Managing and playing sound themes on Linux desktop environments
Alternatives:
  • SDL_mixer – More focused on game audio and music, heavier dependency than Libcanberra's lightweight event sound API
  • OpenAL – 3D audio API for games and applications, more complex than Libcanberra's simple event playback
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 11, 2025 2:55am 0 VERSION_BUMP 24c810ab
Nov 25, 2024 11:55pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 1ac9f2bc