[mythtv] Decision on FFmpeg repository

[David Engel]

On Wed, May 16, 2018 at 09:43:01PM +0200, Jean-Yves Avenard wrote:
> 
> 
> > On 16 May 2018, at 8:48 pm, David Engel <david at istwok.net> wrote:
> > 
> > On Wed, May 16, 2018 at 12:45:55PM -0400, Peter Bennett wrote:
> >> I would like to get a decision on what to do about a couple of FFmpeg
> >> questions:
> >> 
> >> 1. Use FFmpeg master or release branch? My recommendation is to use master.
> >> - the FFmpeg website recommends using master for those who are compiling
> >> FFmpeg themselves. It states that the release branches are for those who
> >> rely on downloaded prebuilt packages
> >> (https://ffmpeg.org/download.html#repositories <https://ffmpeg.org/download.html#repositories>).
> >> - Only master has the recent mediacodec changes which I need for android.
> >> - If we sync to master, we can use a better approach for the repository
> >> (question 2 below).
> > 
> > As I've already mentioned, I'm not thrilled with using the master
> > branch.  However, since the MediaCodec support still appears to need
> > it and that's the most important reason for upgrading ffmpeg right
> > now, I'll just have to accept it.
> 
> IMHO, going with the master branch is a *big* mistake…
> API changes, methods are constantly obsoleted, bugs are introduced to be fixed after etc…

Some background.

The main reason we are even considering an ffmpeg update so soon after
our last one is to support MediaCodec on Android.  We must go to at
least ffmpeg version 4.0 to get that.  Our likely only other
alternative for that is to write our own MediaCodec support and I
doubt anyone wants to do that.

Peter and I have had discussions regarding our MediaCodec support with
one of the ffmpeg developers.  I think he is actually the main
MediaCodec person at ffmpeg.  He has already pointed us to some
significant, MediaCodec changes that have been committed to master
with strong hints there are more to come.

So, we can either use the stable, ffmpeg 4.0 branch with reportedly
still deficient MediaCodec support or deal with potential instability
and evolving APIs in the ffmpeg master branch.

One other complicating factor is the ffmpeg developer has expressed
interest in helping us get some of our changes accepted upstream.  I
don't know how well that would go over if we don't use master and
consequently aren't able to help test their integration.

David
-- 
David Engel
david at istwok.net