Goodbye VLC, Thanks For The Memories

General system Applications
1

As I’ve been using MPV for ages now (sometimes with Haruna as a front-end), I’m really not sure why I even need to install VLC anymore. Habit, I guess.

What used to be just one update for VLC has turned into 80+ packages. Granted, it’s still a quick update, but 80+ packages??

❯ up
[sudo] password for wombat: 
:: Synchronizing package databases...
 endeavouros                               15.9 KiB   123 KiB/s 00:00 [--------------------------------------] 100%
 core                                     120.5 KiB   373 KiB/s 00:00 [--------------------------------------] 100%
 extra                                      8.0 MiB  10.3 MiB/s 00:01 [--------------------------------------] 100%
 multilib                                 132.5 KiB   393 KiB/s 00:00 [--------------------------------------] 100%
 chaotic-aur                              645.6 KiB  1009 KiB/s 00:01 [--------------------------------------] 100%
:: Searching AUR for updates...
:: Searching databases for updates...
:: 88 packages to upgrade/install.
88  extra/libvlc                       3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
87  extra/opencv                       4.12.0-7  -> 4.12.0-8
86  extra/plasma-workspace             6.4.5-1   -> 6.4.5-2
85  extra/protobuf                     32.0-1    -> 32.1-1
84  extra/protobuf-c                   1.5.2-5   -> 1.5.2-6
83  extra/python-protobuf              32.0-1    -> 32.1-1
82  extra/vlc-cli                      3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
81  extra/vlc-gui-ncurses              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
80  extra/vlc-gui-qt                   3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
79  extra/vlc-gui-skins2               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
78  extra/vlc-plugin-a52dec            3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
77  extra/vlc-plugin-aalib             3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
76  extra/vlc-plugin-alsa              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
75  extra/vlc-plugin-aom               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
74  extra/vlc-plugin-archive           3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
73  extra/vlc-plugin-aribb24           3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
72  extra/vlc-plugin-aribb25           3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
71  extra/vlc-plugin-ass               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
70  extra/vlc-plugin-avahi             3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
69  extra/vlc-plugin-bluray            3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
68  extra/vlc-plugin-caca              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
67  extra/vlc-plugin-cddb              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
66  extra/vlc-plugin-chromecast        3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
65  extra/vlc-plugin-dav1d             3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
64  extra/vlc-plugin-dbus              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
63  extra/vlc-plugin-dbus-screensaver  3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
62  extra/vlc-plugin-dca               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
61  extra/vlc-plugin-dvb               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
60  extra/vlc-plugin-dvd               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
59  extra/vlc-plugin-faad2             3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
58  extra/vlc-plugin-ffmpeg            3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
57  extra/vlc-plugin-firewire          3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
56  extra/vlc-plugin-flac              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
55  extra/vlc-plugin-fluidsynth        3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
54  extra/vlc-plugin-freetype          3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
53  extra/vlc-plugin-gme               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
52  extra/vlc-plugin-gnutls            3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
51  extra/vlc-plugin-gstreamer         3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
50  extra/vlc-plugin-inflate           3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
49  extra/vlc-plugin-jack              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
48  extra/vlc-plugin-journal           3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
47  extra/vlc-plugin-jpeg              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
46  extra/vlc-plugin-kate              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
45  extra/vlc-plugin-kwallet           3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
44  extra/vlc-plugin-libsecret         3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
43  extra/vlc-plugin-lirc              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
42  extra/vlc-plugin-live555           3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
41  extra/vlc-plugin-lua               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
40  extra/vlc-plugin-mad               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
39  extra/vlc-plugin-matroska          3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
38  extra/vlc-plugin-mdns              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
37  extra/vlc-plugin-modplug           3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
36  extra/vlc-plugin-mpeg2             3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
35  extra/vlc-plugin-mpg123            3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
34  extra/vlc-plugin-mtp               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
33  extra/vlc-plugin-musepack          3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
32  extra/vlc-plugin-nfs               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
31  extra/vlc-plugin-notify            3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
30  extra/vlc-plugin-ogg               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
29  extra/vlc-plugin-opus              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
28  extra/vlc-plugin-png               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
27  extra/vlc-plugin-pulse             3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
26  extra/vlc-plugin-quicksync         3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
25  extra/vlc-plugin-samplerate        3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
24  extra/vlc-plugin-sdl               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
23  extra/vlc-plugin-sftp              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
22  extra/vlc-plugin-shout             3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
21  extra/vlc-plugin-smb               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
20  extra/vlc-plugin-soxr              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
19  extra/vlc-plugin-speex             3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
18  extra/vlc-plugin-srt               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
17  extra/vlc-plugin-svg               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
16  extra/vlc-plugin-tag               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
15  extra/vlc-plugin-theora            3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
14  extra/vlc-plugin-twolame           3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
13  extra/vlc-plugin-udev              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
12  extra/vlc-plugin-upnp              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
11  extra/vlc-plugin-vorbis            3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
10  extra/vlc-plugin-vpx               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
 9  extra/vlc-plugin-x264              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
 8  extra/vlc-plugin-x265              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
 7  extra/vlc-plugin-xml               3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
 6  extra/vlc-plugin-zvbi              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
 5  extra/vlc-plugins-all              3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
 4  extra/vlc-plugins-base             3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
 3  extra/vlc-plugins-extra            3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
 2  extra/vlc-plugins-video-output     3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
 1  extra/vlc-plugins-visualization    3.0.21-28 -> 3.0.21-29
==> Packages to exclude: (eg: "1 2 3", "1-3", "^4" or repo name)
 -> Excluding packages may cause partial upgrades and break systems
==>

Time to say goodbye to VLC. You did a great job for me over the years. But time to move on and stick with MPV.

3 Likes
2

While I agree that mpv is simply superior on desktop linux for any use-case I can think of ..

It might still be pointed out that the change in vlc’s packaging did/does not equate to it being any heavier. Just more modular - meaning it can actually be lighter than it previously was as you can choose to only install the plugins that you need.

Of course you do not need the extra skins or ncurses interface either if you do not use them.

2 Likes
3

I don’t disagree. But the main point of 80+ updates is just plain silly. There was no need to make VLC “lighter” as it was far from a heavy app to begin with.

And now, with some just expecting VLC to work out of the box as it did previously, users need to investigate as to why that’s no longer the case. Then investigate as to which plugins they may or may not need. Then search for those individual plugins. Or just install vlc-plugins-all which defeats the purpose of being “modular.”

In my view, this was nothing more than change for the sake of change.

7 Likes
4

I for one would appreciate it more this way than the previous monolith.

There is purpose to modularity .. it is not ‘change for change’ .. from a purely packaging standpoint it is more correct and closer to arch philosophy. From a users technical and philosophical viewpoint its simply more choice as well which is simply more good.

The commit with some rationale is here by the way;

But also dont use VLC, so I dont really care.

2 Likes
5

No. You should remember that Valve is investing a lot in to Arch. I suspect this and the firmware split is do to the fact that they want to be able to keep it accessible for Handheld devices. It makes since for them that will be dealing with more limited hardware.

I stopped with VLC for my main a while back and haven’t been happier.

In my case it actually had me install things I never needed or had before such as KDE wallet when I don’t use KDE.

2 Likes
6

Where VLC is concerned I have to agree with @UncleSpellbinder Change just for change. No fan of VLC in the first place when SMPlayer will all full screen on videos VLC won’t.

2 Likes
7

Well, I just disagree with that philosophy… in this particular case. VLC was never a “monolith.” I’d much rather have portions of an app I may never use than spend the day researching why something isn’t working the way it used to. Just my opinion.

Same, pretty much. I just had vlc-plugins-all left after I uninstalled VLC after the split. Still, this whole “changing for modularity” thing just makes no sense to me, at least in this case. As I said, VLC was far from a large app. And it was never a monolith.

4 Likes
8

What you are describing is a monolithic design philosophy .. but I guess this isnt being understood.

Like you want or appreciate the idea of “one big box of VLC” instead of “a lot of little pieces that you can optionally choose to make up portions of VLC”. You want a monolith.

I dont really see why when metapackages basically do that for you. But le shrug.

1 Like
9

I think he understood just fine.

3 Likes
10

Yes, it’s understood. I get the reasoning. But the split was unnecessary. The split was NOT an improvement in any way. It was an inconvenience at best.

3 Likes
11

I kicked vlc to the curb after using it for many years with no issues and then it started acting up and would not play certain videos because it was missing some plugins. The only way I could get it to function correctly again was to install all the plugins. Nah, I dont need all that. Enjoying mpv and Smplayer as a replacement for it as I speak.

4 Likes
12

How is that not wanting a monolith?

You not liking the split does not make your desire any less in line with monolithic philosophy. Owell.

“It was never a monolith” .. goes on to describe monolith. :palm_tree:

1 Like
13

“Monolith” in terms of size, not modular. And splits in general are not a bad thing, per se. In the case of VLC, it was.

YES. The ENTIRE point of VLC from its point of inception was “we can do it all.” Install VLC and never look back because we play all files.

Now, current users unfamiliar with the split are forced to research and locate specific plugins for what they want to play. A complete reversal of the original idea of VLC.

4 Likes
14

Yup. That was the VLC selling point.

VLC up until very recently: Sick and tired of installing dozens of different codecs just to play stuff? Well with VLC, you can install just one thing instead, and they all work.

Now we’re somehow back to dozens of different codecs again :man_shrugging:

5 Likes
15

Correct

2 Likes
16

I think you can still install one thing with vlc and get the codecs as dependencies. And if only one of the packages is updated, you only have to update only this small part, not the whole bunch, similar to the splitted firmware packages. I really like the wallpapers of @UncleSpellbinder (or other creators), but I don’t want to download the whole package everytime only one wallpaper is added or optimized.
I know, a lot of people have internet with a speed I only can dream of, and maybe in two years in my street we can also get lightning fast internet, but today it feels like ISDN on drugs, and I’m happy if I can download only the needed data, not the complete distro only for small changes. There are a lot of areas in the world where connections are slow. And even if I live in a high-tech-country my connection is slow.

…because of the costs, you know, we are really sorry, but at least it’s nice around the town, right?

Ususally I download my updates scheduled in background, and when the download is complete, I start the install manually. It’s like using the mailboxes earlier, you don’t have to sit and watch the data dropping in. Just let them in and act later.
Maybe I change my mind when I surf at the fast lane, waving a little goodbye :wink:

17

MPV forever!

5 Likes
18

It really is beyond me why you all don’t just switch to Windows, where VLC is just one package - https://get.videolan.org/vlc/3.0.21/win64/vlc-3.0.21-win64.exe

/s

11 Likes
19

image
I was all fired up and then I saw the /s

:slight_smile:

2 Likes
20

Best idea in this thread! Will install Windows right away! :smiley:

5 Likes