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Show HN: CompressX, my FFmpeg wrapper for macOS

compressx.app

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Re: Show HN: CompressX, my FFmpeg wrapper for macOS

#62
post #58
post #45

You're being modest in describing it as an FFmpeg "wrapper". Although technically true, I can see a lot of thought and effort went into the UX, and I think that's where the value lies. Good job!

Yes that's exactly right, the extremely complex and clever code in ffmpeg that's understood by about 12 people in the world and is the basis for the entire media consumption in the world isn't where the value is, some gui frontend is. Do you work for microsoft?

Right, the value add should obviously remain locked in the hands of a few elite professionals and the rest of the world should have to beg and grovel at their feet to get anything done. Any attempts to simplify workflows should be looked at with scorn and an aura of arrogance.

Do you work at Oracle?

Re: Show HN: CompressX, my FFmpeg wrapper for macOS

#63
post #58
post #45

You're being modest in describing it as an FFmpeg "wrapper". Although technically true, I can see a lot of thought and effort went into the UX, and I think that's where the value lies. Good job!

Yes that's exactly right, the extremely complex and clever code in ffmpeg that's understood by about 12 people in the world and is the basis for the entire media consumption in the world isn't where the value is, some gui frontend is. Do you work for microsoft?

I agree with the GP here. Yes, you can do all this with just FFMPEG, but now you have to wade through all the docs, flags, values to craft your CLI args with a bit of trial and error. The value add here is a coherent front-end that abstracts away all the complexity and lets you cut right to what you want. Further, if it's something you do infrequently, or your workflow changes, you have to rerun the gaunlet of figuring out what flags/values you need. FFMPEG can do a ton, but most people just need to crunch the file size, transcode, and occasionally convert a snippet into a gif

Re: Show HN: CompressX, my FFmpeg wrapper for macOS

#64
post #58
post #45

You're being modest in describing it as an FFmpeg "wrapper". Although technically true, I can see a lot of thought and effort went into the UX, and I think that's where the value lies. Good job!

Yes that's exactly right, the extremely complex and clever code in ffmpeg that's understood by about 12 people in the world and is the basis for the entire media consumption in the world isn't where the value is, some gui frontend is. Do you work for microsoft?

> that's where the value lies

If you're not trying to pick a fight, the more sensical reading of this is "where the value [of this tool] lies".

Re: Show HN: CompressX, my FFmpeg wrapper for macOS

#65
post #31
post #23

I swear the best looking software like this is all built for MacOS. Maybe there's a lot of it on Windows as well, but I don't see a ton of it on HN (maybe just the demo?). Is the ecosystem part of this? Is it that the application demographic leans towards MacOS? Is the dev and monetization experience better? I'm really curious if anyone know why I see so much good native indie software for MacOS specifically.

It's because the user interface is actually consistent and normalised across the whole platform and the paradigms are well documented and understood by the developers producing software. On Windows and Linux one minute you're constantly poked in the eye by fucked up scaling issues, different toolkit weirdness and quirks, various layers of abandoned shit going back 25 years and people with the design ability of a thre…

but anyone can create an electron app these days with total control over the UI polish with way less effort.

in fact electron seems like the perfect use case here for a ffmpeg UI wrapper. surprised no one has done it.

Re: Show HN: CompressX, my FFmpeg wrapper for macOS

#67
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's because the user interface is actually consistent and normalised across the whole platform and the paradigms are well documented and understood by the developers producing software. On Windows and Linux one minute you're constantly poked in the eye by fucked up scaling issues, different toolkit weirdness and quirks, various layers of abandoned shit going back 25 years and people with the design ability of a thre…

but anyone can create an electron app these days with total control over the UI polish with way less effort. in fact electron seems like the perfect use case here for a ffmpeg UI wrapper. surprised no one has done it.

Electron serves the developer not the user.

It also looks shit on every platform then.

And eats all your RAM

Re: Show HN: CompressX, my FFmpeg wrapper for macOS

#68
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's because the user interface is actually consistent and normalised across the whole platform and the paradigms are well documented and understood by the developers producing software. On Windows and Linux one minute you're constantly poked in the eye by fucked up scaling issues, different toolkit weirdness and quirks, various layers of abandoned shit going back 25 years and people with the design ability of a thre…

but anyone can create an electron app these days with total control over the UI polish with way less effort. in fact electron seems like the perfect use case here for a ffmpeg UI wrapper. surprised no one has done it.

Not that it really matters I guess, but electron apps are chunky. Huge bin size and large memory usage.

Re: Show HN: CompressX, my FFmpeg wrapper for macOS

#69
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's because the user interface is actually consistent and normalised across the whole platform and the paradigms are well documented and understood by the developers producing software. On Windows and Linux one minute you're constantly poked in the eye by fucked up scaling issues, different toolkit weirdness and quirks, various layers of abandoned shit going back 25 years and people with the design ability of a thre…

but anyone can create an electron app these days with total control over the UI polish with way less effort. in fact electron seems like the perfect use case here for a ffmpeg UI wrapper. surprised no one has done it.

People rage about Electron being insecure and bloated, but by Jove it’s a godsend for consistency and portability.

Re: Show HN: CompressX, my FFmpeg wrapper for macOS

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

but anyone can create an electron app these days with total control over the UI polish with way less effort. in fact electron seems like the perfect use case here for a ffmpeg UI wrapper. surprised no one has done it.

Not that it really matters I guess, but electron apps are chunky. Huge bin size and large memory usage.

were talking about a tiny desktop app that wraps ffmpeg CLI. this is the perfect use case for it, over, say, VISUAL STUDIO CODE.
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