Package "kino" should prompt for ffmpeg installation in the import process of files not in dv format

[William Hood]

Binary package hint: kino

Kino uses ffmpeg to import AVI files (and probably for other things).

If Kino is installed, but not ffmpeg, it will not be able to convert AVI files to DV.

To reproduce:

1. Start with a fresh install of Ubuntu.
2. Install packages "kino" and "kinoplus".
3. Run kino FROM THE COMMAND LINE and keep the terminal window visible.
4. Attempt to open an AVI file (the ones I use are 320x240 created with a Canon PowerShot S2 1S). The import will fail and the terminal will display:
>> Kino Common newFile
>>> Received playlist to store at position 0
>>>> Adding to end
/usr/share/kino/scripts/import/media.sh: line 24: ffmpeg: command not found
5. Install package "ffmpeg".
6. Try again to import the exact same file as in step 4. It will succeed.

[Mark Reitblatt (mark-reitblatt)]

Kino suggests ffmpeg. According to kino's own site, it doesn't require ffmpeg: http://www.kinodv.org/article/static/3 . Thus, the package is correct in not depending on ffmpeg. It is simply less functional without ffmpeg. But it still works perfectly fine.

[Mantas Kriaučiūnas (mantas)]

If people needs functionality, provided by ffmpeg, then maybe it should be in Recommends field of kino package - then aptitude and synaptic will install ffmpeg automatically when installing kino.
(look at Debian Policy manual for more info about dependancies - http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-relationships.html#s-binarydeps )
Maybe we need to make a simple kino users survey and if lots of users needs functionality, provided by ffmpeg, then add ffmpeg in Recommends field of kino package.

[Mantas Kriaučiūnas (mantas)]

Why don't put fmpeg in Recommends field of kino package ?
Also kinoplus package could be moved from Suggests to Recommends, I think

[marco.pallotta (marco-pallotta)]

If importing a movie not in dv format kino requires ffmpeg but, if this last is not installed, kino opens anyway the import windows (without prompting no errors) but the process never terminates. The user doesn't know what happens.
I think kino should, at least, prompt a message that informs the user to install ffmpeg (obviously it should be better that the system should install it automatically). This is an usability bug.

[Vadim Peretokin (vperetokin)]

I reported this upstream, however the author said he ceased active development two years ago - so it's unlikely that this will be in unless a contributor adds a patch.

[Gaetan Nadon (memsize)]

There seems to be a consensus that there is a valid bug, so I'l moved the bug report to Confirmed. It's up to the Ubuntu Bug Control team or development to change status to "Won't Fix" if the case may be.
BugSquad