feat: add KokoroBackend implementing TTSBackend protocol

- Create KokoroBackend class implementing TTSBackend protocol
- Move all KPipeline interaction inside KokoroBackend
- Update LoadPipelineThread to create backend via create_backend()
- Update ConversionThread and VoicePreviewThread to accept backend
- Replace np_module/kpipeline_class parameters with single backend
- Add 24 unit tests for KokoroBackend
- KPipeline is now an internal implementation detail of KokoroBackend

abogen/pyqt/conversion.py

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import hashlib  # For generating unique cache filenames
 from platformdirs import user_desktop_dir
 from PyQt6.QtCore import QThread, pyqtSignal, Qt, QTimer
 from PyQt6.QtWidgets import QCheckBox, QVBoxLayout, QDialog, QLabel, QDialogButtonBox
+import numpy as np
 import soundfile as sf
 from abogen.utils import (
     create_process,
@@ -259,8 +260,7 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
         output_folder,
         subtitle_mode,
         output_format,
-        np_module,
+        backend,
-        kpipeline_class,
         start_time,
         total_char_count,
         use_gpu=True,
@@ -270,8 +270,7 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
         super().__init__()
         self._chapter_options_event = threading.Event()
         self._timestamp_response_event = threading.Event()
-        self.np = np_module
+        self.backend = backend
-        self.KPipeline = kpipeline_class
         self.file_name = file_name
         self.lang_code = lang_code
         self.speed = speed
@@ -490,19 +489,6 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
 
             self.log_updated.emit(("\nInitializing TTS pipeline...", "grey"))
 
-            # Set device based on use_gpu setting and platform
-            if self.use_gpu:
-                if platform.system() == "Darwin" and platform.processor() == "arm":
-                    device = "mps"  # Use MPS for Apple Silicon
-                else:
-                    device = "cuda"  # Use CUDA for other platforms
-            else:
-                device = "cpu"
-
-            tts = self.KPipeline(
-                lang_code=self.lang_code, repo_id="hexgrad/Kokoro-82M", device=device
-            )
-
             # Check if the input is a subtitle file or timestamp text file
             is_subtitle_file = False
             is_timestamp_text = False
@@ -538,7 +524,7 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
 
             # Process subtitle files separately
             if is_subtitle_file or is_timestamp_text:
-                self._process_subtitle_file(tts, base_path, is_timestamp_text)
+                self._process_subtitle_file(self.backend, base_path, is_timestamp_text)
                 return
 
             if self.is_direct_text:
@@ -1071,7 +1057,7 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
                 for segment_idx, (voice_name, segment_text) in enumerate(voice_segments):
                     # Load voice for this segment (with caching)
                     try:
-                        loaded_voice = self.load_voice_cached(voice_name, tts)
+                        loaded_voice = self.load_voice_cached(voice_name, self.backend)
                         if segment_idx > 0:
                             voice_display = voice_name if len(voice_name) < 50 else voice_name[:47] + "..."
                             self.log_updated.emit((f"  → Voice: {voice_display}", "grey"))
@@ -1080,7 +1066,7 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
                             (f"⚠ Voice loading error for '{voice_name}', continuing with previous", "orange")
                         )
                         if segment_idx == 0:
-                            loaded_voice = self.load_voice_cached(self.voice, tts)
+                            loaded_voice = self.load_voice_cached(self.voice, self.backend)
 
                     # Determine if spaCy segmentation should be used for PRE-TTS segmentation
                     # Only non-English languages use spaCy for pre-segmentation
@@ -1166,7 +1152,7 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
                         print("Using split pattern: (unprintable)")
 
                     for text_segment in text_segments:
-                        for result in tts(
+                        for result in self.backend(
                             text_segment,
                             voice=loaded_voice,
                             speed=self.speed,
@@ -1368,7 +1354,7 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
                     silence_samples = int(
                         self.silence_duration * 24000
                     )  # Silence duration at 24,000 Hz
-                    silence_audio = self.np.zeros(silence_samples, dtype="float32")
+                    silence_audio = np.zeros(silence_samples, dtype="float32")
                     silence_bytes = silence_audio.tobytes()
 
                     if merged_out_file:
@@ -1707,7 +1693,7 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
             max_end_time = max(
                 (end for _, end, _ in subtitles if end is not None), default=0
             )
-            audio_buffer = self.np.zeros(
+            audio_buffer = np.zeros(
                 int(max_end_time * rate) + rate, dtype="float32"
             )
 
@@ -1771,7 +1757,7 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
                 # Generate TTS audio
                 tts_results = [
                     r
-                    for r in tts(
+                    for r in self.backend(
                         processed_text,
                         voice=loaded_voice,
                         speed=self.speed,
@@ -1789,11 +1775,11 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
 
                 # Concatenate audio and determine duration
                 full_audio = (
-                    self.np.concatenate(
+                    np.concatenate(
                         [a.numpy() if hasattr(a, "numpy") else a for a in audio_chunks]
                     )
                     if audio_chunks
-                    else self.np.zeros(
+                    else np.zeros(
                         int((subtitle_duration or 0) * rate), dtype="float32"
                     )
                 )
@@ -1827,8 +1813,8 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
                         num_stages = max(
                             1,
                             int(
-                                self.np.ceil(
+                                np.ceil(
-                                    self.np.log(speed_factor) / self.np.log(2.0)
+                                    np.log(speed_factor) / np.log(2.0)
                                 )
                             ),
                         )
@@ -1861,7 +1847,7 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
                             stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                             stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
                         )
-                        full_audio = self.np.frombuffer(
+                        full_audio = np.frombuffer(
                             speed_proc.communicate(input=full_audio.tobytes())[0],
                             dtype="float32",
                         )
@@ -1875,7 +1861,7 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
 
                         tts_results = [
                             r
-                            for r in tts(
+                            for r in self.backend(
                                 processed_text,
                                 voice=loaded_voice,
                                 speed=new_speed,
@@ -1886,14 +1872,14 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
                         audio_chunks = [r.audio for r in tts_results]
 
                         full_audio = (
-                            self.np.concatenate(
+                            np.concatenate(
                                 [
                                     a.numpy() if hasattr(a, "numpy") else a
                                     for a in audio_chunks
                                 ]
                             )
                             if audio_chunks
-                            else self.np.zeros(
+                            else np.zeros(
                                 int(subtitle_duration * rate), dtype="float32"
                             )
                         )
@@ -1910,10 +1896,10 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
                 # Pad or trim to subtitle duration
                 target_samples = int(subtitle_duration * rate)
                 if len(full_audio) < target_samples:
-                    full_audio = self.np.concatenate(
+                    full_audio = np.concatenate(
                         [
                             full_audio,
-                            self.np.zeros(
+                            np.zeros(
                                 target_samples - len(full_audio), dtype="float32"
                             ),
                         ]
@@ -1926,10 +1912,10 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
                 end_sample = start_sample + len(full_audio)
                 if end_sample > len(audio_buffer):
                     # Extend buffer if needed
-                    audio_buffer = self.np.concatenate(
+                    audio_buffer = np.concatenate(
                         [
                             audio_buffer,
-                            self.np.zeros(
+                            np.zeros(
                                 end_sample - len(audio_buffer), dtype="float32"
                             ),
                         ]
@@ -1971,7 +1957,7 @@ class ConversionThread(QThread):
                 self.progress_updated.emit(percent, etr_str)
 
             # Normalize audio buffer to prevent clipping from mixed overlaps
-            max_amplitude = self.np.abs(audio_buffer).max()
+            max_amplitude = np.abs(audio_buffer).max()
             if max_amplitude > 1.0:
                 self.log_updated.emit(
                     f"\n  -> Normalizing audio (peak: {max_amplitude:.2f})"
@@ -2440,8 +2426,7 @@ class VoicePreviewThread(QThread):
 
     def __init__(
         self,
-        np_module,
+        backend,
-        kpipeline_class,
         lang_code,
         voice,
         speed,
@@ -2449,8 +2434,7 @@ class VoicePreviewThread(QThread):
         parent=None,
     ):
         super().__init__(parent)
-        self.np_module = np_module
+        self.backend = backend
-        self.kpipeline_class = kpipeline_class
         self.lang_code = lang_code
         self.voice = voice
         self.speed = speed
@@ -2484,31 +2468,19 @@ class VoicePreviewThread(QThread):
         # Generate the preview and save to cache
         try:
 
-            # Set device based on use_gpu setting and platform
-            if self.use_gpu:
-                if platform.system() == "Darwin" and platform.processor() == "arm":
-                    device = "mps"  # Use MPS for Apple Silicon
-                else:
-                    device = "cuda"  # Use CUDA for other platforms
-            else:
-                device = "cpu"
-
-            tts = self.kpipeline_class(
-                lang_code=self.lang_code, repo_id="hexgrad/Kokoro-82M", device=device
-            )
             # Enable voice formula support for preview
             if "*" in self.voice:
-                loaded_voice = get_new_voice(tts, self.voice, self.use_gpu)
+                loaded_voice = get_new_voice(self.backend, self.voice, self.use_gpu)
             else:
                 loaded_voice = self.voice
             sample_text = get_sample_voice_text(self.lang_code)
             audio_segments = []
-            for result in tts(
+            for result in self.backend(
                 sample_text, voice=loaded_voice, speed=self.speed, split_pattern=None
             ):
                 audio_segments.append(result.audio)
             if audio_segments:
-                audio = self.np_module.concatenate(audio_segments)
+                audio = np.concatenate(audio_segments)
                 # Save directly to the cache path
                 sf.write(self.cache_path, audio, 24000)
                 self.temp_wav = self.cache_path

abogen/pyqt/gui.py

@@ -2316,9 +2316,9 @@ class abogen(QWidget):
             file_size_str = "Unknown"
 
         # pipeline_loaded_callback remains unchanged
-        def pipeline_loaded_callback(np_module, kpipeline_class, error):
+        def pipeline_loaded_callback(backend, error):
             if error:
-                self.update_log((f"Error loading numpy or KPipeline: {error}", "red"))
+                self.update_log((f"Error loading TTS backend: {error}", "red"))
                 prevent_sleep_end()
                 return
 
@@ -2341,8 +2341,7 @@ class abogen(QWidget):
                 self.selected_output_folder,
                 subtitle_mode=actual_subtitle_mode,
                 output_format=self.selected_format,
-                np_module=np_module,
+                backend=backend,
-                kpipeline_class=kpipeline_class,
                 start_time=self.start_time,
                 total_char_count=self.char_count,
                 use_gpu=self.gpu_ok,
@@ -2426,7 +2425,20 @@ class abogen(QWidget):
             self.gpu_ok = gpu_ok
             self.update_log((gpu_msg, gpu_ok))
             self.update_log("Loading modules...")
-            load_thread = LoadPipelineThread(pipeline_loaded_callback)
+
+            # Determine device based on GPU availability
+            if gpu_ok:
+                if platform.system() == "Darwin" and platform.processor() == "arm":
+                    device = "mps"
+                else:
+                    device = "cuda"
+            else:
+                device = "cpu"
+
+            lang_code = self.selected_lang or "a"
+            load_thread = LoadPipelineThread(
+                pipeline_loaded_callback, lang_code=lang_code, device=device
+            )
             load_thread.start()
 
         threading.Thread(target=gpu_and_load, daemon=True).start()
@@ -2863,18 +2875,27 @@ class abogen(QWidget):
             )
             self.loading_movie.start()
 
-        def pipeline_loaded_callback(np_module, kpipeline_class, error):
+        # Determine device based on GPU availability
-            self._on_pipeline_loaded_for_preview(np_module, kpipeline_class, error)
+        if self.gpu_ok:
+            if platform.system() == "Darwin" and platform.processor() == "arm":
+                device = "mps"
+            else:
+                device = "cuda"
+        else:
+            device = "cpu"
 
-        load_thread = LoadPipelineThread(pipeline_loaded_callback)
+        lang = self.selected_lang or "a"
+        load_thread = LoadPipelineThread(
+            self._on_pipeline_loaded_for_preview, lang_code=lang, device=device
+        )
         load_thread.start()
 
-    def _on_pipeline_loaded_for_preview(self, np_module, kpipeline_class, error):
+    def _on_pipeline_loaded_for_preview(self, backend, error):
         # stop loading animation and restore icon on error
         if error:
             self.loading_movie.stop()
             self._show_error_message_box(
-                "Loading Error", f"Error loading numpy or KPipeline: {error}"
+                "Loading Error", f"Error loading TTS backend: {error}"
             )
             self.btn_preview.setIcon(self.play_icon)
             self.btn_preview.setEnabled(True)
@@ -2912,7 +2933,7 @@ class abogen(QWidget):
         gpu_msg, gpu_ok = get_gpu_acceleration(self.use_gpu)
 
         self.preview_thread = VoicePreviewThread(
-            np_module, kpipeline_class, lang, voice, speed, gpu_ok
+            backend, lang, voice, speed, gpu_ok
         )
         self.preview_thread.finished.connect(self._play_preview_audio)
         self.preview_thread.error.connect(self._preview_error)

abogen/tts_backends/kokoro.py

@@ -1,37 +1,124 @@
-def load_numpy_kpipeline():
+"""
-    import numpy as np
+Kokoro TTS Backend
-    from kokoro import KPipeline  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
+
-
+Encapsulates the Kokoro KPipeline as a TTSBackend implementation.
-    return np, KPipeline
+"""
-
+
-
+from __future__ import annotations
-def create_kokoro_backend(**kwargs):
+
-    """Create a Kokoro TTS backend instance.
+from typing import Any, Dict, Iterator, List, Optional
-
+
-    Args:
+import numpy as np
-        lang_code: Language code (e.g. "a" for American English).
+
-        repo_id: HuggingFace repo id. Defaults to "hexgrad/Kokoro-82M".
+
-        device: Device to use ("cpu", "cuda", "mps"). Defaults to "cpu".
+def _load_kpipeline():
-
+    """Lazy-load Kokoro dependencies."""
-    Returns:
+    from kokoro import KPipeline  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
-        KPipeline instance.
+
-    """
+    return KPipeline
-    _np, KPipeline = load_numpy_kpipeline()
+
-    return KPipeline(
+
-        lang_code=kwargs["lang_code"],
+class KokoroBackend:
-        repo_id=kwargs.get("repo_id", "hexgrad/Kokoro-82M"),
+    """TTSBackend implementation wrapping the Kokoro KPipeline.
-        device=kwargs.get("device", "cpu"),
+
-    )
+    All interaction with KPipeline is encapsulated here.
-
+    The rest of the project depends only on this class.
-
+    """
-from abogen.tts_backend import TTSBackendMetadata
+
-from abogen.tts_backend_registry import register_backend
+    def __init__(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-
+        lang_code = kwargs["lang_code"]
-register_backend(
+        repo_id = kwargs.get("repo_id", "hexgrad/Kokoro-82M")
-    metadata=TTSBackendMetadata(
+        device = kwargs.get("device", "cpu")
-        id="kokoro",
+
-        name="Kokoro",
+        KPipeline = _load_kpipeline()
-        description="Kokoro TTS engine",
+        self._pipeline = KPipeline(
-    ),
+            lang_code=lang_code,
-    factory=create_kokoro_backend,
+            repo_id=repo_id,
-)
+            device=device,
+        )
+        self._lang_code = lang_code
+
+    @property
+    def metadata(self):
+        from abogen.tts_backend import TTSBackendMetadata
+
+        return TTSBackendMetadata(
+            id="kokoro",
+            name="Kokoro",
+            description="Kokoro TTS engine",
+        )
+
+    def __call__(
+        self,
+        text: str,
+        *,
+        voice: Any,
+        speed: float = 1.0,
+        split_pattern: Optional[str] = None,
+    ) -> Iterator[Any]:
+        """Delegate to KPipeline's __call__."""
+        return self._pipeline(
+            text,
+            voice=voice,
+            speed=speed,
+            split_pattern=split_pattern,
+        )
+
+    def load_single_voice(self, voice_name: str) -> Any:
+        """Load a single voice tensor. Used by voice formula system."""
+        return self._pipeline.load_single_voice(voice_name)
+
+    def synthesize(self, text: str, **kwargs: Any) -> bytes:
+        """Synthesize speech from text. Returns raw audio bytes."""
+        voice = kwargs.get("voice", "")
+        speed = kwargs.get("speed", 1.0)
+        split_pattern = kwargs.get("split_pattern", None)
+
+        audio_parts: list[np.ndarray] = []
+        for segment in self(text, voice=voice, speed=speed, split_pattern=split_pattern):
+            audio = segment.audio
+            if hasattr(audio, "numpy"):
+                audio = audio.numpy()
+            audio_parts.append(np.asarray(audio, dtype="float32"))
+
+        if not audio_parts:
+            return b""
+
+        combined = np.concatenate(audio_parts).astype("float32", copy=False)
+        return combined.tobytes()
+
+    def get_available_voices(self) -> List[str]:
+        """Return known Kokoro voice identifiers."""
+        from abogen.constants import VOICES_INTERNAL
+
+        return list(VOICES_INTERNAL)
+
+    def get_supported_formats(self) -> List[str]:
+        """Kokoro outputs raw PCM float32 audio."""
+        return ["pcm_float32"]
+
+    def get_info(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {
+            "id": "kokoro",
+            "name": "Kokoro",
+            "lang_code": self._lang_code,
+        }
+
+
+def create_kokoro_backend(**kwargs: Any) -> KokoroBackend:
+    """Factory callable registered with TTSBackendRegistry."""
+    return KokoroBackend(**kwargs)
+
+
+# --- Registration ---
+from abogen.tts_backend import TTSBackendMetadata  # noqa: E402
+from abogen.tts_backend_registry import register_backend  # noqa: E402
+
+register_backend(
+    metadata=TTSBackendMetadata(
+        id="kokoro",
+        name="Kokoro",
+        description="Kokoro TTS engine",
+    ),
+    factory=create_kokoro_backend,
+)

abogen/utils.py

@@ -530,15 +530,19 @@ def prevent_sleep_end():
 
 
 class LoadPipelineThread(Thread):
-    def __init__(self, callback):
+    def __init__(self, callback, lang_code="a", device="cpu"):
         super().__init__()
         self.callback = callback
+        self.lang_code = lang_code
+        self.device = device
 
     def run(self):
         try:
-            from abogen.tts_backends.kokoro import load_numpy_kpipeline
+            from abogen.tts_backend_registry import create_backend
 
-            np_module, kpipeline_class = load_numpy_kpipeline()
+            backend = create_backend(
-            self.callback(np_module, kpipeline_class, None)
+                "kokoro", lang_code=self.lang_code, device=self.device
+            )
+            self.callback(backend, None)
         except Exception as e:
-            self.callback(None, None, str(e))
+            self.callback(None, str(e))

tests/test_kokoro_backend.py

@@ -0,0 +1,216 @@
+"""Tests for KokoroBackend class."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Any, Iterator, List
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+import numpy as np
+import pytest
+
+from abogen.tts_backend import TTSBackendMetadata
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Helpers
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+@dataclass
+class _FakeSegment:
+    graphemes: str
+    audio: Any  # np.ndarray or torch-like tensor
+
+
+class _FakePipeline:
+    """Minimal mock for kokoro.KPipeline."""
+
+    def __init__(self, *, lang_code: str, repo_id: str, device: str):
+        self.lang_code = lang_code
+        self.repo_id = repo_id
+        self.device = device
+        self._voices: dict[str, np.ndarray] = {}
+
+    def __call__(
+        self,
+        text: str,
+        *,
+        voice: Any = "",
+        speed: float = 1.0,
+        split_pattern: str | None = None,
+    ) -> Iterator[_FakeSegment]:
+        yield _FakeSegment(graphemes=text, audio=np.zeros(100, dtype="float32"))
+
+    def load_single_voice(self, name: str) -> np.ndarray:
+        if name not in self._voices:
+            self._voices[name] = np.ones((1, 256), dtype="float32") * 0.5
+        return self._voices[name]
+
+
+def _make_backend(**kwargs: Any):
+    """Create KokoroBackend with mocked KPipeline."""
+    with patch("abogen.tts_backends.kokoro._load_kpipeline") as load:
+        load.return_value = _FakePipeline
+        from abogen.tts_backends.kokoro import KokoroBackend
+
+        return KokoroBackend(**kwargs)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Tests
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class TestKokoroBackendMetadata:
+    def test_metadata_returns_tts_backend_metadata(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        meta = backend.metadata
+        assert isinstance(meta, TTSBackendMetadata)
+
+    def test_metadata_fields(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        meta = backend.metadata
+        assert meta.id == "kokoro"
+        assert meta.name == "Kokoro"
+        assert "Kokoro" in meta.description
+
+
+class TestKokoroBackendInit:
+    def test_stores_lang_code(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="b")
+        assert backend._lang_code == "b"
+
+    def test_default_repo_id(self):
+        with patch("abogen.tts_backends.kokoro._load_kpipeline") as load:
+            load.return_value = _FakePipeline
+            from abogen.tts_backends.kokoro import KokoroBackend
+
+            b = KokoroBackend(lang_code="a")
+            assert b._pipeline.repo_id == "hexgrad/Kokoro-82M"
+
+    def test_custom_repo_id(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a", repo_id="custom/repo")
+        assert backend._pipeline.repo_id == "custom/repo"
+
+    def test_default_device(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        assert backend._pipeline.device == "cpu"
+
+    def test_custom_device(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a", device="cuda")
+        assert backend._pipeline.device == "cuda"
+
+
+class TestKokoroBackendCall:
+    def test_call_delegates_to_pipeline(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        results = list(backend("hello", voice="af_heart", speed=1.2, split_pattern=r"\n"))
+        assert len(results) == 1
+        assert results[0].graphemes == "hello"
+
+    def test_call_returns_iterator(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        result = backend("test", voice="af_heart")
+        assert hasattr(result, "__iter__")
+
+    def test_call_with_voice_tensor(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        voice_tensor = np.ones((1, 256), dtype="float32")
+        results = list(backend("test", voice=voice_tensor))
+        assert len(results) == 1
+
+    def test_call_default_speed(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        # Should not raise with default speed
+        list(backend("text", voice="af_heart"))
+
+    def test_call_default_split_pattern_is_none(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        # split_pattern defaults to None
+        list(backend("text", voice="af_heart"))
+
+
+class TestLoadSingleVoice:
+    def test_load_single_voice_delegates(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        tensor = backend.load_single_voice("af_heart")
+        assert isinstance(tensor, np.ndarray)
+        assert tensor.shape == (1, 256)
+
+    def test_load_single_voice_caches(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        t1 = backend.load_single_voice("af_heart")
+        t2 = backend.load_single_voice("af_heart")
+        assert t1 is t2  # same object
+
+
+class TestSynthesize:
+    def test_synthesize_returns_bytes(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        result = backend.synthesize("hello", voice="af_heart")
+        assert isinstance(result, bytes)
+
+    def test_synthesize_nonempty(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        result = backend.synthesize("hello", voice="af_heart")
+        assert len(result) > 0
+
+    def test_synthesize_with_speed(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        result = backend.synthesize("hello", voice="af_heart", speed=1.5)
+        assert isinstance(result, bytes)
+
+    def test_synthesize_empty_text(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        # Empty text produces no segments
+        result = backend.synthesize("", voice="af_heart")
+        assert isinstance(result, bytes)
+
+
+class TestProtocolMethods:
+    def test_get_available_voices(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        voices = backend.get_available_voices()
+        assert isinstance(voices, list)
+        assert len(voices) > 0
+        assert all(isinstance(v, str) for v in voices)
+
+    def test_get_supported_formats(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        formats = backend.get_supported_formats()
+        assert "pcm_float32" in formats
+
+    def test_get_info(self):
+        backend = _make_backend(lang_code="a")
+        info = backend.get_info()
+        assert info["id"] == "kokoro"
+        assert info["name"] == "Kokoro"
+        assert info["lang_code"] == "a"
+
+
+class TestRegistration:
+    def test_factory_creates_kokoro_backend(self):
+        from abogen.tts_backends.kokoro import create_kokoro_backend, KokoroBackend
+
+        with patch("abogen.tts_backends.kokoro._load_kpipeline") as load:
+            load.return_value = _FakePipeline
+            backend = create_kokoro_backend(lang_code="a")
+            assert isinstance(backend, KokoroBackend)
+
+    def test_registry_has_kokoro(self):
+        import abogen.tts_backends  # noqa: F401
+        from abogen.tts_backend_registry import _registry
+
+        meta = _registry.get_metadata("kokoro")
+        assert meta.id == "kokoro"
+        assert meta.name == "Kokoro"
+
+    def test_registry_factory_returns_kokoro_backend(self):
+        import abogen.tts_backends  # noqa: F401
+        from abogen.tts_backend_registry import _registry
+        from abogen.tts_backends.kokoro import KokoroBackend
+
+        factory = _registry._factories["kokoro"]
+        with patch("abogen.tts_backends.kokoro._load_kpipeline") as load:
+            load.return_value = _FakePipeline
+            backend = factory(lang_code="a")
+            assert isinstance(backend, KokoroBackend)