Switching away from Packman on an audio/video workstation

English Install/Boot/Login
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1

After quite a few annoyances with the Packman repo, I have taken this comment as inspiration to try and move away from it:

This is where I am at:

  • I successfully switched Mesa away from packman-extra - I originally needed it for hardware encoding using my old AMD gpu, now with an Nvidia gpu I don’t think I need it anymore?
  • OBS is a flatpak and hardware encoding works with my installed G07 Nvidia drivers.
  • Ardour should work fine without Packman, I think.
  • I do think ffmpeg / aac encoding, as well as h.265 playback may become issues. But I’m willing to try.

However, my other repositories are complicating things. Many of my other packages would switch to other repositories, which I don’t think I want?

sudo zypper dup --allow-vendor-change

The following 50 packages are going to be upgraded:
  alsa-scarlett-gui ardour audacity audacity-lang audit audit-rules helvum jack-dbus keyutils libargon2-1 libaudit1 libauparse0 libb2-1 libbsd0 libcap-ng0
  libffado2 libfido2-1 libfido2-udev libkeyutils1 liblilv-0-0 liboauth0 libopus0 libportmidi2 libpskc0 librubberband3 libseccomp2 libsha1detectcoll1
  libsord-0-0 libSoundTouch1 libsratom-0-0 libstoken1 libtomcrypt1 libtpms0 libtspi1 libtss2-esys0 libtss2-mu0 libtss2-rc0 libtss2-sys1 libtss2-tctildr0
  libvamp-hostsdk3 libvamp-sdk2 lsp-plugins lsp-plugins-common lv2-lsp-plugins pam_u2f python311-pyscard swtpm system-group-audit trousers yubikey-manager

The following 39 packages are going to be downgraded:
  ffmpeg-7 gdk-pixbuf-loader-libheif libavcodec58_134 libavcodec61 libavcodec62 libavdevice61 libavdevice62 libavfilter10 libavfilter11 libavformat58_76
  libavformat61 libavformat62 libavutil56_70 libavutil59 libavutil60 libfdk-aac2 libheif1 libheif-aom libheif-dav1d libheif-ffmpeg libheif-jpeg
  libheif-openjpeg libheif-rav1e libheif-svtenc libpostproc55_9 libpostproc58 libquicktime0 libswresample3_9 libswresample5 libswresample6 libswscale5_9
  libswscale8 libswscale9 libvlc5 libvlccore9 vlc vlc-codec-gstreamer vlc-noX vlc-qt

The following 89 packages are going to change vendor:
  alsa-scarlett-gui          openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  ardour                     openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  audacity                   openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  audacity-lang              openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  audit                      openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  audit-rules                openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  ffmpeg-7                   http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  gdk-pixbuf-loader-libheif  http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  helvum                     openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  jack-dbus                  openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  keyutils                   openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libargon2-1                openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libaudit1                  openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libauparse0                openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libavcodec58_134           http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavcodec61               http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavcodec62               http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavdevice61              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavdevice62              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavfilter10              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavfilter11              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavformat58_76           http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavformat61              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavformat62              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavutil56_70             http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavutil59                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavutil60                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libb2-1                    openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libbsd0                    openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libcap-ng0                 openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libfdk-aac2                http://packman.links2linux.de -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  libffado2                  openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  libfido2-1                 openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libfido2-udev              openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libheif1                   http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-aom                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-dav1d              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-ffmpeg             http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-jpeg               http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-openjpeg           http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-rav1e              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-svtenc             http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libkeyutils1               openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  liblilv-0-0                openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  liboauth0                  openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libopus0                   openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  libportmidi2               openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  libpostproc55_9            http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libpostproc58              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libpskc0                   openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libquicktime0              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  librubberband3             openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  libseccomp2                openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libsha1detectcoll1         openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libsord-0-0                openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  libSoundTouch1             openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  libsratom-0-0              openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  libstoken1                 openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libswresample3_9           http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libswresample5             http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libswresample6             http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libswscale5_9              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libswscale8                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libswscale9                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libtomcrypt1               openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libtpms0                   openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libtspi1                   openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libtss2-esys0              openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libtss2-mu0                openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libtss2-rc0                openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libtss2-sys1               openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libtss2-tctildr0           openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  libvamp-hostsdk3           openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  libvamp-sdk2               openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  libvlc5                    http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libvlccore9                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  lsp-plugins                openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  lsp-plugins-common         openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  lv2-lsp-plugins            openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia
  pam_u2f                    openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  python311-pyscard          openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  swtpm                      openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  system-group-audit         openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  trousers                   openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security
  vlc                        http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  vlc-codec-gstreamer        http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  vlc-noX                    http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  vlc-qt                     http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  yubikey-manager            openSUSE -> obs://build.opensuse.org/security

The following NEW package is going to be installed:
  libheif-openh264

The following 8 packages are going to be REMOVED:
  libavcodec60 libavfilter9 libavformat60 libavutil58 libpostproc57 libswresample4 libswscale7 vlc-codecs

I’m hoping I could get pointers how to get past this.

2

Yo did not show them, thus how can you expect comment on them?

zypper lr -d
3

Very true, here it is:

zypper lr -d

#  | Alias                      | Name                                 | Enabled | GPG Check | Refresh | Keep | Priority | Type   | URI                                                                                  | Service
---+----------------------------+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------+------+----------+--------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------
 1 | NVIDIA:repo-non-free       | repo-non-free                        | Yes     | (r ) Yes  | Yes     | -    |   99     | rpm-md | https://download.nvidia.com/opensuse/tumbleweed                                      | NVIDIA
 2 | multimedia-proaudio        | multimedia-proaudio                  | Yes     | (r ) Yes  | Yes     | -    |   99     | rpm-md | https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/proaudio/openSUSE_Tumbleweed/ | 
 3 | network_chromium           | Chromium (openSUSE_Tumbleweed)       | Yes     | (r ) Yes  | Yes     | -    |   99     | rpm-md | https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/network:/chromium/openSUSE_Tumbleweed/    | 
 4 | openSUSE:repo-non-oss      | repo-non-oss                         | Yes     | (r ) Yes  | Yes     | -    |   99     | rpm-md | http://cdn.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/non-oss                                      | openSUSE
 5 | openSUSE:repo-openh264     | repo-openh264                        | Yes     | (r ) Yes  | Yes     | -    |   99     | rpm-md | https://codecs.opensuse.org/openh264/openSUSE_Tumbleweed                             | openSUSE
 6 | openSUSE:repo-oss          | repo-oss                             | Yes     | (r ) Yes  | Yes     | -    |   99     | rpm-md | http://cdn.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss                                          | openSUSE
 7 | openSUSE:repo-oss-debug    | repo-oss-debug                       | No      | ----      | ----    | -    |   99     | N/A    | http://cdn.opensuse.org/debug/tumbleweed/repo/oss                                    | openSUSE
 8 | openSUSE:repo-oss-source   | repo-oss-source                      | No      | ----      | ----    | -    |   99     | N/A    | http://cdn.opensuse.org/source/tumbleweed/repo/oss                                   | openSUSE
 9 | openSUSE:update-tumbleweed | update-tumbleweed                    | Yes     | (r ) Yes  | Yes     | -    |   99     | rpm-md | http://cdn.opensuse.org/update/tumbleweed                                            | openSUSE
10 | packman-essentials         | packman-essentials                   | Yes     | (r ) Yes  | Yes     | -    |   90     | rpm-md | https://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/linux/misc/packman/suse/openSUSE_Tumbleweed/Essentials       | 
11 | packman-extra              | packman-extra                        | No      | ----      | ----    | -    |   90     | rpm-md | https://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/linux/misc/packman/suse/openSUSE_Tumbleweed/Extra            | 
12 | security                   | Security tools (openSUSE_Tumbleweed) | Yes     | (r ) Yes  | Yes     | -    |   99     | rpm-md | https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/security/openSUSE_Tumbleweed/             |
4 
zypper dup --from openSUSE:repo-oss --allow-vendor-change

should do what you need if I understand correctly. If a couple of unwanted switches still creep in, better fix them with Myrlyn in the Version tab.

5

If not: There is also a Flatpak version of Ardour on Flathub. That wouldn’t rely on native codecs.

6

This lead to “3 Problems”: vlc-codecs, nvidia-common-G07, and mozilla-openh264. I added a few more repos and then I get the previously mentioned issue that other packages from security and multimedia also want to switch:

sudo zypper dup --from openSUSE:repo-oss --from openSUSE:repo-non-oss --from NVIDIA:repo-non-free --from openSUSE:repo-openh264 --allow-vendor-change

Refreshing service 'NVIDIA'.
Refreshing service 'openSUSE'.
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...
Computing distribution upgrade...

Problem: 1: the installed vlc-codecs-3.0.23-1699.9.pm.7.x86_64 requires 'libavcodec62(unrestricted)', but this requirement cannot be provided
 Solution 1: deinstallation of vlc-codecs-3.0.23-1699.9.pm.7.x86_64
 Solution 2: keep obsolete libavcodec62-8.1-1699.3.pm.22.x86_64
 Solution 3: break vlc-codecs-3.0.23-1699.9.pm.7.x86_64 by ignoring some of its dependencies

Choose from above solutions by number or cancel [1/2/3/c/d/?] (c): 1

Resolving dependencies...
Computing distribution upgrade...

The following 45 packages are going to be downgraded:
  ffmpeg-7 gdk-pixbuf-loader-libheif libavcodec58_134 libavcodec61 libavcodec62 libavdevice61 libavdevice62 libavfilter10 libavfilter11 libavformat58_76 libavformat61 libavformat62 libavutil56_70 libavutil59 libavutil60 libfdk-aac2 libheif1 libheif-aom
  libheif-dav1d libheif-ffmpeg libheif-jpeg libheif-openjpeg libheif-rav1e libheif-svtenc libltc11 libpostproc55_9 libpostproc58 libqat4 libqatzip3 libquicktime0 libswresample3_9 libswresample5 libswresample6 libswscale5_9 libswscale8 libswscale9 libusdm0
  libvlc5 libvlccore9 python313-pyscard vlc vlc-codec-gstreamer vlc-noX vlc-qt xjadeo

The following 45 packages are going to change vendor:
  ffmpeg-7                   http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  gdk-pixbuf-loader-libheif  http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavcodec58_134           http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavcodec61               http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavcodec62               http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavdevice61              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavdevice62              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavfilter10              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavfilter11              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavformat58_76           http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavformat61              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavformat62              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavutil56_70             http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavutil59                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libavutil60                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libfdk-aac2                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif1                   http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-aom                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-dav1d              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-ffmpeg             http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-jpeg               http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-openjpeg           http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-rav1e              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libheif-svtenc             http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libltc11                   obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia -> openSUSE
  libpostproc55_9            http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libpostproc58              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libqat4                    obs://build.opensuse.org/security -> openSUSE
  libqatzip3                 obs://build.opensuse.org/security -> openSUSE
  libquicktime0              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libswresample3_9           http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libswresample5             http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libswresample6             http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libswscale5_9              http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libswscale8                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libswscale9                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libusdm0                   obs://build.opensuse.org/security -> openSUSE
  libvlc5                    http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  libvlccore9                http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  python313-pyscard          obs://build.opensuse.org/security -> openSUSE
  vlc                        http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  vlc-codec-gstreamer        http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  vlc-noX                    http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  vlc-qt                     http://packman.links2linux.de -> openSUSE
  xjadeo                     obs://build.opensuse.org/multimedia -> openSUSE

The following NEW package is going to be installed:
  libheif-openh264

The following package is going to be REMOVED:
  vlc-codecs

45 packages to downgrade, 1 new, 1 to remove, 45  to change vendor.
7

That’s true. Unfortunately, it’s an unverified package, in which case I tend to prefer the repo version. But I’m optimistic that Ardour will not be a (major) issue.

8

For anybody in the future interested in this topic, here’s where I ended up.

First attempt: switch away from packman-essentials to opensuse repos.

  • Functionality would probably be sufficient for most users. Most audio and video formats worked, as did video & YouTube in Firefox.
  • h.265/HEVC did not work, which may affect some users.
  • ffmpeg works well and includes aac encoding - but not with the higher quality libfdk-aac codec.

Second attempt: since I need libfdk-aac and h.265/HEVC, I switched to the Videolan repository.

  • Everything worked, EXCEPT libfdk-aac :weary:.

Third attempt: back to packman-essentials.

  • Everything works, including h.265/HEVC and libfdk-aac.
  • As in the past, I’ll have to wait out the times when packman issues arise.
  • At least I managed to get rid of the packman-extra repo, since I realised I could switch Mesa back to opensuse, since my gpu has changed from AMD to Nvidia a while ago.

I guess this whole exercise taught me a little more about Linux and openSUSE and I cleaned up my system a little. :grin:

Thanks everyone for your input!

9

With your requirements you likely need only ffmpeg-8 and a handful of dependencies (libav* and libswrescale*) from packman-essentials, not a full switch to that repo.
With only those ffmpeg packages you are unlikely to stumble on issues.

10

That sounds like a great suggestion! Just to clarify:

  • currently, I only have ffmpeg-7 installed. zypper dup has not installed ffmpeg-8 yet. Should I do that manually?
  • wouldn’t I need h.265 packages of some sort to be able to play those files?
  • would I get VLC from opensuse or packman-essentials? VLC from opensuse was not able to play back h.265.
  • the process would be to switch back to opensuse, then install just ffmpeg from packman-essentials and let it pull dependencies from the packman-repo?
11

Those are separate packages, you may even have both installed. Whether you need -7 and/or -8 is up to you (and the other apps that need those).

That is exactly what libav* packages from Packman do.

You likely need vlc-codecs from Packman, but that should be installed as a dependency from ffmpeg from Packman; if not so, switch that package too.

That is one way, the other one is switching back to OSS just the other packages you don’t need if they are just a handful. Better done with Myrlyn in the Version tab than with zypper.

12

Fantastic, thanks for the input! I followed your advice and now only have 17 packages from Packman, instead of around 50 (or more) a few days ago. I hope this will cause fewer updating issues than in the past.

vlc-codecs is not a dependency of ffmpeg-7. I installed it manually, which triggered zypper to throw a problem, to which I chose solution 1 to switch the suggested packages to packman-essentials.

I’m wondering if it could cause problems that VLC itself is from openSUSE. But so far, VLC seems to be working fine and playing everything (after installing vlc-codecs).

ffmpeg-7 → 9 packages (switched from opensuse)
vlc-codecs → 1 package (additional package)
dependencies of vlc-codecs → 7 packages (switched from opensuse)

Let’s see how I go with this, thanks again!

13

Yeah, all that patented crap requiring third party repos.
I have Nvidia GPU as well, my situation regarding Packman is a very simple one - I don’t use it at all. The trouble is simply not worth it for me.
Absolute majority of videos I have here is AV1, with some H264 and older MPEG2/4 here and there. If I stumble upon some HEVC file, I play it with an AppImage version of mpv or simply use Parole which is Gstreamer, which really seems to be able to decode HEVC entirely on Nvidia.
For my encoding needs, Packman is not needed either, Avidemux and HandBrake have fully functional AppImages again, with NVENC support.

If Packman was integrated into the distro as e.g. Mageia’s tainted repos, it would be great, but I understand that having that kind of integration level with a rolling distro is nearly impossible to do.

14

AFAIK that is not “the” problem. The problem is that openSUSE is hosted on SUSE servers (Thanks SUSE!) and SUSE operates in jurisdictions where they can be sued for distributing patented code if they don’t arrange paid agreements with the patent holders (like CISCO do for libopenh264, by the way).
Apparently Nvidia have such agreements for the patented code in their proprietary drivers that allow you to avoid Packman and that is one of the reasons why those drivers are hosted on Nvidia servers and cannot be directly distributed by openSUSE or SUSE.

2 Likes
15

Having been playing with removing packman in favour of other options, I currently do NOT have a set of codecs that play material I have previously worked with. Off air programs recorded on my now rather old TV box which has not been updated since the support for that was switched off play perfectly on that, but moving them to the media server is now a problem, and hit and miss on what works. The one I am currently looking at is reporting AVC video and AAC audio the same as old downloads from the recorder. vlc plays sound only, avidemux, SMPlayer and mpv player displays video but while avidemux shows sound activity nothing is played. I can ‘recode’ but that should not be necessary? I think my next step is to simply switch packman back on, but then we are back to the incompatibility problems that it causes?

16

I see here:

bruno@LT-B:~> ffmpeg -hide_banner -decoders |grep AAC
 A....D aac                  AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)
bruno@LT-B:~> ffmpeg -hide_banner -decoders |grep AVC
 V....D libopenh264          OpenH264 H.264 / AVC / MPEG-4 AVC / MPEG-4 part 10 (codec h264)
bruno@LT-B:~>

with the OSS ffmpeg-8 and libopenh264 and vlc plays .mp4 videos that report AVC video and AAC audio and the same does mpv, although with SW decoding and no HW acceleration which might or might not suit you.
For some unusual variants of those formats you might need the Packman ffmpeg though.

17

H264 with Cisco’s codec sometimes works just fine, but often has seeking issues and some files will not play at all. Probably depends on the level used to encode, thus some codec’s features enabled in the stream.
It will still take few years till all patents on H264 expire worldwide.

AAC audio should always be fine with standard repo though.

18

Thanks for this input. It sent me down another rabbit hole. :grin:

Short version: for now, I’m staying with Packman for ffmpeg and VLC.

More info:

  • for video playback of h.265 etc., I will probably switch to the VLC flatpak once it’s verified (which seems to be taking a long time, but I’m sure will happen at some point).
  • I need libfdk_aac for encoding. As mentioned, it’s a higher quality aac encoder that comes with Packman, but not with the openSUSE or Videolan repos. Flatpaks (and I’m guessing AppImages) can include it, but mostly don’t. For instance, I prefer the flatpak version of Kdenlive, but it does not include it. The openSUSE repo version, however, can use Packman’s libfdk_aac. That saves me some exporting and encoding steps, cli commands, etc.
  • I’m already using the Handbrake flatpak. But it also does not include libfdk_aac. Also, I think it can’t do audio-only.
  • mpv AppImage looks cool, but there are also only inofficial versions (that I found).
  • Avidemux, well I remember that from a looooong time ago. Don’t think it’s what I need. But I’ll have another look.
  • I wanted to try Parole, but to see if it does not require Packman I would have to switch repos again. Did you install the openSUSE repo version, no Packman, and it plays h.265/HEVC? That could be a solution to at least switch VLC away from Packman.
19

Yes, it plays H265 without Packman. It also has no seeking problems with H264 and will play some of the H264 files that Cisco’s codec will not.
But there are some requirements. It plays H265 on Nvidia with proprietary drivers, I don’t think it will work with anything else.
Also, Parole isn’t very usable on Wayland, as it will have a separate playback window which can’t even be switched to fullscreen. Since KDE will also ditch X11 in 6.8 I think, switching to it is not very viable solution on a rolling distro.
Interesting is, that from my short-lived experience of Tumbleweed with Gnome, Videos app will not play any H265 with the otherwise same setup, don’t know why.
So while Parole works, it has some limitations and problems you should be aware of before using it.
I was looking for another simple GStreamer player that will also work on Wayland, but nothing really usable so far, pitty.
VLC has a GStreamer plugin, but I just couldn’t get it to play H265 normally, in Parole it works very reliably.

I also have the AppImage version of mpv (I just don’t do flatpak) which is used by default with SMplayer in my case and that plays everything fine.
But I rarely need to use anything else than the default mpv (which I prefer by a long shot).
As you mentioned, there are only unofficial AppImages and some have proper NVdec support, but lack e.g. AV1 support completely or they play everything, but NVdec is not working normally and the performance with more demanding videos sucks etc. But for quick playback of the file in question, it works.

So I can play really everything one way or another, it’s just that it’s not so clean when it comes to the general setup.

AviDemux is old, but still about the only GUI app with its focus on simple edit without being an overgrown titan that would be an overkill for such tasks, I still like it a lot.
The AppImage has the fdk aac included, and NVEnc enabled H264/265 support.
And even if it’s older, it still deals with AV1 files without problems from my testing.
There are also daily AppImage snapshots, but these are really very unstable.
The only missing feature when it comes to movies is the missing support for external subtitles. But this can be easily fixed with MKVToolnix e.g.

HandBrake is a transcoder only app, video encoding is mandatory there. It was heavily used back in the day for DVD backups, but even though not free, MakeMKV is superior app for that and mainly for BDs. Can also enable direct encrypted BD disc playback with Vlc/Mplayer/Mpv. But it’s just a ripper, not general transcoder. Well, I don’t have any drive on this particular machine anyway.

Aaa yeah, sorry, a bit OT here, long CP 2077 session again. :grin:

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Haha yeah no thanks for all this input. It’s actually a super useful snapshot of where things are at this point in time. Hard to find such info otherwise.

I was going to suggest you try the VLC flatpak. If that plays everything, it would make things a fair bit easier for you. But you would have to do flatpak for that, wouldn’t you. :smile: