Pros of VLC

• More feature-rich with a wide range of built-in codecs and streaming capabilities
• Cross-platform support with native GUI for various operating systems
• Extensive plugin ecosystem for additional functionality

Cons of VLC

• Larger codebase and resource footprint
• Less customizable and harder to integrate into other applications
• Slower development cycle for new features and updates

Code Comparison

VLC (C):

int libvlc_media_player_play(libvlc_media_player_t *p_mi)
{
    vlc_player_t *player = p_mi->player;
    vlc_player_Lock(player);
    int ret = vlc_player_Start(player);
    vlc_player_Unlock(player);
    return ret;
}

MPV (C):

int mpv_play(mpv_handle *ctx)
{
    return mpv_command(ctx, (const char*[]){"playlist-play-index", "current", NULL});
}

The code snippets show the play function implementation in both projects. VLC uses a more complex structure with locking mechanisms, while MPV relies on a simpler command-based approach.

Pros of XBMC

• Full-featured media center with a rich user interface and extensive customization options
• Supports a wide range of media formats and streaming services
• Offers add-ons and plugins for extended functionality

Cons of XBMC

• Heavier resource usage due to its comprehensive feature set
• Steeper learning curve for configuration and customization
• Slower startup time compared to lightweight players

Code Comparison

XBMC (C++):

bool CVideoPlayer::OpenInputStream()
{
  if (m_pInputStream.use_count() > 1)
    throw std::runtime_error("Input stream is in use");
  m_pInputStream.reset();
  m_pInputStream = CInputStreamFactory::CreateInputStream(m_item);
  if (!m_pInputStream)
    return false;
  return true;
}

MPV (C):

int mp_input_add_cmd_fd(struct mp_input_src *src, int fd, int select,
                        void (*read_func)(void *ctx, int fd),
                        void *ctx, const char *name)
{
    if (src->num_fds == MP_MAX_FDS)
        return -1;
    struct mp_input_fd *fds = &src->fds[src->num_fds++];
    *fds = (struct mp_input_fd){
        .fd = fd,
        .select = select,
        .read_func = read_func,
        .ctx = ctx,
        .name = name,
    };
    return 0;
}

Both projects use low-level programming languages for performance, but XBMC's codebase is more complex due to its extensive feature set, while MPV focuses on efficient media playback with a simpler architecture.

Pros of FFmpeg

• Broader functionality: FFmpeg is a complete multimedia framework for encoding, decoding, and processing audio/video
• More extensive command-line tools for various multimedia tasks
• Larger community and more frequent updates

Cons of FFmpeg

• Steeper learning curve due to its extensive features and options
• Less user-friendly for simple playback tasks compared to mpv
• Requires more setup and configuration for basic media playback

Code Comparison

mpv:

mp.add_key_binding("ctrl+s", "screenshot", function()
    mp.commandv("screenshot")
end)

FFmpeg:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "select='eq(pict_type,I)'" -vsync vfr thumb%04d.png

The mpv example shows a simple Lua script for taking screenshots, while the FFmpeg example demonstrates a more complex command for extracting keyframes from a video.

FFmpeg offers more powerful and flexible multimedia processing capabilities, making it ideal for advanced users and developers. mpv, on the other hand, provides a more streamlined and user-friendly experience for media playback, with a focus on simplicity and performance.

Both projects have their strengths, and the choice between them depends on the specific use case and user requirements.

Pros of MPC-HC

• User-friendly interface with a traditional Windows look and feel
• Built-in codecs for easy playback of various file formats
• Lightweight and efficient, especially on older hardware

Cons of MPC-HC

• Development has slowed down, with less frequent updates
• Limited cross-platform support (primarily Windows-focused)
• Fewer advanced customization options compared to MPV

Code Comparison

MPC-HC (C++):

BOOL CMPlayerCApp::InitInstance()
{
    // Initialize COM
    CoInitializeEx(NULL, COINIT_APARTMENTTHREADED);
    // ... (initialization code)
}

MPV (C):

int mpv_main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    struct MPContext *mpctx = mp_create();
    // ... (initialization code)
    return mp_initialize(mpctx, argc, argv) ? -1 : 0;
}

Both projects use C/C++ for their core functionality, but MPV's codebase is generally considered more modular and extensible. MPC-HC's code is more tightly integrated with the Windows API, while MPV aims for greater platform independence.

Pros of Jellyfin

• Full-featured media server with web interface, transcoding, and user management
• Supports a wide range of client devices and platforms
• Open-source alternative to proprietary media servers like Plex or Emby

Cons of Jellyfin

• More complex setup and configuration compared to MPV's simplicity
• Higher resource usage due to server-client architecture and transcoding features
• Steeper learning curve for users new to media server software

Code Comparison

MPV (player.c):

int mpv_play(mpv_handle *ctx)
{
    return mpv_command(ctx, (const char*[]){"playlist-play-index", "current", NULL});
}

Jellyfin (MediaBrowser.Controller/Playback/PlaybackManager.cs):

public async Task Play(PlayRequest request)
{
    var result = await GetPlaybackInfo(request).ConfigureAwait(false);
    await PlayInternal(request, result).ConfigureAwait(false);
}

While MPV focuses on direct playback control, Jellyfin's code demonstrates its server-side playback management with asynchronous operations and more complex request handling.

Pros of IINA

• Modern, user-friendly macOS-native interface
• Built-in features like picture-in-picture and touch bar support
• Extensive customization options through preferences panel

Cons of IINA

• Limited to macOS platform
• May have slightly higher resource usage due to additional features
• Potentially slower update cycle compared to mpv

Code Comparison

IINA (Swift):

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    playerCore.startMPV()
    setupUIAndObservers()
}

mpv (C):

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    mpv_handle *ctx = mpv_create();
    mpv_initialize(ctx);
    mpv_command_string(ctx, "loadfile test.mp4");
    mpv_wait_event(ctx, -1);
}

Summary

IINA is a macOS-specific media player built on top of mpv, offering a more polished and user-friendly experience for Mac users. It includes additional features and a native interface but is limited to a single platform. mpv, on the other hand, is a cross-platform, lightweight player with broader compatibility and potentially faster updates. The choice between the two depends on the user's platform preference and desired feature set.