[FFmpeg-devel] [RFC] QSV: Introduce min Compile-SDK Version and check for Runtime-Versions instead

[Soft Works]

Hi,

this is a follow-up to my recently submitted patch:

“avfilter/vpp_qsv: fix regression on older api versions (e.g. 1.11)”

That patch only fixes the one important regression from multiple issues which 
have been introduced by recent changes. Those changes have gone in a less
than ideal direction, because they have introduced checks based on the version
of the MSDK which ffmpeg is being compiled against, but they didn’t add 
checks for the runtime libmfx/MSDK versions – and this causes failures, 
sometimes even for functionality which has worked before (=>regressions).

Background

- the compile-sdk version determines which features can be used
  but only when
  - the runtime SDK version supports it
    and
  - the hardware (GPU gen) supports it
- ALL compile-sdk versions can interface with ALL runtime MSDK 
  versions (basically), no matter whether runtime version is newer or
  older
- At least on Windows, some hw is stuck at a certain runtime version,
  e.g.: there are new drivers for Broadwell, but the MSDK runtime
  is always 1.11


Conclusion

Adding checks for the runtime MSDK versions is required wherever a feature
might not be supported by older MSDK runtimes - I think that's an obvious
necessity.


Question

Having both - run-time and compile-time checks all over the code is adding 
a lot of complexity and makes it difficult to maintain and work with.

Hence, I'm wondering whether we couldn't/shouldn't introduce a minimum 
MSDK compile-time version, for example 1.22, or even later?

This would allow simplification of the QSV code in many places where run-time
version checks are actually needed instead.

Over time, there have been better and worse MSDK versions, and there 
should still be enough room for choosing, but I don't think there's any
reason why somebody would still want to compile against some really old 
(e.g. < 1.22) MSDK version. 

Please share your thoughts on this subject..

softworkz