Video not in interface

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

There are several reasons why we did not add an option for this. Actually, there was already an option for this (--embedded-video), but we simply decided to ignore its setting until the bug was fixed.

There are two problems here.
First, there would be no good default value. If we defaulted to embedded video, VLC would crash for a lot of users. And sorry, there is no way for the average user to figure out how to solve the crash. If we defaulted to non embedded video, we'd just about as many people whining as we've seen this far (and the Ubuntu bug reports have a lot more). And then we'd get distros and users recklessly enabling the option and shooting themselves in the foot. We don't like to let our downstreams and our users shoot themselves in the foot.
Second, if we had simply changed the default to disabling the embedded video in 0.9, people would be stuck without the embedded video as they would ugprade to 1.0, if they ever saved their settings. Not good.

I don't know for you, but I mostly watch videos in full screen mode. And even when I don't, I send most time watching the video, rather than play with the UI controls. This regression is very visible, but it's not quite as bad as VLC crashing pseudo-randomly, or sticking with 0.8.6. Besides, 0.8.6 also had the pseudo-random crash bug, except it was much better hidden than in 0.9. And you cannot blame the 0.9 series developpers for the horrible pile of race conditions that 0.8.6 was, thanks to not-so-careful former developpers.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

We already have two preversions of 1.0, and the bug is long gone from the 1.0 series.

But generally speaking, there will always be regressions with newer versions. There is no way in hell that the active developpers can test all the functionalities that have been added over time, or even maintain some of the functionality that was implemented in a buggy way. There is only one way to make sure that whatever features you care about will keep working: test the prereleases yourself and submit patches when things break. I realize that 99.99% of our users are incapable of doing this, but you get what they pay for... and VLC is totally free.

[whyandwhynot]

Mr. Remi,

I'm sure all the best is on your way to find the best solutions for any problem that may occur. I'm truly sorry if I was a little angry with the new release in ubuntu 9.04. And yes, vlc is free, so, we get what we deserve. And you guys have been doing a great job so far, I dont see why you guys wont be doing an even better job in the nearest future.

Wishing you all the best,

[Paper]

Hello,
Thanks for VLC Player, and more so thank you for having a linux version. As a new to intermediate user, an ubuntu user, I don't really know how everything works, but I am slowly learning.

However, I really only posted here to be critical of the decision to completely remove all embedding ability simply because it doesn't work for some. Rémi Denis-Courmont, you say that there would be users shooting themselves in the foot and that there would be just as many people whining. Then I'd ask, why not just have a prompt on the first load, explaining to the user the consequences of turning embedding on and allow the user to choose the default option? The tick box in the GUI could continue to open the prompt each time it is clicked.

I realise I don't have any jurisdiction to complain, as I really am only a new user and VLC is free. But don't you feel you're treating the user a bit like an idiot here? Practically you have told us that it was disabled because the user is too stupid to decide for themselves, or to resolve program crashes. How can we ever expect new Linux users to ever move towards being intermediate and advanced Linux users unless they are allowed to trip up once in a while? And they might just learn something about it along the way.

You further imply that it shouldn't be a problem because you watch videos in full screen mode. If people did not find this a problem then why are there so many Ubuntu bug reports as you say? I'd quite contradict that and say that hunting around for the UI controls, when they've disappeared somewhere under the video is very annoying. Just imagine yourself in a situation in which you happen to have opened a gay porn movie that you stupidly left on your desktop by accident. You now have the rather unfortunate task of trying to hunt for a small dialogue lost on god knows which desktop with the sounds of grunting men blaring out of your speakers, whilst simultaneously scrambling your brain for a pretty good lie to tell your house mates that just happen to be on the other side of your door. In this case, you might just think differently about embedded video.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Use VLC 1.0.0 and stop complaining.

[Paper]

Seen as VLC media player 0.9.9a seems to be your official release, and video is not embedded in this version, perhaps you'd like to put this ("Use VLC 1.0.0 and stop complaining") next to the tick box in all of the old versions?

Never mind, I'll use a different player then.

I'm guessing your a gnome user

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

However, I really only posted here to be critical of the decision to completely remove all embedding ability simply because it doesn't work for some. Rémi Denis-Courmont, you say that there would be users shooting themselves in the foot and that there would be just as many people whining. Then I'd ask, why not just have a prompt on the first load, explaining to the user the consequences of turning embedding on and allow the user to choose the default option? The tick box in the GUI could continue to open the prompt each time it is clicked.

First, we thought the problem was fixed in 0.9.0-rc-something. That's why the earlier incarnations of the 0.9.x branch have the (buggy) support for embedded video. Our resources are sufficiently strained with fixing or working around those bugs, while writing the next version (1.0), and arguing in this thread, that we won't implement a dialog just for 0.9.10 which is most likely never going to be an official release anyway (like 0.8.7).

Second, how can the user possibly know the correct answer? Quite impossible before trying.
If it does crash, will (s)he remember what to do to fix the problem? Most certainly not.
Do I care that some whineys will switch players? No. I have no vested interest in VLC, and my involvement will still look just as good on my CV.
Am I the one to blame? No. That bug has been there forever hiding because of the reckless programming style of an earlier developper.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

Seen as VLC media player 0.9.9a seems to be your official release, and video is not embedded in this version, perhaps you'd like to put this ("Use VLC 1.0.0 and stop complaining") next to the tick box in all of the old versions?

Give me a break: http://download.videolan.org/pub/testin ... .0.0-pre2/

Yeah that's a test version. Refusing to use test version implies not reporting bugs in due time, means giving up your moral right to complain about bugs.

[Paper]

Insults removed by admin.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

You have the privilege of being banned for 2 weeks for insults!

Yay!

And topic is closed.