View source for GStreamer Application Development

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; background-color:#f0f0f0;"
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| '''Authors:'''
Sonni Lorenz F. Cubero (sonni.cubero@proventusnova.com)

CJ Mirafuentes (cj.mirafuentes@proventusnova.com)
|| '''Date:''' March 10, 2025
|}
= GStreamer Application Development =
This page shows how to build gstreamer applications. 
Gstreamer applications can be built on the following platforms:
* Linux
* Windows
* Android
* iOS
* macOS

== Linux ==
Gstreamer is included in all Linux distributions. We recommend using the latest version of a fast-moving distribution such as Fedora, Ubuntu (non-LTS), Debian or OpenSuse to get a recentg Gstreamer release.

=== Prerequisites ===
The following must be present in the Linux system.

=== Compiler ===  
* GCC  
* Clang  

=== Package Manager ===  
Any one of the following will do:
* apt  
* dnf  
* snap  

=== Linux Build Environment === 
The Linux build environment was emulated using '''VMware Workstation 17 Pro''' with the following specifications:  

{| class="wikitable"
| '''Operating System''': || Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS
|-
| '''Processors''': || Number of processors: 4 
Number of cores per processor: 1
|-
| '''Memory''': || 8GB
|-
| '''Storage''': || 30GB (Expandable)
|}

=== Installing on Ubuntu/Debian ===
Run the following command:  

 apt-get install libgstreamer1.0-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-dev libgstreamer-plugins-bad1.0-dev gstreamer1.0-plugins-base gstreamer1.0-plugins-good gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly gstreamer1.0-libav gstreamer1.0-tools gstreamer1.0-x gstreamer1.0-alsa gstreamer1.0-gl gstreamer1.0-gtk3 gstreamer1.0-qt5 gstreamer1.0-pulseaudio


'''Note:''' Make sure you have root access to install.  

=== Installing on Fedora ===
Run the following command:  

 dnf install gstreamer1-devel gstreamer1-plugins-base-tools gstreamer1-doc gstreamer1-plugins-base-devel gstreamer1-plugins-good gstreamer1-plugins-good-extras gstreamer1-plugins-ugly gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free-devel gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free-extras

'''Note:''' Make sure you have root access to install.  

=== Building a GStreamer Application ===
Building GStreamer requires the gcc/clang compiler and a text editor. Run the following command to build an application using GStreamer:  

 gcc [filename].c -o [output_file] `pkg-config --cflags --libs gstreamer-1.0`


=== Running a GStreamer Application ===
To run the application, simply run the following command:  

 ./[application_name]

== Windows ==

=== Prerequisites ===
To develop applications using GStreamer for Windows, it is recommended to use Windows 10 or newer (Windows 7 or 8 is also supported), with Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 or newer.

Additionally, the runtime and development installers must be installed.  
'''[https://gstreamer.freedesktop.org/download/#windows Download Gstreamer]'''  

=== Installing on Windows ===
Install the GStreamer Runtime and Development Installer. After installing GStreamer runtime and development, add its libraries and plugins to your environment variables.  

Follow these steps to add them to your environment variables:

# Open Environment Variables.
# In System Variables, scroll down to the '''Path''' variable and click '''Edit'''.
# Click '''New'''.
# Add the locations for the '''\bin''', '''\lib''', '''\include''', and '''\gstreamer-1.0''' directories.

If you have the '''32-bit''' version installed, add the following paths to your System Variables:

*C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86\bin
*C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86\lib
*C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86\lib\gstreamer-1.0
*C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86\include

If you have the '''64-bit''' version installed, add the following paths to your System Variables:

*C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\bin
*C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\lib
*C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\lib\gstreamer-1.0
*C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\include

=== Building and Running a GStreamer Application ===

This build was done with a 64-bit runtime and development GStreamer.  

To build a GStreamer project, follow these steps:

1 .Open '''Visual Studio'''.

2. Click '''Create a new project'''.

3. Select either '''Empty Project''' or '''Console App'''.

.4 After selecting your project, set up the libraries and dependencies.

5. In '''Solution Explorer''', right-click on the project and select '''Properties'''.

6. Go to '''C/C++''' → '''General''' → '''Additional Include Directories''' → Click '''Edit''' and add the following paths:
 C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\include\glib-2.0 
 C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\include\gstreamer-1.0 
 C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\include\gstreamer-1.0\gst 
 C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\include\glib-2.0\glib 
 C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\lib\glib-2.0\include 
 C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\include\glib-2.0\ 
 C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\lib\gstreamer-1.0 
 %(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)
'''Note:''' The directories may vary depending on where you installed the GStreamer runtime and development files.

7. Next, go to '''Linker''' → '''General''' → '''Additional Library Directories''' → Click '''Edit''' and add the following paths:
 C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\lib
 C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\lib\gstreamer-1.0
 C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\bin
'''Note:''' The directories may vary depending on where you installed the GStreamer runtime and development files.

8. Next, go to '''Linker''' → '''Input''' → '''Additional Dependencies''' → Click '''Edit''' and add the following libraries:
 gobject-2.0.lib
 glib-2.0.lib
 gstreamer-1.0.lib
 kernel32.lib
 user32.lib
 gdi32.lib
 winspool.lib
 comdlg32.lib
 advapi32.lib
 shell32.lib
 ole32.lib
 oleaut32.lib
 uuid.lib
 odbc32.lib
 odbccp32.lib
 %(AdditionalDependencies)
'''Note:''' The directories may vary depending on where you installed the GStreamer runtime and development files.

9. After setting up the Libraries and Dependencies, its time to build the project.

10. In the toolbar, select Debut, then select either x32 or x64, then click the play button.

11. After clicking, the project should build and now you have your first Gstreamer Project!

= References =
* [https://gstreamer.freedesktop.org/documentation/application-development/introduction/gstreamer.html?gi-language=c GStreamer Introduction]
* [https://gstreamer.freedesktop.org/documentation/installing/building-from-source-using-meson.html?gi-language=c#basic-meson-and-ninja-usage Building GStreamer from Source (Meson & Ninja)]
* [https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/gstreamer/gstreamer/-/blob/main/README.md README.md - GStreamer GitLab]
* [https://developer.ridgerun.com/wiki/index.php/GStreamer_Daemon GStreamer Daemon - RidgeRun]
* [https://developer.ridgerun.com/wiki/index.php/GStreamer_Daemon_-_Building_GStreamer_Daemon Building GStreamer Daemon - RidgeRun]
* [https://developer.ridgerun.com/wiki/index.php?title=GstInterpipe GstInterpipe - RidgeRun Wiki]
* [https://stackoverflow.com/a/50756228 Stack Overflow Answer - GStreamer]
* [https://stackoverflow.com/a/73301549 Stack Overflow Answer - GStreamer]

= Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) =

* What is GStreamer?
**GStreamer is an open-source multimedia framework used for creating media-handling components such as audio and video processing applications. It is widely used in media players, streaming applications, and multimedia frameworks.
* How do I install GStreamer on Linux?
**On Ubuntu/Debian, use the following command:
 #Ubuntu
 apt-get install libgstreamer1.0-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-dev libgstreamer-plugins-bad1.0-dev gstreamer1.0-plugins-base gstreamer1.0-plugins-good gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly gstreamer1.0-libav gstreamer1.0-tools gstreamer1.0-x gstreamer1.0-alsa gstreamer1.0-gl gstreamer1.0-gtk3 gstreamer1.0-qt5 gstreamer1.0-pulseaudio
 
 #Debian
 dnf install gstreamer1-devel gstreamer1-plugins-base-tools gstreamer1-doc gstreamer1-plugins-base-devel gstreamer1-plugins-good gstreamer1-plugins-good-extras gstreamer1-plugins-ugly gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free-devel gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free-extras

* How do I install GStreamer on Windows?
**Download the GStreamer Runtime and Development Installer from the official website: [https://gstreamer.freedesktop.org/download/#windows GStreamer Download]

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