Fedorability of dvbcut ?

[Matt Domsch]

On Mon, Oct 29, 2007 at 12:07:01AM +1100, David Timms wrote:
> I'm keen to repackage dvbcut for Fedora.
> http://dvbcut.sourceforge.net/installation.html
> The application can be used to trim up a mpeg2 transport stream for 
> example recorded from a DVB tuner card, and output in mpeg2 program 
> stream format.
> 
> As packaged in packman, it warns:
> - qt3 is needed by dvbcut-0.5.4-0.pm.0.i586
> - libffmpeg0 is needed by dvbcut-0.5.4-0.pm.0.i586
> It can also use mplayer, and finds this through name within your path, 
> ie it is not actually required for the program to run.
> With ffmpeg and mplayer installed, a rpm -Uvh --nodeps allows it to run 
> fine.
> 
> It's main function is the conversion from transport stream to program 
> stream of given selections, however, it does recode frames at the start 
> and end of each clip.
> 
> So given the linking {I think} of ffmpeg, and the need for easiest use 
> of having mplayer installed, am I correct in assuming this will be no go 
> in FedoraPC ?

ffmpeg is patent-encumbered, thus no-go in Fedora.  If your
application can use other codecs that are free and are included in
Fedora (e.g. Ogg Theora), but may also use ffmpeg if present, then
it could fit.

> And if that's the case, how does the included kernel module for 
> controlling / receiving mpeg2 transport streams from my DVB card fit 
> with Fedora ?

The hardware manufacturer will have a patent license that allows them
to use mpeg2.  That same patent license most likely does not extend to you
as an end user for use outside of their hardware.

-- 
Matt Domsch
Linux Technology Strategist, Dell Office of the CTO
linux.dell.com & www.dell.com/linux