GStreamer "Slipstream" 0.1.0 released!

[Erik Walthinsen <omega temple-baptist com>]

We're pleased to announce the availability of version 0.1.0 (dubbed
"Slipstream") of the GStreamer streaming-media framework.

GStreamer 0.1.0 is the result of over a year of development by an
international group of open source developers aspiring to build the
ultimate streaming media framework. Although not yet completed, this
release already boasts many impressive features and capabilities including
a streamlined core library, an intelligent autoplugging architecture,
extensive developer's tools, and a large plugin library. With all of the
features listed below, GStreamer promises to be the leading architecture
for streaming media. This intelligent pipeline opens new doors in bringing
the latest in audio and video applications to the Linux desktop.

GStreamer allows the construction of graphs of media-handling components,
ranging from simple mp3 playback to complex audio (mixing) and video
(non-linear editing) processing.  Applications can take advantage of
advances in codec and filter technology transparently.  Developers can add
new codecs and filters by writing a simple plugin with a clean, optimized
interface.


Comprehensive Core Library:

* Graph-based construction allows arbitrary pipeline construction
* Based on GTK+ object model for object-oriented design and inheritance
* Small core library of less than 150KB, about 10 K lines of code
* Scheduling system capable of dealing with most pipeline structures
* Multi-threaded pipelines are trivial and transparent to construct
* Clean and simple API for both plugin and application developers
* Extremely lightweight data passing means very high performance
* Complete debugging system for both core and plugin/app developers
* Clocking to ensure global inter-stream synchronization


Intelligent Plug-In Architecture:

* Dynamically loaded plugins provide Elements and Types, demand-loaded via
  an XML registry, similar to ld.so.cache
* Element interface handles all known types sources, filters, sinks
* Capabilities system allows system to verify element compatibility using
  MIME types and media-specific properties
* Autoplugging uses Caps to complete complex paths automatically
* Pipelines can be saved to XML, and loaded back to a working state
* Resource friendly plug-ins don't waste RAM


Extensive Development Tools:

* Graphical editor allows pipelines to be built quickly, and saved as XML
* Commandline tool enables even quicker prototyping and testing
* GNOME-based media player capable of playing any media type for which
  plugins exist
* All tools written as libraries to allow applications to reuse them
* Complete core API docs, partial manual and plugin writer's guides
* Large selection of test programs and example code


Core Elements:

* File and HTTP sources
* OSS audio source and sink
* Testing source, filter, and sink
* Pipe filter for running filter programs (via fork())
* Queue to enable threaded applications


Plugins shipped with GStreamer:

* mp3 audio encoder and decoder (mpg123 and lame)
* MPEG-1 and -2 video encoder, decoders, multiplexer and demultiplexers
* MPEG-2 program stream demultiplexer
* DVD subtitle decoder
* AC3 audio decoder (ac3dec)
* Ogg Vorbis encoder and decoder
* AVI encoder and decoder
* Windows .dll loader using WINE for "DiVX ;-)" and other codecs
* JPEG and RTJPEG encoders and decoders
* WAV and AU decoders
* V4L video capture
* CD ripping capability via libcdda_paranoia
* LADSPA plugin wrapper (not complete) 
* ESD sound output
* Video output to an X display with optional Xv overlay support
* Small collection of audio and video processing plugins


Upcoming Enhancements:

* Move from GTK+ to GLib object system (Glib 2.0) for portability
* Better end-of-stream (EOS) handling and complex state management
* Quality-of-Service (QoS) support to ensure proper playout on slow boxen
* Significantly improved graphical editor
* Feature and regression test suites to verify functionality
* Bonobo components for editor and media player
* Web-based registry of plugins with auto-download features in gstplay
* Plugins:
  ALSA, aRts sources and sink


More details on these features can be found, along with the release
tarballs and some RPMs, on the project's website:

http://gstreamer.net/

GStreamer is hosted on SourceForge, so support requests and bugs may be
filed as usual.  Interested developers of the core library, plugins, and
applications should subscribe to the gstreamer-devel list.  If there is
sufficient interest we will create more lists as necessary.  There is also
a survey up, if you wish to inform us of specific applications you might
use GStreamer for, or specific plugins you would like to see.


- Erik Walthinsen <omega temple-baptist com>
- Wim Taymans <wim taymans chello be>
- Richard Boulton <richard tartarus org>