Click here to Skip to main content
15,896,111 members
Articles / Desktop Programming / MFC

VLCWrapper - A Little C++-wrapper Around libvlc

Rate me:
Please Sign up or sign in to vote.
4.91/5 (49 votes)
12 Mar 2012CPOL3 min read 464.5K   25.9K   169  
An article on wrapping libvlc (VLC media player) in a C++-class
/*****************************************************************************
 * libvlc.h:  libvlc external API
 *****************************************************************************
 * Copyright (C) 1998-2009 the VideoLAN team
 * $Id: 7efe4d2d6282a8590267372caf8a886276703dd8 $
 *
 * Authors: Clément Stenac <zorglub@videolan.org>
 *          Jean-Paul Saman <jpsaman@videolan.org>
 *          Pierre d'Herbemont <pdherbemont@videolan.org>
 *
 * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
 * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
 * (at your option) any later version.
 *
 * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
 * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
 * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
 * GNU General Public License for more details.
 *
 * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston MA 02110-1301, USA.
 *****************************************************************************/

/**
 * \file
 * This file defines libvlc_media external API
 */

#ifndef VLC_LIBVLC_MEDIA_H
#define VLC_LIBVLC_MEDIA_H 1

# ifdef __cplusplus
extern "C" {
# endif

/** \defgroup libvlc_media LibVLC media
 * \ingroup libvlc
 * @ref libvlc_media_t is an abstract representation of a playable media.
 * It consists of a media location and various optional meta data.
 * @{
 */

typedef struct libvlc_media_t libvlc_media_t;

/** defgroup libvlc_meta LibVLC meta data
 * \ingroup libvlc_media
 * @{
 */

/** Meta data types */
typedef enum libvlc_meta_t {
    libvlc_meta_Title,
    libvlc_meta_Artist,
    libvlc_meta_Genre,
    libvlc_meta_Copyright,
    libvlc_meta_Album,
    libvlc_meta_TrackNumber,
    libvlc_meta_Description,
    libvlc_meta_Rating,
    libvlc_meta_Date,
    libvlc_meta_Setting,
    libvlc_meta_URL,
    libvlc_meta_Language,
    libvlc_meta_NowPlaying,
    libvlc_meta_Publisher,
    libvlc_meta_EncodedBy,
    libvlc_meta_ArtworkURL,
    libvlc_meta_TrackID,
    /* Add new meta types HERE */
} libvlc_meta_t;

/** @}*/

/**
 * Note the order of libvlc_state_t enum must match exactly the order of
 * @see mediacontrol_PlayerStatus, @see input_state_e enums,
 * and VideoLAN.LibVLC.State (at bindings/cil/src/media.cs).
 *
 * Expected states by web plugins are:
 * IDLE/CLOSE=0, OPENING=1, BUFFERING=2, PLAYING=3, PAUSED=4,
 * STOPPING=5, ENDED=6, ERROR=7
 */
typedef enum libvlc_state_t
{
    libvlc_NothingSpecial=0,
    libvlc_Opening,
    libvlc_Buffering,
    libvlc_Playing,
    libvlc_Paused,
    libvlc_Stopped,
    libvlc_Ended,
    libvlc_Error
} libvlc_state_t;

enum
{
    libvlc_media_option_trusted = 0x2,
    libvlc_media_option_unique = 0x100
};

typedef enum libvlc_track_type_t
{
    libvlc_track_unknown   = -1,
    libvlc_track_audio     = 0,
    libvlc_track_video     = 1,
    libvlc_track_text      = 2,
} libvlc_track_type_t;

/** defgroup libvlc_media_stats_t LibVLC media statistics
 * \ingroup libvlc_media
 * @{
 */
typedef struct libvlc_media_stats_t
{
    /* Input */
    int         i_read_bytes;
    float       f_input_bitrate;

    /* Demux */
    int         i_demux_read_bytes;
    float       f_demux_bitrate;
    int         i_demux_corrupted;
    int         i_demux_discontinuity;

    /* Decoders */
    int         i_decoded_video;
    int         i_decoded_audio;

    /* Video Output */
    int         i_displayed_pictures;
    int         i_lost_pictures;

    /* Audio output */
    int         i_played_abuffers;
    int         i_lost_abuffers;

    /* Stream output */
    int         i_sent_packets;
    int         i_sent_bytes;
    float       f_send_bitrate;
} libvlc_media_stats_t;
/** @}*/

typedef struct libvlc_media_track_info_t
{
    /* Codec fourcc */
    uint32_t    i_codec;
    int         i_id;
    libvlc_track_type_t i_type;

    /* Codec specific */
    int         i_profile;
    int         i_level;

    union {
        struct {
            /* Audio specific */
            unsigned    i_channels;
            unsigned    i_rate;
        } audio;
        struct {
            /* Video specific */
            unsigned    i_height;
            unsigned    i_width;
        } video;
    } u;

} libvlc_media_track_info_t;


/**
 * Create a media with a certain given media resource location.
 *
 * \see libvlc_media_release
 *
 * \param p_instance the instance
 * \param psz_mrl the MRL to read
 * \return the newly created media or NULL on error
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API libvlc_media_t *libvlc_media_new_location(
                                   libvlc_instance_t *p_instance,
                                   const char * psz_mrl );

/**
 * Create a media with a certain file path.
 *
 * \see libvlc_media_release
 *
 * \param p_instance the instance
 * \param path local filesystem path
 * \return the newly created media or NULL on error
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API libvlc_media_t *libvlc_media_new_path(
                                   libvlc_instance_t *p_instance,
                                   const char *path );

/**
 * Create a media as an empty node with a given name.
 *
 * \see libvlc_media_release
 *
 * \param p_instance the instance
 * \param psz_name the name of the node
 * \return the new empty media or NULL on error
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API libvlc_media_t * libvlc_media_new_as_node(
                                   libvlc_instance_t *p_instance,
                                   const char * psz_name );

/**
 * Add an option to the media.
 *
 * This option will be used to determine how the media_player will
 * read the media. This allows to use VLC's advanced
 * reading/streaming options on a per-media basis.
 *
 * The options are detailed in vlc --long-help, for instance "--sout-all"
 *
 * \param p_md the media descriptor
 * \param ppsz_options the options (as a string)
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API void libvlc_media_add_option(
                                   libvlc_media_t * p_md,
                                   const char * ppsz_options );

/**
 * Add an option to the media with configurable flags.
 *
 * This option will be used to determine how the media_player will
 * read the media. This allows to use VLC's advanced
 * reading/streaming options on a per-media basis.
 *
 * The options are detailed in vlc --long-help, for instance "--sout-all"
 *
 * \param p_md the media descriptor
 * \param ppsz_options the options (as a string)
 * \param i_flags the flags for this option
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API void libvlc_media_add_option_flag(
                                   libvlc_media_t * p_md,
                                   const char * ppsz_options,
                                   unsigned i_flags );


/**
 * Retain a reference to a media descriptor object (libvlc_media_t). Use
 * libvlc_media_release() to decrement the reference count of a
 * media descriptor object.
 *
 * \param p_md the media descriptor
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API void libvlc_media_retain( libvlc_media_t *p_md );

/**
 * Decrement the reference count of a media descriptor object. If the
 * reference count is 0, then libvlc_media_release() will release the
 * media descriptor object. It will send out an libvlc_MediaFreed event
 * to all listeners. If the media descriptor object has been released it
 * should not be used again.
 *
 * \param p_md the media descriptor
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API void libvlc_media_release( libvlc_media_t *p_md );


/**
 * Get the media resource locator (mrl) from a media descriptor object
 *
 * \param p_md a media descriptor object
 * \return string with mrl of media descriptor object
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API char * libvlc_media_get_mrl( libvlc_media_t * p_md );

/**
 * Duplicate a media descriptor object.
 *
 * \param p_md a media descriptor object.
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API libvlc_media_t * libvlc_media_duplicate( libvlc_media_t *p_md );

/**
 * Read the meta of the media.
 *
 * If the media has not yet been parsed this will return NULL.
 *
 * This methods automatically calls libvlc_media_parse_async(), so after calling
 * it you may receive a libvlc_MediaMetaChanged event. If you prefer a synchronous
 * version ensure that you call libvlc_media_parse() before get_meta().
 *
 * \see libvlc_media_parse
 * \see libvlc_media_parse_async
 * \see libvlc_MediaMetaChanged
 *
 * \param p_md the media descriptor
 * \param e_meta the meta to read
 * \return the media's meta
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API char * libvlc_media_get_meta( libvlc_media_t *p_md,
                                             libvlc_meta_t e_meta );

/**
 * Set the meta of the media (this function will not save the meta, call
 * libvlc_media_save_meta in order to save the meta)
 *
 * \param p_md the media descriptor
 * \param e_meta the meta to write
 * \param psz_value the media's meta
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API void libvlc_media_set_meta( libvlc_media_t *p_md,
                                           libvlc_meta_t e_meta,
                                           const char *psz_value );


/**
 * Save the meta previously set
 *
 * \param p_md the media desriptor
 * \return true if the write operation was successfull
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API int libvlc_media_save_meta( libvlc_media_t *p_md );


/**
 * Get current state of media descriptor object. Possible media states
 * are defined in libvlc_structures.c ( libvlc_NothingSpecial=0,
 * libvlc_Opening, libvlc_Buffering, libvlc_Playing, libvlc_Paused,
 * libvlc_Stopped, libvlc_Ended,
 * libvlc_Error).
 *
 * @see libvlc_state_t
 * \param p_meta_desc a media descriptor object
 * \return state of media descriptor object
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API libvlc_state_t libvlc_media_get_state(
                                   libvlc_media_t *p_meta_desc );


/**
 * get the current statistics about the media
 * @param p_md: media descriptor object
 * @param p_stats: structure that contain the statistics about the media
 *                 (this structure must be allocated by the caller)
 * @return true if the statistics are available, false otherwise
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API int libvlc_media_get_stats( libvlc_media_t *p_md,
                                           libvlc_media_stats_t *p_stats );

/**
 * Get subitems of media descriptor object. This will increment
 * the reference count of supplied media descriptor object. Use
 * libvlc_media_list_release() to decrement the reference counting.
 *
 * \param p_md media descriptor object
 * \return list of media descriptor subitems or NULL
 */

/* This method uses libvlc_media_list_t, however, media_list usage is optionnal
 * and this is here for convenience */
#define VLC_FORWARD_DECLARE_OBJECT(a) struct a

VLC_PUBLIC_API VLC_FORWARD_DECLARE_OBJECT(libvlc_media_list_t *)
libvlc_media_subitems( libvlc_media_t *p_md );

/**
 * Get event manager from media descriptor object.
 * NOTE: this function doesn't increment reference counting.
 *
 * \param p_md a media descriptor object
 * \return event manager object
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API libvlc_event_manager_t *
    libvlc_media_event_manager( libvlc_media_t * p_md );

/**
 * Get duration (in ms) of media descriptor object item.
 *
 * \param p_md media descriptor object
 * \return duration of media item or -1 on error
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API libvlc_time_t
   libvlc_media_get_duration( libvlc_media_t * p_md );

/**
 * Parse a media.
 *
 * This fetches (local) meta data and tracks information.
 * The method is synchronous.
 *
 * \see libvlc_media_parse_async
 * \see libvlc_media_get_meta
 * \see libvlc_media_get_tracks_info
 *
 * \param media media descriptor object
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API void
libvlc_media_parse(libvlc_media_t *media);

/**
 * Parse a media.
 *
 * This fetches (local) meta data and tracks information.
 * The method is the asynchronous of libvlc_media_parse().
 *
 * To track when this is over you can listen to libvlc_MediaParsedChanged
 * event. However if the media was already parsed you will not receive this
 * event.
 *
 * \see libvlc_media_parse
 * \see libvlc_MediaParsedChanged
 * \see libvlc_media_get_meta
 * \see libvlc_media_get_tracks_info
 *
 * \param media media descriptor object
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API void
libvlc_media_parse_async(libvlc_media_t *media);

/**
 * Get Parsed status for media descriptor object.
 *
 * \see libvlc_MediaParsedChanged
 *
 * \param p_md media descriptor object
 * \return true if media object has been parsed otherwise it returns false
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API int
   libvlc_media_is_parsed( libvlc_media_t * p_md );

/**
 * Sets media descriptor's user_data. user_data is specialized data
 * accessed by the host application, VLC.framework uses it as a pointer to
 * an native object that references a libvlc_media_t pointer
 *
 * \param p_md media descriptor object
 * \param p_new_user_data pointer to user data
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API void
    libvlc_media_set_user_data( libvlc_media_t * p_md,
                                           void * p_new_user_data );

/**
 * Get media descriptor's user_data. user_data is specialized data
 * accessed by the host application, VLC.framework uses it as a pointer to
 * an native object that references a libvlc_media_t pointer
 *
 * \param p_md media descriptor object
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API void *
    libvlc_media_get_user_data( libvlc_media_t * p_md );

/**
 * Get media descriptor's elementary streams description
 *
 * Note, you need to play the media _one_ time with --sout="#description"
 * Not doing this will result in an empty array, and doing it more than once
 * will duplicate the entries in the array each time. Something like this:
 *
 * @begincode
 * libvlc_media_player_t *player = libvlc_media_player_new_from_media(media);
 * libvlc_media_add_option_flag(media, "sout=\"#description\"");
 * libvlc_media_player_play(player);
 * // ... wait until playing
 * libvlc_media_player_release(player);
 * @endcode
 *
 * This is very likely to change in next release, and be done at the parsing
 * phase.
 *
 * \param media media descriptor object
 * \param tracks address to store an allocated array of Elementary Streams
 * descriptions (must be freed by the caller)
 *
 * return the number of Elementary Streams
 */
VLC_PUBLIC_API
int libvlc_media_get_tracks_info(libvlc_media_t *media,
                                 libvlc_media_track_info_t **tracks );

/** @}*/

# ifdef __cplusplus
}
# endif

#endif /* VLC_LIBVLC_MEDIA_H */

By viewing downloads associated with this article you agree to the Terms of Service and the article's licence.

If a file you wish to view isn't highlighted, and is a text file (not binary), please let us know and we'll add colourisation support for it.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Technical Lead HERE, a Nokia Business
Germany Germany
This member has not yet provided a Biography. Assume it's interesting and varied, and probably something to do with programming.

Comments and Discussions