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

[Ronald S. Bultje]

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.

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

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.

Ronald