# rdp/ffmpeg-windows-build-helpers

Helper script for cross compiling some media tools for windows, like customizable ffmpeg.exe (with or without non-free components, etc), and some other bonuses like mplayer, mp4box, mxf, etc.

Repository: https://github.com/rdp/ffmpeg-windows-build-helpers
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/ffmpeg-windows-build-helpers
Language: Shell
License: GPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Last push: 2026-03-16T20:51:24+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 65/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 72, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 5147, "days_push": 170, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1166, forks 427 (observed 2026-08-28T04:03:50.197539+00:00)

## What it is
A shell script that automates cross-compiling Windows binaries of ffmpeg.exe and related media tools (mplayer, mp4box, mxf) from a Linux host, including all dependencies. It supports 32/64-bit builds, static or shared linking, and optional non-free components.

## Use cases
- build a custom ffmpeg.exe for windows with specific codecs enabled
- cross compile ffmpeg with non-free libraries like fdk-aac and x264
- create static windows ffmpeg binaries from a linux box or wsl
- build mplayer or mp4box windows executables
- produce a shared ffmpeg build to link into an MSVC project
- compile ffmpeg 64-bit windows build without setting up a windows toolchain

## When to choose
- you need a customized ffmpeg.exe with specific libraries or codecs enabled
- you want statically-linked windows media binaries built from linux, wsl, or a VM
- you need windows builds of related tools like mplayer, mp4box, or vlc

## When to avoid
- you just need a prebuilt ffmpeg binary and don't require customization
- you want to build ffmpeg for linux or macos rather than windows
- you need a fast build - the full toolchain build takes around two hours

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: active
- function: build-tool, video-processing, audio-processing, developer-tools
- domain: media, developer-tools, cross-platform
- platform: windows, cli
- tags: ffmpeg, cross-compilation, mingw-w64, shell-script, media-tools, mplayer, mp4box, automation, linux, macos, docker

## Member repositories
- rdp/ffmpeg-windows-build-helpers (main) score 65

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:50.197539+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T06:29:17.845487+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/rdp/ffmpeg-windows-build-helpers (fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:50.197539+00:00, sha 8f77f2937364)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.