[FFmpeg-soc] Tips From The Hardened FFmpeg Veterans

[Mike Melanson]

Hi,

I have learned a lot about practical software development and associated
tools by working on FFmpeg. Some from the top of my head:

* ccache (ccache.samba.org): This tool caches your compiled object
files. Of course, this is most useful in a project with proper
dependencies, and I'm never sure where FFmpeg is at in terms of proper
dependencies. And if you're never sure about this, use ccache. It's as
easy as ' ./configure --cc="ccache gcc" '.

* valgrind (valgrind.org): Memory checker tool; it will point out when
your code starts wandering outside of its allocated data memory regions.
When FFmpeg starts doing really strange things during the course of your
development efforts (a good example is when FFmpeg crashes in code
completely unrelated to what you're working on), try valgrind.

These are the first 2 things I can think of. Other veterans, please jump in.

-- 
	-Mike Melanson