Would you be interested in an open source replacement for RB Farm ?

[Darksoul71]

Hi,

I guess the title says it all :D
I´m currently developing a script set for networked based encoding (or should I say dashing out the last few bugs ?).

Anyway, this has started based on a discussion over at the AutoQMatEnc Forum:
http://www.vmesquita.com/forum/index.php?topic=6454.0
..if you would like to follow the recent discussion mostly with danpos.

Although my main focus is currently to support AQE as encoder, the script set should support CCE 2.6X as well.

After successfull testing I´ll do another "frontend" to enable network distributed encoding independent from DVD-RB as I think this is also something other people could like.

What do you think ?

-D$

[Rockas]

I think it a great idea... but it may be hard to make it work with ILVU discs (on DVD-RB)... not impossible... but hard.

[Darksoul71]

I think it a great idea... but it may be hard to make it work with ILVU discs (on DVD-RB)... not impossible... but hard.
Hm, I should have mentioned that this script set is only a spin off for my other pet project which covers distributed encoding of AVS / AVI files independent of DVD-RB. It´s more a "proof of concept" since DVD-RB handles all splitting and merging stuff, rather than a true tool kit.

BTW: Did / does RB Farm support ILVU encoding ?

I, for one, only use DVD-RB Free and normally "movie-only" DVDs. So, I don´t care too much about multi-angle DVD´s. If my tool kit is able to make distributed encodings of DVDs without ILVU I´m happy. The sources will be available. So anyone can enhance it.

Since I don´t have the "Pro" version of DVD-RB and have no intention to "buy" it (or does the free version support ILVU ?), I can´t analyse the approach DVD-RB used to encode multi angles. If someone is donating me a Pro version or explains me in details what ECL / AVS files are generated during ILVU encoding , I can do further investigations...... :rolleyes:

No offence intended though.....

-D$

[Rockas]

or does the free version support ILVU ?
Well.. the Free version supports ILVU but doesn't re-encode the secondary streams... just copy them while the PRO re-encodes them as well, that's the tricky part.... DVD-RB Pro creates the VOB files (with secondary streams) when the time comes during the process.
If someone is donating me a Pro version or explains me in details what ECL / AVS files are generated during ILVU encoding , I can do further investigations
Ummmm... is that a chalenge? :D
Let's do it this way... make it work in a simple way for "Normal" DVDs and then we'll talk about that... I'll be glad to "pay you" $30 so you can make me use my old CPUs that I still have around :D

[Darksoul71]

Ummmm... is that a chalenge?
Let's do it this way... make it work in a simple way for "Normal" DVDs and then we'll talk about that... I'll be glad to "pay you" $30 so you can make me use my old CPUs that I still have around
No, I do not ask for money for my software unless getting payed fulltime by someone. Pet projects should stay pet projects. If I have the feeling that the development of a pet project eats up too much from my time or I need to invest money which I´m not willing too in order to enhance the software / fix bug, I would stop development.

In other words: Would DVD-RB Pro plainly not exists and all features would have been integrated into the currently "Free" version, I could (and would be willing) to invest some time in order to find out wether ILVU encoding with my script is hard to implement or not.

I think there is more in the world than money.....

Hence my comment ! :cool:

Even if my comment might sound a bit harsh I would be pleased to work out an approach with jdobbs how to support distributed encoding natively within DVD-RB. You have a lot more possibilities when you have the sources of an application available rather than building a few scripts "around" the application. Just think of a native network socket for communication with the "Encoding Nodes". If DVD-RB generates the VOB for ILVU "on demand" an EncNode could simply request the generation of the required files via network. Well, just a quick idea....

When you say simple, is the following process simple enough ?
1) Make DVD-RB point to a "MasterNode.exe" as it normally would point to CCE 2.6X SP

2) Share your standard working HDD (the one used for storing DVD files and the DVD-RB output) within the network

3) Create a fake drive for the shared HDD (e.g. Z:\). This can be done via Windows Explorer or via SUBST command

4) Start a "EncNode.exe" on your PC and browse for your encoder (currently AQE but also compatible to CCE 2.6X). EncNode will sit in the tray and wait for files to encode.

5) Repeat step 3+4 for each "Encoding Node" (a.k.a. other PC connected to the network)

6) Start DVD-RB in One Click Mode, open the DVD files from your localy redirected share (e.g. Z:\) and press the button (no, not the red one :))

That´s all ! DVD-RB will behave as ususal with only one encoder running locally. I had the scripts up and running successfull with AQE yesterday on two PC but like to do a few more complete DVD transcodes plus test runs with CCE 2.6X via EclCCE prior I release anything. Alphatester are welcome nevertheless. Drop me an PM if you are interested :)

-D$

[Rockas]

When I say simple I was refering my self to the Installation and use... I don't care about the process... the problem is always on the general users... most of them just want a simple thing to install and use...

No, I do not ask for money for my software unless getting payed fulltime by someone.
No... please don't get me wrong... what I meant is that if you develop a tool that can be usefull to me I'm willing to support it nothing more than that.

Alphatester are welcome nevertheless. Drop me an PM if you are interested
I wish I could... believe me... I really don't have the time for it at this point of my life... I have my own freeware app and I haven't got any time to work on them on the last couple of weeks :(
I really need to win the lottery... so much things to do and so little free time :(

[wmansir]

This switch should prove useful for IlVu discs.

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=784152#post784152

II don't think it is mentioned in the readme, and I beleive it only matters with the Pro version, since the free version doesn't reencode IlVu.

[jdobbs]

Yep... that should do it. But it can really suck up the disc space on some discs. One of the test discs I used during ILVU development was "Invader Zim" -- and one of the discs was almost 100% ILVU -- and would add an additional requirement for as much as 8GB in the working directory. That's why they aren't persistent by default.

[jdobbs]

BTW: I don't know what this means:

In other words: Would DVD-RB Pro plainly not exists and all features would have been integrated into the currently "Free" version, I could (and would be willing) to invest some time in order to find out wether ILVU encoding with my script is hard to implement or not.
Could you explain? I certainly hope you aren't implying I don't have the right to ask for compensation for my work???? Do I misunderstand?

[JohnGalt]

Do I misunderstand?

I don't believe so -- this is just a revisitation of the argument from a month or so ago: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=798397#post798397 .

[jdobbs]

Hmm... so if the fact that I'm willing to give away a freeware version with reduced capability isn't good enough -- perhaps I should just discontinue it. I'm amazed at how "entitled" people feel to other peoples time and efforts.

[linx05]

Don't worry jdobbs. There will always be a couple of people. Trust me there are so many people who are grateful for the work you've done. I know I am! I gladly donated!

[Darksoul71]

Oh gosh....I hate when things turn into such kind of "discussion" simply because I have an opinion different from others.....

Could you explain? I certainly hope you aren't implying I don't have the right to ask for compensation for my work???? Do I misunderstand?
I´ll "explain" imediately.
1) Don´t quote the corresponding paragraph without the other related to this:
No, I do not ask for money for my software unless getting payed fulltime by someone. Pet projects should stay pet projects. If I have the feeling that the development of a pet project eats up too much from my time or I need to invest money which I´m not willing too in order to enhance the software / fix bug, I would stop development.
This should clearly show my opinion. Not neccessarily yours but mine !
May be I should have added "...I would stop development or not implement a feature" in regard to ILVU support for my distributed encoding scripts.

Since I don´t have the "Pro" version of DVD-RB and have no intention to "buy" it (or does the free version support ILVU ?), I can´t analyse the approach DVD-RB used to encode multi angles. If someone is donating me a Pro version or explains me in details what ECL / AVS files are generated during ILVU encoding , I can do further investigations......
Note the italic part of this sentence posted by me above. How much more clear do I need to make / can I make my opinion ? :wtf:

1) Free is good enough for me (and I was happy with the old 0.79(?) version prior the Free / Pro split)
2) No intention to buy Pro Version
3) Would be willing to spent time to implement support for ILVU network distributed encoding if someone gives me a Pro Version (which´s features I don´t need) or clearly explains me how things work.

Clear enough ?

Also...
Even if my comment might sound a bit harsh I would be pleased to work out an approach with jdobbs how to support distributed encoding natively within DVD-RB. You have a lot more possibilities when you have the sources of an application available rather than building a few scripts "around" the application. Just think of a native network socket for communication with the "Encoding Nodes". If DVD-RB generates the VOB for ILVU "on demand" an EncNode could simply request the generation of the required files via network. Well, just a quick idea....
Is the underlined text clear enough ? If no..."Please jdobbs feel free to contact me if you would like to provide distributed encoding in DVD-RB (enter Free or Pro version here as you like" ! End of message !

I certainly hope you aren't implying I don't have the right to ask for compensation for my work???? Do I misunderstand?
Unfortunately you misunderstand / misinterpret something wrong again. You have the same right to ask for compensation of your work as I have to build applications around a / the free version of DVD-RB (and any tool out there) that add functionalities of the "Non-Free" version of the corresponding app does have. You also have the right to tell me that you dislike me posting about this kind of apps and I´ll respect this. I will stay away from the DVD-RB forum and post elsewhere. But IMO you have no right to tell me STFU simply because I have a different opinion than you or others might have.

Essentially I think asking for money in order to buy a new dual-core CPU (to fine tune multi instance encoding) or a special edition DVD-Box with very complex seamless branching / multi-angle is asking for donation. Asking for money to compensate my work is selling software.

Also I (just my opinion) would not name an application donateware if it´s essentially payware.

Also end of message !

When speaking of money:
I (and gazillions of other freeware developer) as well as you, jdobbs, have spent an incredible amout of hours without payment. Let´s not forget that many if not most of the AV-related tools would be plainly impossible without the availability of free tools such as BeSweet, DGIndex (which bases on DVD2AVI), AVISynth, HCEnc, ECLCCE, just to name a few.

Think about this for a while......

If I would be this cheap kind of guy (as some of the posting imply to me) I would simply do one of the following two things:
1) Get one of the pirated versions of DVD-RB Pro floating around in the e-mule web
or more likely
2) DONATE

Is this a suprise for you ? Well, if we speak about compensation of work hours: If I sum up the amount of hours solely spent for DVDRB2ISO and QME alone and multiply them by the €/h I get at work (-> I could also have spent this time in the office and get the money for my overtime at the end of the month), I would have been able to buy, er, donate for something like 8-10 DVD-RB Pro copies.

But since I like to share the fruits of my work, I decided to go the other route:
Build something yourself.

I don't believe so -- this is just a revisitation of the argument from a month or so ago
While I can not influence the things jdobbs implies, you can shure bet my arguments don´t change. I´m no politician who are known to have an opinion changing like the direction of a flag in the wind. :cool:

Hmm... so if the fact that I'm willing to give away a freeware version with reduced capability isn't good enough -- perhaps I should just discontinue it.
Hm, may be you just should haved discontinued the free version, leave the last free version available with all the functionalities at this time and change DVD-RB into shareware with a fixed price. To me this would have been an honest approach rather than the donateware stuff. If you feel like removing the freeware version, do it ! Otherwise just leave other people having a different opinion and let them developing tools around DVD-RB Free as they like (Even you might feel like being poked in the eye by ignorant, stupid bungholes like me).

I'm amazed at how "entitled" people feel to other peoples time and efforts.
And I´m even more amazed how "entitled" and ignorant people feel to my personal time and efforts spent with tools such as DVDRB2ISO, QME or LAN_AQE-RB. It´s not that I force you to use my tools and tell you not to donate.

I´m not standing behind any1 with a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with 00 Buckshot pointing to his head say: "NOOOOOO, YOU MUST USE DVD-RB FREE AND DVDRB2ISO. DO NOT DONATE TO GET THE PRO VERSION. IF YOU DO I´LL BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF !"

It´s like having a walk to your favourite pub and someone stops you and offers you the same beer for free that the pubs sells for money. You give him a whack, tell him to STFU and go into the pub. May be simply based on the fact he doesn´t like to go into the pub, expressing this opinion and offering you a free beer. You can also simply go into the pub, not listening to the guy with the free beer and buy the beer in the pub.

Don't worry jdobbs. There will always be a couple of people. Trust me there are so many people who are grateful for the work you've done. I know I am! I gladly donated!
Yep, I´m also happy that DVD-RB was developed but it really pi$$e$ me off to be treated like a traitor just because I´m not a member of the "donate jdobbs or die"-club. :mad:

Freeware -> Free as freedom of speach but not as free beer ! (oh, well I should have choosen another example *ggg*)

"Over and out !"

-D$

[jdobbs]

You just don't get it... sigh.

1. The Pro version was never "freeware" so I don't see the confusion. The "freeware" version is "freeware"...

2. Confused about why I call it donations? Because "payware" is where you make money. If money were the only objective I'd be better off with a paper route. What makes if even more frustrating is that after spending thousands of hours for pennies in return -- I still have to listen to this kind of garbage from those who are using it.

3. You are certainly entitled to your opinion. But only when it involves your time and your software.

4. The fact that you don't donate isn't the issue. There are well over 100,000 people who have downloaded the latest freeware version from my site alone. The other 99,999, however, take it and use it graciously without insulting the guy who gave it to them. That's what I mean by "entitled".

[Darksoul71]

Nothing more to add beside that I feel the same way insulted when post something I did for free (such as DVDRB2ISO) and the first posting is "did you ask your mommy if you are allowed to code this ?"

Please close the thread !