Re: MPlayer

[William Ballard <40711.nospam@comcast.net>]

On Sun, Jul 18, 2004 at 11:46:09PM +0300, Lior Kaplan wrote:
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> Hi,
> 
> I didn't find any package for MPlayer on the main repository. I checked
> its license and found it to be GPL v2
> (http://www.mplayerhq.hu/homepage/design7/info.html)
> 
> Any reason that it won't have a package?
> 
> (if I'm not mistaken, it used to be under a non DFSG license in the past)

The codecs it depends on (essential*) are propriatary; it's a huge 
illegal pile of mess which happens to be wonderful.  (BTW, 
BigMeanEvilCompanies could come down hard on Linux for using this 
illegal piece of software).

But the source is debianized: just download it and run fakeroot 
debian/rules binary; but you'll need to install a lot of -dev packages 
and modifiy the configure part of debian/rules.

This is a FAQ and sure to start a flamewar on the list: go read the 
archives.