gstreamer/splitup.md

# GStreamer Plug-ins splitup

Here is some explanation regarding the split-up of plug-ins into separate
modules.  Without further ado ...

## GStreamer - Hung by a Thread

Starring

  GSTREAMER


The core around which all other modules revolve.  Base functionality and
libraries, some essential elements, documentation, and testing.

  BASE

A well-groomed and well-maintained collection of GStreamer plug-ins and
elements, spanning the range of possible types of elements one would want
to write for GStreamer.  


And introducing, for the first time ever, on the development screen ...

  THE GOOD

<div align="right"><i>Such ingratitude.  After all the times I've saved your life.</i></div>


A collection of plug-ins you'd want to have right next to you on the
battlefield.  Shooting sharp and making no mistakes, these plug-ins have it
all: good looks, good code, and good licensing.  Documented and dressed up
in tests.  If you're looking for a role model to base your own plug-in on,
here it is.

If you find a plot hole or a badly lip-synced line of code in them,
let us know - it is a matter of honour for us to ensure Blondie doesn't look
like he's been walking 100 miles through the desert without water.

  THE UGLY

<div align="right"><i>When you have to shoot, shoot.  Don't talk.</i></div>

There are times when the world needs a color between black and white.
Quality code to match the good's, but two-timing, backstabbing and ready to
sell your freedom down the river.  These plug-ins might have a patent noose
around their neck, or a lock-up license, or any other problem that makes you
think twice about shipping them.

We don't call them ugly because we like them less.  Does a mother love her
son less because he's not as pretty as the other ones ? No  - she commends
him on his great personality.  These plug-ins are the life of the party.
And we'll still step in and set them straight if you report any unacceptable
behaviour - because there are two kinds of people in the world, my friend:
those with a rope around their neck and the people who do the cutting.

  THE BAD


<div align="right"><i>That an accusation?</i></div>

No perfectly groomed moustache or any amount of fine clothing is going to
cover up the truth - these plug-ins are Bad with a capital B. 
They look fine on the outside, and might even appear to get the job done, but
at the end of the day they're a black sheep. Without a golden-haired angel
to watch over them, they'll probably land in an unmarked grave at the final
showdown.

Don't bug us about their quality - exercise your Free Software rights,
patch up the offender and send us the patch on the fastest steed you can
steal from the Confederates. Because you see, in this world, there's two
kinds of people, my friend: those with loaded guns and those who dig.
You dig.

## The Lowdown

<div align="right"><i>I've never seen so many plug-ins wasted so badly.</i></div>

GStreamer Plugins has grown so big that it's hard to separate the wheat from
the chaff.  Also, distributors have brought up issues about the legal status
of some of the plug-ins we ship.  To remedy this, we've divided the previous
set of available plug-ins into four modules:

### gst-plugins-base

a small and fixed set of plug-ins, covering a wide range
of possible types of elements; these are continuously kept up-to-date
with any core changes during the development series.
* We believe distributors can safely ship these plug-ins
* People writing elements should base their code on these elements
* These elements come with examples, documentation, and regression tests

### gst-plugins-good

a set of plug-ins that we consider to have good quality
code, correct functionality, our preferred license (LGPL for the plug-in
code, LGPL or LGPL-compatible for the supporting library).
* We believe distributors can safely ship these plug-ins
* People writing elements should base their code on these elements
 
### gst-plugins-ugly

a set of plug-ins that have good quality and correct
functionality, but distributing them might pose problems.  The license
on either the plug-ins or the supporting libraries might not be how we'd
like. The code might be widely known to present patent problems.
* Distributors should check if they want/can ship these plug-ins
* People writing elements should base their code on these elements

### gst-plugins-bad

a set of plug-ins that aren't up to par compared to the
rest.  They might be close to being good quality, but they're missing
something - be it a good code review, some documentation, a set of tests,
a real live maintainer, or some actual wide use.

If the blanks are filled in they might be upgraded to become part of
either gst-plugins-good or gst-plugins-ugly, depending on the other factors.
* If the plug-ins break, you can't complain - instead, you can fix the
  problem and send us a patch, or bribe someone into fixing them for you
* New contributors can start here for things to work on