mean00/avidemux2

Purpose and executable entry points

Avidemux is a cross-platform native video editor/transcoder for Linux, Windows, and macOS. The common application startup and command dispatch live in avidemux/common/main.cpp, avidemux/common/gui_main.cpp, and avidemux/common/gui_action.cpp. It is built into alternative front ends: CLI (avidemux/cli/CMakeLists.txt), GTK (avidemux/gtk/CMakeLists.txt), and Qt-based desktop UI (avidemux/qt4/CMakeLists.txt).

Shared platform and media core

avidemux_core is the lowest-level C/C++ library layer: platform abstraction, threading, dynamic-library loading, crash handling, buffers, timing, preferences, and media primitives. Its exported interfaces create a boundary between reusable core code and application/UI/plugin code. Key paths: avidemux_core/ADM_core/include/ADM_dynamicLoading.h, avidemux_core/ADM_core/src/ADM_dynamicLoading.cpp, avidemux_core/ADM_coreUtils/include/ADM_compressedImage.h.

Project editor and timeline model

The editor owns loaded media, editable segments, selected audio tracks, timestamps, seeking, cached frames, and copy/render behavior. UI actions and scripts manipulate this model rather than containers directly. The primary control flow is: load source through a demuxer, construct an editor timeline/segments, preview or seek through decoded frames, then pass selected output settings to processing/muxing. Key paths: avidemux/common/ADM_editor/include/IEditor.h, avidemux/common/ADM_editor/src/ADM_edit.cpp, avidemux/common/ADM_editor/src/ADM_segment.cpp.

Decode, filter, and encode pipeline

Video passes from demuxed compressed packets through decoder selection, optional filter-chain processing, then either compressed-stream copy or re-encoding. Audio follows equivalent stream, filter, and encoder paths. The muxer gate makes the copy-versus-process decision before emitting packets. Key paths: avidemux/common/ADM_videoCodec/src/ADM_dynVideoDecoder.cpp, avidemux/common/ADM_videoFilter2/src/ADM_videoFilters.cpp, avidemux/common/ADM_muxerGate/src/ADM_videoProcess.cpp.

Dynamic media plugins

Format support and most transformations are supplied as buildable/loadable plugin families rather than embedded in the editor: demuxers, muxers, audio/video codecs, filters, audio devices, and script engines. Plugin APIs and dynamic loaders isolate the application from implementations and allow feature selection at build time. Representative paths: avidemux_plugins/ADM_demuxers/CMakeLists.txt, avidemux_plugins/ADM_muxers/CMakeLists.txt, avidemux_plugins/ADM_videoFilters6/CMakeLists.txt.

User interfaces, preview, and automation

The same common editor/control layer is exposed through headless CLI stubs, GTK widgets, or Qt dialogs/rendering. Qt also includes job management and OpenGL rendering; CLI supplies null UI/render implementations. Scripts can automate editor, codec, filter, and output selection via pluggable JavaScript/Python-like engines. Key paths: avidemux/qt4/ADM_jobs/src/ADM_jobs.cpp, avidemux/qt4/ADM_render_qt/GUI_render.cpp, avidemux_core/ADM_coreScript/src/ADM_ScriptEngineLoader.cpp.

Runtime dependencies and delivery

CMake orchestrates core, UI, and plugin builds; bootstrap scripts create platform-specific build trees. FFmpeg 7.0.2 is vendored and patched for codec/container functionality. Optional hardware paths include VA-API, VDPAU, NVDEC/NVENC, DXVA2, and Apple VideoToolbox; rendering can use OpenGL, SDL, Xv, or platform APIs. SQLite backs core jobs. Packaging targets include Debian/RPM/tarballs, macOS app/DMG, Windows installers, and AppImage. Key paths: avidemux_core/ffmpeg_package/ffmpeg-7.0.2.tar.bz2, avidemux_core/ADM_coreJobs/src/sqlJobs.cpp, appImage/deploy_qt6.sh.