[FFmpeg-devel] [V3 PATCH 0/3] Codec wrapper for librv11 and RMHD muxer/demuxer

[Marton Balint]

On Mon, 23 Apr 2018, Ronald S. Bultje wrote:

> Hi Thilo,
>
> On Mon, Apr 23, 2018 at 4:45 PM, Thilo Borgmann <thilo.borgmann at mail.de>
> wrote:
>
>> From the users perspective I don't see why we don't have wrappers for a
>> commercial codec.
>
>
> Right, that's the core thing.
>
> Why doesn't FFmpeg "promote" the use of this closed-source software?
>
> Maybe it's because some of us contribute to this project not just out of
> utility ("I can do XYZ with it"), but out of some sort of idealism ("I like
> opensource"), trying to promote the common good of free software, kind of
> like volunteering in some local community thing.

That's fine, I even understand and relate to that. However, as a user, I 
utterly don't care about it, as a I user I want to use the best tool 
available today, let it be free or not, open source or not. If you are 
making it harder for me because of your _idealism_, well... please don't.

>
> For these contributors, "promoting" closed-source software would run
> directly contra to this ideal.

This is hardly a technical argument.

> As an analogy, imagine that the Linux kernel started including wrappers to
> promote the use of custom binary graphics device drivers. That would run
> directly contra to the ideals that the project stands for. You personally
> may not care so much, I understand that much, but please do see that some
> other contributors might care far more.

You can build a module without rebuilding the whole kernel, ffmpeg is not 
that flexible...

Obviously a separate repo for non-free is an option, but do we really need 
a separate repo for closed source components because some people don't 
like closed source out of idealism? I really feel that the religous 
arguments dominate this discussion.

Regards,
Marton