plex-media-player

Pros of Jellyfin

• Fully open-source and free, with no premium features or subscriptions
• More flexible and customizable, allowing for deeper user control
• Supports a wider range of media formats out-of-the-box

Cons of Jellyfin

• Less polished user interface and experience compared to Plex Media Player
• Smaller community and ecosystem, resulting in fewer plugins and integrations
• May require more technical knowledge to set up and maintain

Code Comparison

Jellyfin (C#):

public class MediaBrowser : IDisposable
{
    private readonly ILogger<MediaBrowser> _logger;
    private readonly IFileSystem _fileSystem;
    private readonly ILibraryManager _libraryManager;
}

Plex Media Player (C++):

class MediaPlayer : public QObject
{
  Q_OBJECT
  Q_PROPERTY(PlaybackState state READ state NOTIFY stateChanged)
  Q_PROPERTY(qint64 position READ position WRITE setPosition NOTIFY positionChanged)
}

Both projects use object-oriented programming, but Jellyfin is written in C# while Plex Media Player uses C++. Jellyfin's code structure appears more focused on dependency injection and separation of concerns, while Plex Media Player's code shows a Qt-based approach with properties and signals for UI integration.

Pros of XBMC

• More customizable and extensible with a wider range of add-ons and plugins
• Supports a broader range of media formats and codecs out-of-the-box
• Can function as a standalone media center without requiring a server

Cons of XBMC

• Steeper learning curve and potentially more complex setup process
• Less streamlined user interface, which may be overwhelming for some users
• Requires more frequent manual updates and maintenance

Code Comparison

XBMC (C++):

bool CVideoPlayer::OpenDemuxStream()
{
  if (m_pDemuxer)
  {
    m_pDemuxer->Open(m_item.GetDemuxString());
    return true;
  }
  return false;
}

Plex Media Player (C++):

bool MediaPlayer::openMedia(const QString& url)
{
  m_player->setMedia(QUrl(url));
  return m_player->play();
}

Both projects use C++ for their core functionality, but XBMC's codebase tends to be more complex and feature-rich, while Plex Media Player focuses on a streamlined approach for integration with the Plex ecosystem.

Pros of VLC

• Open-source with a large community of contributors
• Supports a wider range of audio and video formats out-of-the-box
• More customizable with advanced features for power users

Cons of VLC

• Less polished user interface compared to Plex Media Player
• Lacks built-in media organization and library management features
• No native support for streaming from Plex servers

Code Comparison

VLC (main.c):

int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
{
    libvlc_instance_t *inst;
    libvlc_media_player_t *mp;
    libvlc_media_t *m;

    inst = libvlc_new(0, NULL);
    m = libvlc_media_new_path(inst, argv[1]);
    mp = libvlc_media_player_new_from_media(m);

Plex Media Player (main.cpp):

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
  QGuiApplication app(argc, argv);
  QQmlApplicationEngine engine;
  PlayerComponent player(&app);
  engine.rootContext()->setContextProperty("player", &player);

Both projects use different approaches for their main entry points. VLC focuses on initializing its core libraries, while Plex Media Player sets up a QML-based user interface and integrates a player component.

Pros of IINA

• Open-source and community-driven, allowing for faster development and customization
• Supports a wider range of video and audio formats natively
• Modern, sleek user interface designed specifically for macOS

Cons of IINA

• Limited to macOS, while Plex Media Player is cross-platform
• Lacks built-in media server functionality and library management
• Does not offer seamless integration with other Plex ecosystem products

Code Comparison

IINA (Swift):

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    playerCore.startMPV()
    playerCore.playMedia(url)
}

Plex Media Player (C++):

void MediaPlayer::play(const QString& url)
{
    m_player->setSource(QUrl(url));
    m_player->play();
}

Both projects use different programming languages and frameworks, reflecting their target platforms and design philosophies. IINA's code is more macOS-centric, while Plex Media Player's code is designed for cross-platform compatibility.

IINA focuses on providing a native macOS experience with Swift, while Plex Media Player uses C++ for broader platform support. IINA's codebase is generally more accessible to macOS developers, whereas Plex Media Player's code is more complex due to its cross-platform nature and integration with the Plex ecosystem.

Pros of mpv

• Lightweight and highly customizable media player
• Supports a wide range of video and audio formats
• Extensive scripting capabilities using Lua

Cons of mpv

• Less user-friendly interface, primarily command-line based
• Lacks built-in media library management features
• Requires more technical knowledge for advanced configurations

Code Comparison

mpv:

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

Plex Media Player:

MediaKeyHandler {
    onPlayPausePressed: player.playPause()
    onNextPressed: player.next()
    onPreviousPressed: player.previous()
}

The code snippets demonstrate the different approaches to handling user input and media control. mpv uses Lua scripting for custom key bindings, while Plex Media Player utilizes QML for defining media key handlers.

mpv offers more flexibility and customization options for advanced users, whereas Plex Media Player provides a more polished and user-friendly experience with integrated media management features. The choice between the two depends on the user's needs, technical expertise, and desired level of control over the media playback experience.