ffmpeg-go

Go bindings for the FFmpeg AV libraries.

Features

Static build (does still require some system libraries, such as m).
Linux (arm64, amd64) and macOS (arm64, amd64) support.
Auto generated.
Thin layer over the C API.
Doc comments retained (where supported by clang).
GPL version of FFmpeg (allows for x264 etc).

TODO

Expose more headers.
Ensure acceleration enabled in builds.
Expose platform specific headers.
Cleanup internal packages.

Setup

go get github.com/csnewman/ffmpeg-go

Example

(The asciiplayer demo playing Big Buck Bunny, with some GIF artifacts)

The examples directory contains some ported and some custom examples based on the C docs.

An example of printing a file's metadata:

package main

import (
	"log"
	"log/slog"
	"os"

	"github.com/csnewman/ffmpeg-go"
)

func main() {
	slog.Info("Metadata")

	var ctx *ffmpeg.AVFormatContext

	url := ffmpeg.ToCStr(os.Args[1])
	defer url.Free()

	_, err := ffmpeg.AVFormatOpenInput(&ctx, url, nil, nil)
	if err != nil {
		log.Panicln(err)
	}

	defer ffmpeg.AVFormatFreeContext(ctx)

	if _, err := ffmpeg.AVFormatFindStreamInfo(ctx, nil); err != nil {
		log.Panicln(err)
	}

	ffmpeg.AVDumpFormat(ctx, 0, url, 0)

	streams := ctx.Streams()

	for i := uintptr(0); i < uintptr(ctx.NbStreams()); i++ {
		s := streams.Get(i)

		slog.Info("  Stream", "i", i, "id", s.Id(), "dur", s.Duration())

		meta := s.Metadata()

		var entry *ffmpeg.AVDictionaryEntry

		for {
			entry = ffmpeg.AVDictGet(meta, ffmpeg.GlobalCStr(""), entry, ffmpeg.AVDictIgnoreSuffix)
			if entry == nil {
				break
			}

			slog.Info("    Meta", "key", entry.Key(), "value", entry.Value())
		}
	}
}

2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO Metadata
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from './bbb.mp4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : isom
    minor_version   : 1
    compatible_brands: isomavc1
    creation_time   : 2013-12-16T17:59:32.000000Z
    title           : Big Buck Bunny, Sunflower version
    artist          : Blender Foundation 2008, Janus Bager Kristensen 2013
    comment         : Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 - http://bbb3d.renderfarming.net
    genre           : Animation
    composer        : Sacha Goedegebure
  Duration: 00:10:34.57, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 4486 kb/s
  Stream #0:0[0x1](und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p(progressive), 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 4001 kb/s, 60 fps, 60 tbr, 60k tbn (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2013-12-16T17:59:32.000000Z
      handler_name    : GPAC ISO Video Handler
      vendor_id       : [0][0][0][0]
  Stream #0:1[0x2](und): Audio: mp3 (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 160 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2013-12-16T17:59:37.000000Z
      handler_name    : GPAC ISO Audio Handler
      vendor_id       : [0][0][0][0]
  Stream #0:2[0x3](und): Audio: ac3 (ac-3 / 0x332D6361), 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), fltp, 320 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2013-12-16T17:59:37.000000Z
      handler_name    : GPAC ISO Audio Handler
      vendor_id       : [0][0][0][0]
    Side data:
      audio service type: main
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO   Stream i=0 id=1 dur=38072000
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO     Meta key=creation_time value=2013-12-16T17:59:32.000000Z
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO     Meta key=language value=und
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO     Meta key=handler_name value="GPAC ISO Video Handler"
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO     Meta key=vendor_id value=[0][0][0][0]
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO   Stream i=1 id=2 dur=30441600
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO     Meta key=creation_time value=2013-12-16T17:59:37.000000Z
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO     Meta key=language value=und
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO     Meta key=handler_name value="GPAC ISO Audio Handler"
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO     Meta key=vendor_id value=[0][0][0][0]
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO   Stream i=2 id=3 dur=30438912
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO     Meta key=creation_time value=2013-12-16T17:59:37.000000Z
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO     Meta key=language value=und
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO     Meta key=handler_name value="GPAC ISO Audio Handler"
2024/01/15 21:39:43 INFO     Meta key=vendor_id value=[0][0][0][0]

FAQ

Q: Why is FFmpeg statically bundled?
- A: The version of FFmpeg varies by platform, making a one-size fits all style binding difficult with the Go build system and its lack of a build.go file.
Q: Why are the arm packages not built by CI?
- A: Ideally they would be. However, the free GitHub plan does not include arm builders.
Q: Why is library xyz not enabled?
- A: Libraries have been added on a as-needed basis. Feel free to create a PR enabling any additional libraries.
Q: I have some C code that I can't convert to Go, due to a missing binding feature
- A: Create an issue with a C sample, and we can go from there.

Library versions

Library	Version
FFmpeg	6.1
aom	3.8.1
ass	0.17.1
brotli	1.1
bz2	1.0.8
freetype	2.13.2
fribidi	1.0.13
harfbuzz	8.3.0
mp3lame	3.1000
ogg	1.3.1
opus	1.4
png	head
speex	1.2.1
theora	1.1.1
unibreak	5.1
vpx	1.14.0
x264	head
zlib	1.3

# Packages