mpv-player/mpv
Mpv
This project is a high-performance, terminal-based media player designed for efficient audio and video playback. It utilizes a modular decoding core to handle a wide range of multimedia formats while offloading frame processing to platform-specific hardware-accelerated rendering pipelines to minimize CPU overhead. Beyond its standalone utility, the software functions as an embeddable multimedia engine, providing a native library interface that allows external applications to integrate its advanced decoding and rendering capabilities directly into their own interfaces.
The player is distinguished by its extensive automation and control capabilities, which allow it to function as a programmable backend for complex media environments. Users can manage playback behavior through a declarative configuration system that supports conditional profiles and custom input mappings. Furthermore, the software provides a bidirectional inter-process communication interface using JSON-formatted commands, enabling external programs to monitor status and control playback in real time.
Extensibility is a core design principle, supported by a scripting automation engine and a native plugin architecture. These features allow developers to observe internal state, modify properties, and load compiled modules to extend functionality without disrupting the main playback loop. The system also includes comprehensive tools for managing audio output drivers, monitoring performance through real-time statistics overlays, and customizing user interactions via on-screen controllers and context menus.
