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I'm wondering why ffmpeg is more popular than other media libraries like gstreamer. I'm currently learning gstreamer and it seems to cover more features than f

I'm wondering why ffmpeg is more popular than other media libraries like gstreamer. I'm currently learning gstreamer and it seems to cover more features than ffmpeg. Its CLI command, gst-launch is fantastic to prototype. Is there a specific reasons why more people choose ffmpeg over gstreamer for go-to media processing library?

bigbubba 6y ago
It's what I know and it's never let me down. It powers other software I like, particularly mpv. I have very little experience with gstreamer and don't presently see a need to learn it when ffmpeg already has my needs filled.
Cloudef 6y ago
Gstreamer is great for multimedia pipelines and more complex tasks. But ffmepg is better for simpler tasks.
_Gyan_ 6y ago
Can you give a couple of examples of non-trivial tasks that you can do in gstreamer but not ffmpeg?
- SahAssar 6y ago
  WebRTC streaming: https://gstreamer.freedesktop.org/documentation/webrtc/index.html?gi-language=c https://gstreamer.freedesktop.org/documentation/webrtc/index...
kitsunesoba 6y ago
My experience with gstreamer consists almost entirely of battling with the system's package manager trying to install whichever codec packs I need and then convincing a gstreamer-powered media player to recognize said plugins and actually play my media. This process ended in frustration more often than it should've. By contrast ffmpeg-powered projects tend to just work out of the box with practically any set of files imaginable… much more pleasant.
- rezonant 6y ago
  Wow this happened to me literally today.
IshKebab 6y ago
When gstreamer first came out it was hilariously buggy. Constant crashes. Maybe it's improved but I bet that put a lot of people off. Plus does gstreamer even have a CLI targeted at users rather than developers? If they do they don't advertise it every well!
antihero 6y ago
Can gstreamer apply LUT as a filter?

bigbubba 6y ago

It's what I know and it's never let me down. It powers other software I like, particularly mpv. I have very little experience with gstreamer and don't presently see a need to learn it when ffmpeg already has my needs filled.

Cloudef 6y ago

Gstreamer is great for multimedia pipelines and more complex tasks. But ffmepg is better for simpler tasks.

_Gyan_ 6y ago

Can you give a couple of examples of non-trivial tasks that you can do in gstreamer but not ffmpeg?

SahAssar 6y ago
WebRTC streaming: https://gstreamer.freedesktop.org/documentation/webrtc/index.html?gi-language=c https://gstreamer.freedesktop.org/documentation/webrtc/index...

kitsunesoba 6y ago

My experience with gstreamer consists almost entirely of battling with the system's package manager trying to install whichever codec packs I need and then convincing a gstreamer-powered media player to recognize said plugins and actually play my media. This process ended in frustration more often than it should've. By contrast ffmpeg-powered projects tend to just work out of the box with practically any set of files imaginable… much more pleasant.

rezonant 6y ago
Wow this happened to me literally today.

IshKebab 6y ago

When gstreamer first came out it was hilariously buggy. Constant crashes. Maybe it's improved but I bet that put a lot of people off. Plus does gstreamer even have a CLI targeted at users rather than developers? If they do they don't advertise it every well!

antihero 6y ago

Can gstreamer apply LUT as a filter?