[MacPorts] #69808: ffmpeg*: ability to select ffmpeg version as default

[MacPorts]

#69808: ffmpeg*: ability to select ffmpeg version as default
-------------------------------------------------+-------------------------
  Reporter:  eirnym                              |      Owner:  mascguy
      Type:  defect                              |     Status:  assigned
  Priority:  Normal                              |  Milestone:
 Component:  ports                               |    Version:  2.9.3
Resolution:                                      |   Keywords:
      Port:  ffmpeg, ffmpeg-devel, ffmpeg4,      |
  ffmpeg6, ffmpeg7, ffmpeg_select                |
-------------------------------------------------+-------------------------
Changes (by ryandesign):

 * cc: dbevans, jeremyhu, mohd-akram, barracuda156 (added)
 * port:  ffmpeg6 yt-dlp => ffmpeg, ffmpeg-devel, ffmpeg4, ffmpeg6, ffmpeg7,
     ffmpeg_select


Comment:

 The existence of the ffmpeg-devel port at version 7.x suggests that the
 plan is to eventually update the ffmpeg port, currently at version 4.x, to
 7.x. This would involve a lot of work verifying that all the ports that
 depend on the ffmpeg (or ffmpeg-devel) ports continue to work with this
 new version. There are currently 104 ports (in 74 portfiles) depending on
 port ffmpeg. If this is the plan, then there is no need for a port select
 mechanism for ffmpeg since there is only one approved version in the
 ffmpeg port and one preview version in the ffmpeg-devel port and only one
 of them can be active at a time.

 On the other hand, the existence of the ffmpeg4, ffmpeg6, and ffmpeg7
 ports suggests that the plan is to phase out the ffmpeg and ffmpeg-devel
 ports and update each port that uses ffmpeg to depend on the versioned
 ffmpeg port that it needs. This would be easier in the long run as each
 port using ffmpeg can update to a new major version of ffmpeg when it
 becomes compatible, and new major versions of ffmpeg can be added in new
 ports without breaking any existing ports. In this case, a port select
 mechanism for ffmpeg could be created. As always, the port select
 mechanism is for the benefit of users on the command line; it is not
 intended for ports (e.g. yt-dlp) to be affected by what you select.

 It is confusing that two separate port versioning strategies are being
 employed by the ffmpeg port maintainers at the same time.

 There are too many different people declaring themselves to be maintainers
 of the ffmpeg ports. It is probably difficult to gain consensus between
 them on what should be done. Ideally there should be one or two people who
 maintain all the ffmpeg ports and have a unified vision for them. If the
 port maintainers will clarify here what the vision for these ports is,
 then progress can be made on this ticket.

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://trac.macports.org/ticket/69808#comment:12>
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