Compile VLC under windows -- desperation, need help!!!

[monsterrast]

I have tried to compile VLC media player under windows system in the last couple weeks. It always failed me at the end of the compilation. I am almost desperate. Can someone help me on this?

Environment:
Operating System: Windows XP or Windows 2000 (they both give me same error)
Compiling VLC version: 0.7.2
COmpile Tools: Cygwin

I followed the instruction step by step in the "Working Cygwin VLC Compile Environment.pdf" which is downloaded from http://download.videolan.org/pub/testing/win32/.

Here is compiling message:

$ ../config_setup
+ AUTOMAKESUCKS=no
+ INSTALLSUCKS=no
+ ACLOCAL_ARGS=-I m4
+ test -d extras/contrib/bin
+ amvers=none
+ automake-1.8 --version
+ amvers=-1.8
+ automake-1.6 --version
automake-1.6: not found
+ test -1.8 = none
+ gettextize --version
+ gettextize --version
+ sed -e 1s/[^0-9]*// -e q
+ expr 0.12.1 >= 0.11.5
+ autopoint=autopoint
+ GETTEXT=yes
+ pkg-config --version
+ PKGCONFIG=yes
+ aclocal=aclocal-1.8
+ automake=automake-1.8
+ autoconf=autoconf
+ autoheader=autoheader
+ set +x
generating modules/**/Makefile.am and m4/private.m4
................................................................. done.
+ rm -f aclocal.m4 configure config.log config.h config.h.in
+ rm -Rf autom4te.cache
+ rm -f config.guess config.sub missing mkinstalldirs compile depcomp install-sh

+ rm -Rf autotools
+ mkdir autotools
+ rm -f ltmain.sh libtool ltconfig
+ rm -f ABOUT-NLS
+ rm -Rf intl
+ rm -f m4/oldgettext.m4 stamp-pic configure.ac.in Modules.am
+ rm -f stamp-builtin stamp-h* mozilla/stamp-pic
+ rm -f vlc-config.in
+ printf
+ [ yes != yes ]
+ autopoint -f
tar: Skipping to next header
tar: Archive contains obsolescent base-64 headers

gzip: stdin: invalid compressed data--crc error

gzip: stdin: invalid compressed data--length error
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors
Copying file ABOUT-NLS
Creating directory intl
Copying file intl/ChangeLog
Copying file intl/Makefile.in
Copying file intl/VERSION
Copying file intl/bindtextdom.c
Copying file intl/dcgettext.c
Copying file intl/dgettext.c
Copying file intl/explodename.c
Copying file intl/finddomain.c
Copying file intl/gettext.c
Copying file intl/gettextP.h
Copying file intl/hash-string.h
Copying file intl/intl-compat.c
+ aclocal-1.8 -I m4
/usr/share/aclocal/pkg.m4:5: warning: underquoted definition of PKG_CHECK_MODULE
S
run info '(automake)Extending aclocal'
or see http://sources.redhat.com/automake/auto ... %20aclocal
/usr/share/aclocal/libsmi.m4:8: warning: underquoted definition of AM_PATH_LIBSM
I
/usr/share/aclocal/freetype2.m4:7: warning: underquoted definition of AC_CHECK_F
T2
+ autoconf
+ autoheader
+ automake-1.8 --add-missing --copy
configure.ac: installing `autotools/install-sh'
configure.ac: installing `autotools/missing'
configure.ac:12: installing `autotools/config.guess'
configure.ac:12: installing `autotools/config.sub'
Makefile.am: installing `autotools/compile'
Makefile.am: installing `autotools/depcomp'
+ rm -f vlc-config.in vlc-config
+ rm -f src/misc/modules_builtin.h src/misc/modules_plugin.h
+ rm -f include/vlc_symbols.h
+ rm -f mozilla/vlcintf.h
+ set +x
configure: error: invalid variable name: freetype-config-path
Make: *** No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.


BTW, what does the last two line mean? I always failed at this point. Thousand thanks to anyone who give me advice on this.

[markfm]

It sounds like you either didn't successfully unzip the contrib package, or possibly have the freetype line input wrong.

The line in your bootstrap should read:

--with-freetype-config-path=/usr/win32/bin \

and for it to succeed, you have to have unzipped the contrib BZ2 package. Follow the Working .... document, just use the newest contrib package (20040520, last time I looked). Note that the Appendix lists the precise set of Cygwin packages to install -- there are other developer packages that you absolutely don't want to install. It's fine to use newer packages, just don't add completely new/different ones.

If you have succeeded in unzipping the contrib file, you should have a directory on your disk something like:
c:\cygwin\user\win32\bin\
which contains a file freetype-config (and several others)

[monsterrast]

markfm, thanks for your suggestion.

I check the directory "c:\cygwin\user\win32\bin\", it do exist and also "freetype-config" file with other several files.
Laterly, I figure out the problem was caused by the scripts bug in the "config_setup" file.

Here is the original scripts which copy from "Working Cygwin VLC Compile Environment.pdf"
./bootstrap && \
CPPFLAGS="-I/usr/win32/include -I/usr/win32/include/ebml" \
LDFLAGS=-L/usr/win32/lib \
CC="gcc -mno-cygwin" CXX="g++ -mno-cygwin" \
./configure \
--disable-sdl --disable-gtk \
--enable-nls \
--enable-ffmpeg --with-ffmpeg-mp3lame --with-ffmpeg-faac \
--enable-faad \
--enable-flac \
--enable-theora \
--with-wx-config-path=/usr/win32/bin \
--with- freetype-config-path=/usr/win32/bin \
--with- fribidi-config-path=/usr/win32/bin \
--enable-livedotcom --with-livedotcom-tree=/usr/win32/live.com \
--enable-caca --with-caca-config-path=/usr/win32/bin \
--with-xml2-config-path=/usr/win32/bin \
--with-dvdnav-config-path=/usr/win32/bin \
--disable-cddax --disable-vcdx \
--enable-release

First, looking carefully in the line where freetype and fribidi are located, they have extra space between --with- and freetype-config-path, fribidi-config-path. Remove the extra space in these two lines, guess what, I got compile work successfully. I think someone should update the "Working Cygwin VLC Compile Environment.pdf" with the extra space removed.

Second, another one need to notice is the appendix of Cygwin installation:
1. Somehow the appendix is missing three automake items which are right after autoconfig selection.
2. "gcc-core: C compiler" item has to be selected, but the appendix does not show this item clearly, which will be autoselected if you choose gcc-mingw items first.

I think those little changes need to update in the "Working Cygwin VLC Compile Environment.pdf" file. That may save a lot of work for other persons who try to compile VLC which took me a whole month to figure it out.

Anyway, I finally got compilation work. THank markfm, you always help me (even i am too stupid), and other VLC developers for developing this awesome product. I like this product a lot.

[zamriyusoff]

Hi..
I also need the VLC for windows..
Can you send to me the compiled version of the VLC?

Thanks in advanced.

Best Rgds,
Zamri

[fkuehne]

I also need the VLC for windows..
Can you send to me the compiled version of the VLC?

Well, you can download it here. You don't need to compile VLC for Windows on your own, except if you want to develop it or enable likely unstable features. If you want to keep up-to-date with VLC's development and don't bother about bugs, have a look at the nightly-builds, which are also available for Win32. The link to them is somewhere in this forum.

[zamriyusoff]

I've downloaded the files (both exe and zip) but its gave file corrupted message when i tried to install.

Rgds,
Zamri

[monsterrast]

I just test the link, it works fine for me.

Try this

[zamriyusoff]

It's OK now.

Thanks a lot

[zamriyusoff]

It's OK now.

Thanks a lot

[Pacific]

Hi All,

I have downloaded the VLC's source code (0.7.2) and I have opened the VLC.DSW (workspace) in MS-devstudio. It compiles properly but when I RUN it, it does not show anything. instead the DEBUG tab showed me following.
/*-------------------*/
The thread 0x6C8 has exited with code 0 (0x0).
The thread 0x728 has exited with code -666 (0xFFFFFD66).
The program 'D:\work\vlc-0.7.2\msvc\Debug\vlc.exe' has exited with code -666 (0xFFFFFD66).
/*--------------------*/

Is there any kinda configuration I'll have to do to see the viewer running.

Thanks & Regards,
Pacific

[The DJ]

Yes.....


READ THE INSTALL.WIN32 FILE
AND SEARCH THE GODDAMN FORUM BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS

[Pacific]

I could discover that after posing msg.

Anyway, thanx for such a neat reply.

Pacific

[The DJ]

answering question on the forum can be sooooooo tiring, you understand?

[Pacific]

Yes I surely understand. But becoming angry is really not going to change anything. Why to disturb ourself because of someone else's mistakes. Let's be happy all the time.

Anyway, previously I used to get error(FULLSTOP) at VLC_Init(), but now SOMEHOW it comes successfully out of this function. but now problem is in VLC_AddIntf(). I tried tracing it...

__intf_Create() returns NULL
cause module_Need() returns NULL
cause in __module_Need for "psz_name" as "hotkeys,none",
following variables remain NULL
module_list_t *p_list, *p_first
The b_strict variable is VLC_TRUE in this case.
As the "p_module" is also made empty because of this.
p_all has only one element in it.

Please tell me if we can do any workaround this problem. Please tell me what can be the reasons of p_tmp becoming NULL.

Thanks in advance

After struggling for 2 days with VLC, I have really started liking this code.