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+A Guide To Developing MPlayer Codecs
+by Mike Melanson (melanson at pcisys dot net)
+
+Introduction
+------------
+I've developed a number of open source decoders for the MPlayer project,
+for both audio and video data. As such, I feel I'm qualified to document a
+few notes about developing new codecs for the codebase.
+
+As always, the best way to learn how to incorporate a new codec is to
+study a bunch of existing code. This document is supplementary material to
+the code, meant to give some tips, pointers, and a general roadmap.
+
+A note about terminology: "Codec" stands for coder/decoder (or
+compressor/decompressor, if you prefer). The term refers to a module that
+can both encode and decode data. However, this document focuses primarily
+on incorporating decoders. Still, the terms "decoder" and "codec" are
+often used interchangeably.
+
+Necessary Materials
+-------------------
+So you've decided that you want to implement a new decoder for
+MPlayer. There are a few things you will need:
+
+- Knowledge of the codec to be implemented: You will need to know the data
+format of the chunks that MPlayer will pass to you. You will need to know
+how to take apart the data structures inside. You will need to know the
+algorithmic operations that need to be performed on the data in order to
+reconstruct the original media.
+
+- Sample media: Preferably, lots of it. You will need media encoded in
+your data format and stored in a media file format that MPlayer knows how
+to parse (these include AVI, ASF, MOV, RM, VIVO, among others). If the
+encoded data is stored in a media file format that MPlayer doesn't
+understand, then you will either need to somehow convert the format to a
+media file format that the program does understand, or write your own
+MPlayer file demuxer that can handle the data. Writing a file demuxer
+is beyond the scope of this document.
+	Try to obtain media that stresses all possible modes of a
+decoder. If an audio codec is known to work with both mono and stereo
+data, search for sample media of both types. If a video codec is known to
+work at 7 different bit depths, then, as painful as it may be, do what you
+can to obtain sample media encoded for each of the 7 bit depths.
+
+- Latest CVS snapshot: It's always useful to develop code for the very
+latest development version of MPlayer. Be sure to update your local CVS
+copy often.
+
+- General programming knowledge, working Linux development environment: I
+would hope that these items would go without saying, but you never know.
+
+Typical Development Cycle
+-------------------------
+1) Set up basic infrastructure
+First things first, there's a big song and dance to go through in order to
+let the MPlayer program know that you have a new codec to incorporate.
+
+MPlayer does not feature what some would term a "clean" codec plugin
+architecture. Some log this as a complaint. Personally, I think it's
+necessary to allow MPlayer the type of flexibility to incorporate so many
+open- and closed-source codecs.
+
+First, modify your local copy of codecs.conf. It may be system-shared or
+in your home directory. Add a new entry for your codec. If it's an open
+source codec, it would be a good idea to place the new entry with the rest
+of the open source codecs. When you're confident that you have the entry
+right, be sure to add it to etc/codecs.conf in your workspace. See the
+file codecs.conf.txt for a detailed description of the format of this
+file. Create a new audiocodec or videocodec block with the proper info,
+FOURCCs/format numbers, output formats, and a unique driver name. Remember
+the driver name.
+
+Next, edit the file codec-cfg.h. You will find a list of #define's that
+map names like AFM_MSADPCM and VFM_MSVIDC to numbers. The definitions that
+begin with AFM_ are audio drivers. The definitions that begin with VFM_
+are video drivers. If you want to implement a new audio driver, go to the
+end of the AFM_ list and create a new AFM_ definition for your decoder
+using the next available number in the list. If you want to make a new
+video decoder, do the same thing to the VFM_ list.
+
+Next, edit the file codec-cfg.c. You will find an array of audio driver
+names and video driver names. If you are implementing a new audio codec,
+add your new driver name (the one you entered into the codecs.conf
+file) between the last non-NULL entry and the NULL at the end of the
+audio driver array. If you are implementing a new video codec, do the
+same in the video driver array.
+
+Next, create a new source file which contains the main decoding function
+that MPlayer will call to decode data. Eventually, you may have multiple
+files which comprise your decoder, but let's start simple here. Create the
+skeleton function for your decoder. Since you will also have to write the
+code to invoke the function, you can make the decoding function look
+however you want, with whatever parameters you feel will be
+necessary. Here's an example video decoder:
+
+void some_video_decoder(
+  char *encoded,	// buffer of encoded data
+  int encoded_size,	// length of encoded buffer
+  char *decoded,	// buffer where decoded data is written
+  int width,		// width of decoded frame in pixels
+  int height,		// height of decoded frame in pixels
+  int bytes_per_pixel)	// bytes/pixel in output image
+
+Here's an example audio decoder:
+
+int some_audio_decoder(
+  unsigned short *output,  // buffer where decoded 16-bit PCM samples go
+  unsigned char *input,	   // encoded data
+  int channels)	           // mono = 1, stereo = 2
+
+Next, modify the Makefile so that it will compile your new source
+file.
+
+Next, modify either dec_audio.c or dec_video.c, depending on whether
+you're writing an audio or video decoder. You'll probably put the new
+decoder function header at the top of the file unless you've created a
+header file to handle it, in which case, you'll include the new header
+file. The dec_*.c functions are in charge of initializing codecs and then
+passing encoded data to the proper decoder function. The init and decode
+functions are big switch statements that key off of the codec definition
+numbers from codec-cfg.h. Your best bet in here is to examine some simple
+other simple decoders and clone relevant portions of the case blocks.
+
+Next, compile the project and see if you have everything correct so far.
+
+Next, you want to make sure that the encoded data is making it to your
+decoding function in the first place. This may sound like a trivial
+exercise, but there are a lot of things that can go wrong (and I've
+watched most of them go wrong in my experience). At the beginning of your
+skeleton decoder function, enter the following code:
+  int i;
+  for (i = 0; i < 16; i++)
+    printf ("%02X ", input[i]);
+  printf ("\n");
+When you compile and run MPlayer, your decoder function will print the
+first 16 bytes of each data chunk that it receives. Open the sample media
+in a hex editor and reconcile what you see on the screen with what
+you find in the file. If the decoder is printing the first 16 bytes of
+each block, that's a good sign that you're ready to move on to step
+2. Otherwise, you need to figure out why the data isn't getting to your
+decoder. Is your decoder even being invoked? If not, why not?
+
+2) Develop the decoder
+Go for it. Remember to make it work, first, then make it work fast.
+
+3) Debug and test the decoder
+If you're extremely lucky, the decoder will work the first time. If you're
+very lucky, it will work after you've reviewed your code a few times and
+corrected a few obvious programming mistakes. Realistically, you will
+write the decoder, review it many times and fix many obvious and subtle
+programming errors, and still have to go through an elaborate debug
+process in order to get the decoder to a minimally functional state.
+
+Big hint: Ask for all warnings. You know, the -Wall option in
+gcc? It's very useful to develop your codec while running in debug
+mode. In order to compile MPlayer with debug support (which includes -Wall
+for all gcc operations), use the --enable-debug option when configuring
+the project. Pay attention to all warnings and make it a goal to get
+rid of every single one. I'll never forget when the compiler warned me
+that there was no point in clamping a signed 16-bit variable within a
+signed 16-bit range (the calculation to be clamped was supposed to be
+stored in a signed 32-bit variable and then stored in the signed 16-bit
+variable). I sat stunned for a moment, feeling like I had just dodged a
+bullet as I knew that would have taken me hours to debug that kind of
+mistake.
+
+4) Contribute decoder to codebase
+Create a patch with the "diff -u" format and email it to the MPlayer
+development team for approval. You will likely need to diff the following
+files:
+- Makefile
+- etc/codecs.conf
+- codec-cfg.c
+- codec-cfg.h
+- dec_audio.c -OR- dec_video.c
+Of course, you will need to include your newly-created file(s). If you
+contribute enough decoders, the development team may even grant you write
+privileges to the CVS repository.
+
+5) Wait for bug reports to start rolling in
+You may think you're finished when you release the codec and if you're
+extremely lucky, you will be right. However, it's more likely that people
+will start throwing all kinds of oddball media at your decoder that it
+never counted on. Cheer up; take comfort in knowing that people are
+testing your code and attempting to use it as a real world
+application. Download the problem media that people upload to the MPlayer
+FTP site and get back to work, implementing fixed code that addresses the
+issues. Contribute more patches and encourage people to hammer on your
+decoder even more. This is how you make your decoder rock-solid.
+
+EOF