Installation, updates and diagnostics#
One-command install#
Linux / macOS
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wdog/backingtrack/main/install.sh | bash
Windows (PowerShell)
irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wdog/backingtrack/main/install.ps1 | iex
The script checks Python, installs ffmpeg if missing (asking first), installs backingtrack
(with pipx if available, otherwise in a dedicated virtualenv), adds an entry to the application menu on Linux
(.desktop file and icon in ~/.local/share) and downloads the samples.
Running it again means updating: it reinstalls the program and downloads only the missing samples.
Options: BT_BASS=1 adds the double bass, BT_NO_SAMPLES=1 skips the samples, BT_YES=1 asks no questions.
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wdog/backingtrack/main/install.sh | BT_BASS=1 bash
Manual install#
1. ffmpeg#
| System | Command |
|---|---|
| 🐧 Debian / Ubuntu | sudo apt install ffmpeg python3-pip |
| 🐧 Fedora | sudo dnf install ffmpeg |
| 🐧 Arch | sudo pacman -S ffmpeg |
| 🍎 macOS | brew install ffmpeg |
| 🪟 Windows | winget install Gyan.FFmpeg or choco install ffmpeg |
The graphical editor (optional) also needs GTK 4 and libadwaita with their Python bindings:
| System | Command |
|---|---|
| 🐧 Debian / Ubuntu | sudo apt install python3-gi gir1.2-gtk-4.0 gir1.2-adw-1 |
| 🐧 Fedora | sudo dnf install python3-gobject gtk4 libadwaita |
| 🐧 Arch | sudo pacman -S python-gobject gtk4 libadwaita |
| 🍎 macOS | brew install pygobject3 gtk4 libadwaita |
2. backingtrack#
git clone https://github.com/wdog/backingtrack.git
cd backingtrack
pipx install --system-site-packages . # or: pip install .
--system-site-packages lets the program see the GTK installed by your system: without it the command line
works but backingtrack gui does not.
Without installing anything you can also run python3 -m backingtrack from the project folder
(it needs pip install numpy pyyaml).
3. Samples (only once)#
backingtrack setup # 2 guitars + drums + cabinets: ~460 MB
backingtrack setup --bass # adds the double bass: ~56 MB
backingtrack doctor # what is installed and how much space it takes