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

[Tom Evans]

On Sat, Oct 4, 2014 at 8:58 PM,  <skyscanner at gmx.ca> wrote:
> 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.

To use your cake analogy, there are very many ways to end up with a cake.

You can go to the store and buy one (Quicktime Pro). The cake should
be just how you like it, and you can ask people to make it just how
you like it before you buy it.

You can go to the store and buy cake mix (Handbrake). This is cheaper,
but you need to do some of the mixing and baking yourself.

Alternatively, you can go get eggs, flour and sugar and mix it and
bake it yourself (ffmpeg). This is the option you have chosen. If you
don't like the steps involved, go to the store instead.

ffmpeg is open source software delivered as source code. If you have
complaints about how binaries of it are packaged, you are complaining
in the wrong place - talk to the packager.
If you have complaints about having to compile it to get a supported
version, you're complaining in the wrong case - no-one here cares, it
is part of the cost of using ffmpeg that we all (well, apart from
Phil) agree to.

Cheers

Tom