# Shikwasa

> open source audio player

**Wikidata**: [Q130644521](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q130644521)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/shikwasa

## Summary
Shikwasa is an open-source web audio player designed for integration into websites. First launched in 2019, it is free software distributed under the MIT License, allowing users to freely study, modify, and distribute the application. The project is actively maintained through GitHub, with its latest stable release (v2.2.1) published in February 2023.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Shikwasa is categorized as audio player software and free software.
- **License:** The software is released under the MIT License.
- **Inception:** The project was established in 2019.
- **Latest Version:** Version 2.2.1 is the most recent stable release, published on February 14, 2023.
- **Repository:** The source code is hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/jessuni/shikwasa`.
- **Official Website:** Documentation and details are available at `https://shikwasa.js.org/`.
- **Disambiguation:** The software is distinct from *Citrus depressa*, a citrus fruit also known as Shikwasa.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of software is Shikwasa?
A: Shikwasa is an open-source web audio player. It is classified as free software that users can run, study, change, and distribute.

### Q: Under what license is Shikwasa distributed?
A: Shikwasa is distributed under the MIT License. This permissive license allows users to freely use, modify, and distribute the software and its modified versions.

### Q: Is Shikwasa still actively maintained?
A: Yes, the software has received consistent updates. While it began in 2019, its latest stable version (2.2.1) was released on February 14, 2023.

### Q: Where can the source code be found?
A: The source code for Shikwasa is available in a public repository hosted on GitHub under the user "jessuni."

## Why It Matters
Shikwasa plays a specific role in the web development ecosystem by providing a lightweight, dedicated solution for audio playback. Unlike complex media frameworks that may be overkill for simple audio needs, Shikwasa focuses specifically on audio, likely offering a streamlined implementation for web developers.

Its significance is anchored in its status as free software under the MIT License. This licensing model is critical for adoption in the open-source community because it grants broad permissions for commercial and private use, modification, and distribution without stringent restrictions. By allowing users to "freely run, study, change and distribute it," Shikwasa empowers developers to customize the player to fit specific design requirements or functional needs without reinventing the wheel.

The project's history demonstrates a commitment to refinement and stability. Spanning from its inception in 2019 to its latest update in 2023, the software has evolved through over ten stable releases. This trajectory indicates a mature codebase that responds to user needs and technical changes in web standards. For developers seeking a reliable, cost-effective, and adaptable audio interface for the web, Shikwasa serves as a practical and accessible tool.

## Notable For
- **Web Integration:** Identified specifically as a *web* audio player (evident from its image file designation), distinguishing it from desktop-only media players.
- **Permissive Licensing:** Uses the MIT License, one of the most permissive and popular open-source licenses, facilitating wide adoption.
- **Consistent Update Cadence:** Maintained a steady release schedule, evolving from version 1.0.7 in late 2019 to version 2.2.1 in early 2023.
- **Free Software Philosophy:** Fully embraces the free software definition, ensuring users have liberty over the software's use and modification.

## Body

### Overview and Nature
Shikwasa is an open-source software project classified as an audio player. It is designed to function as a web audio player, providing playback capabilities within a browser environment. The project is an instance of both audio player software and free software.

### Licensing and Freedom
The software is distributed under the **MIT License**. This classification aligns with the definition of free software, ensuring that users have the freedom to run, study, change, and distribute the software and any modified versions created from the source code.

### Development History
Shikwasa was inceptioned in **2019**. Its development is tracked through a series of stable version releases:

- **Early Development (2019):** The first recorded stable release in the provided data is version **1.0.7**, released on December 6, 2019.
- **Major Update (2020):** Version **2.0.0** was released on September 4, 2020, followed quickly by version **2.0.1** on September 24, 2020.
- **Iterative Refinement (2021–2022):** The project saw continued updates with version **2.1.0** (March 24, 2021) and a series of patches in early 2022, culminating in version **2.1.4** on June 23, 2022.
- **Recent Activity (2022–2023):** Version **2.2.0** was released on August 31, 2022. The most recent stable version listed is **2.2.1**, published on February 14, 2023.

### Project Location and Identity
The software's source code is maintained in a repository located at `https://github.com/jessuni/shikwasa`. The official website for the project is `https://shikwasa.js.org/`.

**Note on Identity:** In the context of Wikidata, Shikwasa is explicitly listed as "different from" the entity *Citrus depressa*. While *Citrus depressa* is a citrus fruit native to Taiwan and Okinawa (often called Shikwasa or Hirami Lemon), the subject of this entry is strictly the software application.

## References

1. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/jessuni/shikwasa)
2. [Release 1.0.7. 2019](https://github.com/jessuni/shikwasa/releases/tag/1.0.7)
3. [Release 2.0.0. 2020](https://github.com/jessuni/shikwasa/releases/tag/v2.0.0)
4. [Release 2.0.1. 2020](https://github.com/jessuni/shikwasa/releases/tag/v2.0.1)
5. [Release 2.1.0. 2021](https://github.com/jessuni/shikwasa/releases/tag/v2.1.0)
6. [Release 2.1.1. 2022](https://github.com/jessuni/shikwasa/releases/tag/v2.1.1)
7. [Release 2.1.2. 2022](https://github.com/jessuni/shikwasa/releases/tag/v2.1.2)
8. [Release 2.1.3. 2022](https://github.com/jessuni/shikwasa/releases/tag/v2.1.3)
9. [Release 2.1.4. 2022](https://github.com/jessuni/shikwasa/releases/tag/v2.1.4)
10. [Release 2.2.0. 2022](https://github.com/jessuni/shikwasa/releases/tag/v2.2.0)
11. [Release 2.2.1. 2023](https://github.com/jessuni/shikwasa/releases/tag/v2.2.1)