[FFmpeg-user] What is the difference between versions of ffmpeg?

[skyscanner at gmx.ca]

On Sat, 04 Oct 2014 22:11:18 +0200, "Reindl Harald" <h.reindl at thelounge.net> wrote:
> Am 04.10.2014 um 21:58 schrieb skyscanner at gmx.ca:

> > In my case, it's the whole thing about "git" that first mystifies me, and then the process of compiling from source. I know there are Linux users that do that, but I can only do it if there are very clear, explicit, line by line instructions that don't assume any prior knowledge on my part. Otherwise it's like handing me eggs, flour, and sugar and saying "bake a cake" - I would have no idea where to begin and the results are probably going to be a hot mess.

> only because you refuse to learn

Well let me put it this way - suppose I told you that before you were allowed to drive a car, you had to know how to tear down and rebuild an engine.  While that might be a useful skill, not everyone who drives a car wants to know anything about that.  But if you had that skill, perhaps you might be condescending toward mere drivers, just as you have been to me in your insulting reply.

I came to this list looking for help in USING ffmpeg, not in BUILDING ffmpeg.  I was under the impression that this list was for ffmpeg USERS, not developers.  Compiling software is something I have only had to do a handful of times in my life, and every time I have had to do it, the creators have been kind enough to provide explicit instructions of the type I mentioned in my previous message.  I have no desire to write or compile software generally, and at my age (I am in my 60's) it is difficult to pick up new skills.  I don't even feel entirely comfortable using the command line because I am always afraid I will break something, and I have done that before.  And even if I did figure out how to do it once, it would not be a skill I would retain, because I might not need to do it again for a few years, or maybe ever.

> i stared at the same point in 2006 and now maintain production servers
> while build most server RPMs on my own from source and a lot of other
> technical stuff far away from where i started with Linux years ago

Good for you.  You learned this stuff because it was useful to you in life and for your employment.  I doubt you would have put anywhere near that level of dedication into it if you had thought that it was something you might never need to know how to do again, unless you are just generally attracted to that sort of knowledge.  We all have our areas of interest, and building software isn't one of mine, any more than getting under the hood of a car and fixing a motor.

I don't know if you are a developer of this project or just a user or somewhere in between, but I certainly hope your views don't represent those of the ffmpeg development team.

Anyway can we please just drop the insults?

(And if by some chance this post gets me banned from the mailing list, I just want to say thank you to all who have helped me, it was much appreciated!)