[FFmpeg-devel] patch for a new H.264 codec with Matrox m264 card.

[Ronald S. Bultje]

Hi guys,

On Thu, Mar 14, 2019 at 1:55 PM Yufei He <yhe at matrox.com> wrote:

> Hi
>
> Here is the patch for a new H.264 codec with Matrox m264 card.
>

I want to bring up again that this library is closed-source. I don't think
FFmpeg should link to closed-source software in its public mainline
version. Matrox is obviously free :-) to maintain their own modified
version as long as they comply with all licensing conditions.

On IRC, we just discussed the following:
- --enable-nonfree was initially intended for dealing sort of roughly with
incompatible opensource licenses, for example AAC encoders or GPL +
LGPL-compatible-but-LGPL-incomptible libraries;
- nowadays, --enable-nonfree is also used for NDI (which Kieran sent a
patch to remove already) and now this.

I would like to request a vote amongst frequent developers (and if you
don't count me amongst that, that's fine) to decide whether closed-source
software integration in general, as well as this one in particular, is OK.
I don't think the system library provision applies here, since you'll be
hard-pressed to find a system with Matrox hardware (it's high-$$$
enterprise stuff).

Ronald