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Modernize getting started guide and remove old contact info (beetbox#5807)
## Description - removes all mailing list references in doc. - removes outdated installation instructions (python3.8 + slackware) - modernizes the getting started guide closes beetbox#5462
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docs/changelog.rst

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Other changes:
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- Removed outdated mailing list contact information from the documentation
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(:bug:`5462`).
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- :doc:`guides/main`: Modernized the *Getting Started* guide with tabbed
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sections and dropdown menus. Installation instructions have been streamlined,
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and a new subpage now provides additional setup details.
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2.5.0 (October 11, 2025)
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------------------------
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configuration option has been renamed to ``data_source_mismatch_penalty`` to
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better reflect its purpose. :bug:`6066`
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For packagers:
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Other changes:
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- :doc:`plugins/index`: Clarify that musicbrainz must be mentioned if plugin

docs/conf.py

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"sphinx.ext.autodoc",
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"sphinx.ext.autosummary",
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"sphinx.ext.extlinks",
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"sphinx.ext.viewcode",
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"sphinx_design",
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"sphinx_copybutton",
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]
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autosummary_generate = True
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exclude_patterns = ["_build"]
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templates_path = ["_templates"]
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source_suffix = {".rst": "restructuredtext", ".md": "markdown"}
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pygments_style = "sphinx"
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# External links to the bug tracker and other sites.

docs/faq.rst

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.. _bugs:
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…report a bug in beets?
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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-----------------------
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We use the `issue tracker`_ on GitHub where you can `open a new ticket`_. Please
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follow these guidelines when reporting an issue:
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- Most importantly: if beets is crashing, please `include the traceback
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<https://imgur.com/jacoj>`__. Tracebacks can be more readable if you put them
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in a pastebin (e.g., `Gist <https://gist.github.com/>`__ or `Hastebin
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<https://hastebin.com/>`__), especially when communicating over IRC or email.
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<https://hastebin.com/>`__), especially when communicating over IRC.
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- Turn on beets' debug output (using the -v option: for example, ``beet -v
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import ...``) and include that with your bug report. Look through this verbose
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output for any red flags that might point to the problem.

docs/guides/index.rst

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:maxdepth: 1
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main
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installation
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tagger
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advanced

docs/guides/installation.rst

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Installation
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============
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Beets requires `Python 3.9 or later`_. You can install it using package
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managers, pipx_, pip_ or by using package managers.
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.. _python 3.9 or later: https://python.org/download/
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Using ``pipx`` or ``pip``
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-------------------------
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We recommend installing with pipx_ as it isolates beets and its dependencies
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from your system Python and other Python packages. This helps avoid dependency
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conflicts and keeps your system clean.
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.. <!-- start-quick-install -->
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.. tab-set::
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.. tab-item:: pipx
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.. code-block:: console
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pipx install beets
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.. tab-item:: pip
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.. code-block:: console
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pip install beets
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.. tab-item:: pip (user install)
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.. code-block:: console
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pip install --user beets
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.. <!-- end-quick-install -->
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If you don't have pipx_ installed, you can follow the instructions on the `pipx
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installation page`_ to get it set up.
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.. _pip: https://pip.pypa.io/en/
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.. _pipx: https://pipx.pypa.io/stable
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.. _pipx installation page: https://pipx.pypa.io/stable/installation/
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Using a Package Manager
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-----------------------
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Depending on your operating system, you may be able to install beets using a
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package manager. Here are some common options:
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.. attention::
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Package manager installations may not provide the latest version of beets.
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Release cycles for package managers vary, and they may not always have the
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most recent version of beets. If you want the latest features and fixes,
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consider using pipx_ or pip_ as described above.
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Additionally, installing external beets plugins may be surprisingly
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difficult when using a package manager.
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- On **Debian or Ubuntu**, depending on the version, beets is available as an
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official package (`Debian details`_, `Ubuntu details`_), so try typing:
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``apt-get install beets``. But the version in the repositories might lag
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behind, so make sure you read the right version of these docs. If you want the
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latest version, you can get everything you need to install with pip as
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described below by running: ``apt-get install python-dev python-pip``
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- On **Arch Linux**, `beets is in [extra] <arch extra_>`_, so just run ``pacman
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-S beets``. (There's also a bleeding-edge `dev package <aur_>`_ in the AUR,
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which will probably set your computer on fire.)
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- On **Alpine Linux**, `beets is in the community repository <alpine package_>`_
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and can be installed with ``apk add beets``.
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- On **Void Linux**, `beets is in the official repository <void package_>`_ and
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can be installed with ``xbps-install -S beets``.
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- For **Gentoo Linux**, beets is in Portage as ``media-sound/beets``. Just run
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``emerge beets`` to install. There are several USE flags available for
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optional plugin dependencies.
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- On **FreeBSD**, there's a `beets port <freebsd_>`_ at ``audio/beets``.
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- On **OpenBSD**, there's a `beets port <openbsd_>`_ can be installed with
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``pkg_add beets``.
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- On **Fedora** 22 or later, there's a `DNF package`_ you can install with
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``sudo dnf install beets beets-plugins beets-doc``.
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- On **Solus**, run ``eopkg install beets``.
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- On **NixOS**, there's a `package <nixos_>`_ you can install with ``nix-env -i
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beets``.
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- Using **MacPorts**, run ``port install beets`` or ``port install beets-full``
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to include many third-party plugins.
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.. _alpine package: https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/edge/community/x86_64/beets
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.. _arch extra: https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/any/beets/
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.. _aur: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/beets-git/
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.. _debian details: https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/beets
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.. _dnf package: https://packages.fedoraproject.org/pkgs/beets/
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.. _freebsd: http://portsmon.freebsd.org/portoverview.py?category=audio&portname=beets
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.. _nixos: https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/tree/master/pkgs/tools/audio/beets
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.. _openbsd: http://openports.se/audio/beets
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.. _ubuntu details: https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/beets
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.. _void package: https://github.com/void-linux/void-packages/tree/master/srcpkgs/beets
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Installation FAQ
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----------------
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MacOS Installation
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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**Q: I'm getting permission errors on macOS. What should I do?**
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Due to System Integrity Protection on macOS 10.11+, you may need to install for
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your user only:
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.. code-block:: console
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pip install --user beets
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You might need to also add ``~/Library/Python/3.x/bin`` to your ``$PATH``.
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Windows Installation
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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**Q: What's the process for installing on Windows?**
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Installing beets on Windows can be tricky. Following these steps might help you
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get it right:
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1. `Install Python`_ (check "Add Python to PATH" skip to 3)
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2. Ensure Python is in your ``PATH`` (add if needed):
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- Settings → System → About → Advanced system settings → Environment
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Variables
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- Edit "PATH" and add: `;C:\Python39;C:\Python39\Scripts`
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- *Guide: [Adding Python to
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PATH](https://realpython.com/add-python-to-path/)*
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3. Now install beets by running: ``pip install beets``
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4. You're all set! Type ``beet version`` in a new command prompt to verify the
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installation.
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**Bonus: Windows Context Menu Integration**
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Windows users may also want to install a context menu item for importing files
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into beets. Download the beets.reg_ file and open it in a text file to make sure
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the paths to Python match your system. Then double-click the file add the
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necessary keys to your registry. You can then right-click a directory and choose
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"Import with beets".
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.. _beets.reg: https://github.com/beetbox/beets/blob/master/extra/beets.reg
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.. _install pip: https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/installing/
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.. _install python: https://python.org/download/
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ARM Installation
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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**Q: Can I run beets on a Raspberry Pi or other ARM device?**
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Yes, but with some considerations: Beets on ARM devices is not recommended for
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Linux novices. If you are comfortable with troubleshooting tools like ``pip``,
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``make``, and binary dependencies (e.g. ``ffmpeg`` and ``ImageMagick``), you
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will be fine. We have `notes for ARM`_ and an `older ARM reference`_. Beets is
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generally developed on x86-64 based devices, and most plugins target that
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platform as well.
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.. _notes for arm: https://github.com/beetbox/beets/discussions/4910
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.. _older arm reference: https://discourse.beets.io/t/diary-of-beets-on-arm-odroid-hc4-armbian/1993

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