[FFmpeg-user] Basic Video Manipulation Qustions

[Phil Rhodes]

 I suppose there's a couple of other things to be said about raw video, or in fact any less-complex codec.
First, it requires less CPU time to play it back. If for some reason you're storage-rich but CPU poor in some very specific application, especially some piece of embedded electronics where you're playing back a fairly low-resolution animated icon, or some short loop of video, then it may be worthwhile allocating more storage for something in order to have it play back quickly with low effort. Low effort can mean low cost hardware, low power consumption, and so on. Storage is generally more expensive than CPU time, but depending on the specifics of certain projects may not always be.
Second, and leading on from that, including a codec can involve a lot more complexity in some piece of software or firmware. Using someone else's API to decode a bit of video can involve a lot of extremely expensive software engineering time, as well as engaging licensing issues that you may not want to deal with.
This is why things like raw video, as well as old, outdated codecs, still get used.
P