LibVLC SampleCode Qt

This page contains example code for libVLC.

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This sample code will render a video into a Qt QWidget.

This was tested with vlc-0.9.9 and Qt 4.5.1 on WinXP and Linux

This was tested with vlc-1.1.9 and Qt 4.7.2 and Ubuntu 11.04

How to use?

You need libvlc headers and Qt headers.Take those 3 files, put them in a folder. Run

qmake -project

Edit the .pro file and add

LIBS += -L*path to vlc lib* #if you are at windows os
LIBS += -lvlc

Run

qmake

and then

make or mingw32-make under a Windows OS

On win os you have to use the zip file. the lib and the header files are located in the sdk-folder.

Notes

Depending on your distribution and the way you install Qt and Vlc it may be a good idea to reset the vlc's module cache:

   sudo /usr/lib/vlc/vlc-cache-gen -f /usr/lib/vlc/plugins/

or:

  vlc --reset-plugins-cache

VLC 1.1.5 and Ubuntu Lucid

[Rafael Capucho<rafael.capucho@gmail.com> 20120713] Modified to include properly QX11EmbedContainer header that was missing.- tested ok

[Ondrej Spilka 20101201] slightly modified for the modest versions... - X11 embed container have to be used, therefore QX11EmbedContainer rather than QFrame have to be used.- tested ok

Files

main.cpp:

/* libVLC and Qt sample code
 * Copyright © 2009 Alexander Maringer <maringer@maringer-it.de>
 */

#include "vlc_on_qt.h"
#include <QtGui/QApplication>

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    QApplication a(argc, argv);
    Player p;
    p.resize(640,480);
    p.playFile("rtp://@:2626"); // Replace with what you want to play
    p.show();
    return a.exec();
}

vlc_on_qt.h:

/* libVLC and Qt sample code
 * Copyright © 2009 Alexander Maringer <maringer@maringer-it.de>
 */
#ifndef VLC_ON_QT_H
#define VLC_ON_QT_H

#include <vlc/vlc.h>

#include <QWidget>
#include <QX11EmbedContainer>

class QVBoxLayout;
class QPushButton;
class QTimer;
class QFrame;
class QSlider;

#define POSITION_RESOLUTION 10000

class Player : public QWidget
{
    Q_OBJECT
    QSlider *_positionSlider;
    QSlider *_volumeSlider;
    // [20101201 Ondra Spilka] 
    // on Linux/Ubuntu Lucid and VLC >= 1.0 (at least 1.1.5 was tested) XWindow handle have to be passed
    // therefore QX11EmbedContainer have to be used instead of QFrame
#ifdef Q_WS_X11    
    QX11EmbedContainer *_videoWidget;
#else
    QFrame *_videoWidget;
#endif   
    QTimer *poller;
    bool _isPlaying;
    libvlc_exception_t _vlcexcep;
    libvlc_instance_t *_vlcinstance;
    libvlc_media_player_t *_mp;
    libvlc_media_t *_m;

public:
    Player();
    ~Player();
    void raise(libvlc_exception_t * ex);

public slots:
    void playFile(QString file);
    void updateInterface();
    void changeVolume(int newVolume);
    void changePosition(int newPosition);

};
#endif

vlc_on_qt.cpp:

/* libVLC and Qt sample code
 * Copyright © 2009 Alexander Maringer <maringer@maringer-it.de>
 */
#include "vlc_on_qt.h"

#include <QX11EmbedContainer>
#include <QVBoxLayout>
#include <QPushButton>
#include <QSlider>
#include <QTimer>
#include <QFrame>

Player::Player()
: QWidget()
{
    //preparation of the vlc command
    const char * const vlc_args[] = {
              "--verbose=2", //be much more verbose then normal for debugging purpose
              "--plugin-path=C:\\vlc-0.9.9-win32\\plugins\\" };

#ifdef Q_WS_X11    
    _videoWidget=new QX11EmbedContainer(this);
#else
    _videoWidget=new QFrame(this);
#endif   

    _volumeSlider=new QSlider(Qt::Horizontal,this);
    _volumeSlider->setMaximum(100); //the volume is between 0 and 100
    _volumeSlider->setToolTip("Audio slider");

    // Note: if you use streaming, there is no ability to use the position slider
    _positionSlider=new QSlider(Qt::Horizontal,this); 
    _positionSlider->setMaximum(POSITION_RESOLUTION);

    QVBoxLayout *layout = new QVBoxLayout;
    layout->addWidget(_videoWidget);
    layout->addWidget(_positionSlider);
    layout->addWidget(_volumeSlider);
    setLayout(layout);

    _isPlaying=false;
    poller=new QTimer(this);

    //Initialize an instance of vlc
    //a structure for the exception is neede for this initalization
    libvlc_exception_init(&_vlcexcep);

    //create a new libvlc instance
    _vlcinstance=libvlc_new(sizeof(vlc_args) / sizeof(vlc_args[0]), vlc_args,&_vlcexcep);  //tricky calculation of the char space used
    raise (&_vlcexcep);
    
    // Create a media player playing environement 
    _mp = libvlc_media_player_new (_vlcinstance, &_vlcexcep);
    raise (&_vlcexcep);

    //connect the two sliders to the corresponding slots (uses Qt's signal / slots technology)
    connect(poller, SIGNAL(timeout()), this, SLOT(updateInterface()));
    connect(_positionSlider, SIGNAL(sliderMoved(int)), this, SLOT(changePosition(int)));
    connect(_volumeSlider, SIGNAL(sliderMoved(int)), this, SLOT(changeVolume(int)));

    poller->start(100); //start timer to trigger every 100 ms the updateInterface slot
}

//desctructor
Player::~Player()
{
    /* Stop playing */
    libvlc_media_player_stop (_mp, &_vlcexcep);

    /* Free the media_player */
    libvlc_media_player_release (_mp);

    libvlc_release (_vlcinstance);
    raise (&_vlcexcep);
}

void Player::playFile(QString file)
{
    //the file has to be in one of the following formats /perhaps a little bit outdated)
    /*
    [file://]filename              Plain media file
    http://ip:port/file            HTTP URL
    ftp://ip:port/file             FTP URL
    mms://ip:port/file             MMS URL
    screen://                      Screen capture
    [dvd://][device][@raw_device]  DVD device
    [vcd://][device]               VCD device
    [cdda://][device]              Audio CD device
    udp:[[<source address>]@[<bind address>][:<bind port>]]
    */

    /* Create a new LibVLC media descriptor */
    _m = libvlc_media_new (_vlcinstance, file.toAscii(), &_vlcexcep);
    raise(&_vlcexcep);
    
    libvlc_media_player_set_media (_mp, _m, &_vlcexcep);
    raise(&_vlcexcep);

    // /!\ Please note /!\
    //
    // passing the widget to the lib shows vlc at which position it should show up
    // vlc automatically resizes the video to the ´given size of the widget
    // and it even resizes it, if the size changes at the playing
    
    /* Get our media instance to use our window */
    #if defined(Q_OS_WIN)
        libvlc_media_player_set_drawable(_mp, reinterpret_cast<unsigned int>(_videoWidget->winId()), &_vlcexcep );
        //libvlc_media_player_set_hwnd(_mp, _videoWidget->winId(), &_vlcexcep ); // for vlc 1.0
    #elif defined(Q_OS_MAC)
        libvlc_media_player_set_drawable(_mp, _videoWidget->winId(), &_vlcexcep );
        //libvlc_media_player_set_agl (_mp, _videoWidget->winId(), &_vlcexcep); // for vlc 1.0
    #else //Linux
        //[20101201 Ondrej Spilka] obsolete call on libVLC >=1.1.5 
        //libvlc_media_player_set_drawable(_mp, _videoWidget->winId(), &_vlcexcep );
        //libvlc_media_player_set_xwindow(_mp, _videoWidget->winId(), &_vlcexcep ); // for vlc 1.0

     /* again note X11 handle on Linux is needed
        winID() returns X11 handle when QX11EmbedContainer us used */
     
        int windid = _videoWidget->winId();
        libvlc_media_player_set_xwindow (mp, windid );

    #endif
    raise(&_vlcexcep);

    /* Play */
    libvlc_media_player_play (_mp, &_vlcexcep );
    raise(&_vlcexcep);

    _isPlaying=true;
}

void Player::changeVolume(int newVolume)
{
    libvlc_exception_clear(&_vlcexcep);
    libvlc_audio_set_volume (_vlcinstance,newVolume , &_vlcexcep);
    raise(&_vlcexcep);
}

void Player::changePosition(int newPosition)
{
    libvlc_exception_clear(&_vlcexcep);
    // It's possible that the vlc doesn't play anything
    // so check before
    libvlc_media_t *curMedia = libvlc_media_player_get_media (_mp, &_vlcexcep);
    libvlc_exception_clear(&_vlcexcep);
    if (curMedia == NULL)
        return;

    float pos=(float)(newPosition)/(float)POSITION_RESOLUTION;
    libvlc_media_player_set_position (_mp, pos, &_vlcexcep);
    raise(&_vlcexcep);
}

void Player::updateInterface()
{
    if(!_isPlaying)
        return;

    // It's possible that the vlc doesn't play anything
    // so check before
    libvlc_media_t *curMedia = libvlc_media_player_get_media (_mp, &_vlcexcep);
    libvlc_exception_clear(&_vlcexcep);
    if (curMedia == NULL)
        return;

    float pos=libvlc_media_player_get_position (_mp, &_vlcexcep);
    int siderPos=(int)(pos*(float)(POSITION_RESOLUTION));
    _positionSlider->setValue(siderPos);
    int volume=libvlc_audio_get_volume (_vlcinstance,&_vlcexcep);
    _volumeSlider->setValue(volume);
}
void Player::raise(libvlc_exception_t * ex)
{
    if (libvlc_exception_raised (ex))
    {
         fprintf (stderr, "error: %s\n", libvlc_exception_get_message(ex));
         exit (-1);
    }
}

VLC 1.2 and OpenSuse 11.3

[Rafael Capucho<rafael.capucho@gmail.com> 20120713] Modified to include properly QX11EmbedContainer header that was missing.- tested ok

[Jofre Guevara 20101215] Modifications of original template based on new VLC version.

[Ondrej Spilka 20101201] slightly modified for the modest versions...

Files

main.cpp:

/* libVLC and Qt sample code
 * Copyright © 2009 Alexander Maringer <maringer@maringer-it.de>
 */�

#include "vlc_on_qt.h"
#include <QtGui/QApplication>

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    QApplication a(argc, argv);
    Player p;
    p.resize(640,480);
    p.playFile("rtp://@:2626"); // Replace with what you want to play
    p.show();
    return a.exec();
}

vlc_on_qt.h:

/* libVLC and Qt sample code
 * Copyright © 2009 Alexander Maringer <maringer@maringer-it.de>
 */
#ifndef VLC_ON_QT_H
#define VLC_ON_QT_H

#include <vlc/vlc.h>

#include <QX11EmbedContainer>
#include <QWidget>

class QVBoxLayout;
class QPushButton;
class QTimer;
class QFrame;
class QSlider;

#define POSITION_RESOLUTION 10000

class Player : public QWidget
{
    Q_OBJECT
    QSlider *_positionSlider;
    QSlider *_volumeSlider;
    // [20101215 JG]
    // Tested on Linux OpenSuse and VLC 1.2.0. This version of VLC is not completely compatible with previous versions of VLC.
    // [20101201 Ondra Spilka]
    // on Linux/Ubuntu Lucid and VLC >= 1.0 (at least 1.1.5 was tested) XWindow handle have to be passed
    // therefore QX11EmbedContainer have to be used instead of QFrame
#ifdef Q_WS_X11
    QX11EmbedContainer *_videoWidget;
#else
    QFrame *_videoWidget;
#endif
    // [20101215 JG] If KDE is used like unique desktop environment, only use QFrame *_videoWidget;
    QTimer *poller;
    bool _isPlaying;
    //libvlc_exception_t _vlcexcep; // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    libvlc_instance_t *_vlcinstance;
    libvlc_media_player_t *_mp;
    libvlc_media_t *_m;

public:
    Player();
    ~Player();
    //void raise(libvlc_exception_t * ex); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.

public slots:
    void playFile(QString file);
    void updateInterface();
    void changeVolume(int newVolume);
    void changePosition(int newPosition);

};
#endif

vlc_on_qt.cpp:

/* libVLC and Qt sample code
 * Copyright © 2009 Alexander Maringer <maringer@maringer-it.de>
 */
#include "vlc_on_qt.h"

#include <QX11EmbedContainer>
#include <QVBoxLayout>
#include <QPushButton>
#include <QSlider>
#include <QTimer>
#include <QFrame>

Player::Player()
: QWidget()
{
    //preparation of the vlc command
    const char * const vlc_args[] = {
              "--verbose=2", //be much more verbose then normal for debugging purpose
 };

#ifdef Q_WS_X11
    _videoWidget=new QX11EmbedContainer(this);
#else
    _videoWidget=new QFrame(this);
#endif
    // [20101215 JG] If KDE is used like unique desktop environment, only use _videoWidget=new QFrame(this);

    _volumeSlider=new QSlider(Qt::Horizontal,this);
    _volumeSlider->setMaximum(100); //the volume is between 0 and 100
    _volumeSlider->setToolTip("Audio slider");

    // Note: if you use streaming, there is no ability to use the position slider
    _positionSlider=new QSlider(Qt::Horizontal,this);
    _positionSlider->setMaximum(POSITION_RESOLUTION);

    QVBoxLayout *layout = new QVBoxLayout;
    layout->addWidget(_videoWidget);
    layout->addWidget(_positionSlider);
    layout->addWidget(_volumeSlider);
    setLayout(layout);

    _isPlaying=false;
    poller=new QTimer(this);

    //Initialize an instance of vlc
    //a structure for the exception is neede for this initalization
    //libvlc_exception_init(&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.

    //create a new libvlc instance
    _vlcinstance=libvlc_new(sizeof(vlc_args) / sizeof(vlc_args[0]), vlc_args);  //tricky calculation of the char space used
    //_vlcinstance=libvlc_new(sizeof(vlc_args) / sizeof(vlc_args[0]), vlc_args,&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    //raise (&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.

    // Create a media player playing environement
    _mp = libvlc_media_player_new (_vlcinstance);
    //_mp = libvlc_media_player_new (_vlcinstance, &_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    //raise (&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.

    //connect the two sliders to the corresponding slots (uses Qt's signal / slots technology)
    connect(poller, SIGNAL(timeout()), this, SLOT(updateInterface()));
    connect(_positionSlider, SIGNAL(sliderMoved(int)), this, SLOT(changePosition(int)));
    connect(_volumeSlider, SIGNAL(sliderMoved(int)), this, SLOT(changeVolume(int)));

    poller->start(100); //start timer to trigger every 100 ms the updateInterface slot
}

//desctructor
Player::~Player()
{
    /* Stop playing */
    libvlc_media_player_stop (_mp);
    //libvlc_media_player_stop (_mp, &_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.

    /* Free the media_player */
    libvlc_media_player_release (_mp);

    libvlc_release (_vlcinstance);
    //raise (&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
}

void Player::playFile(QString file)
{
    //the file has to be in one of the following formats /perhaps a little bit outdated)
    /*
    [file://]filename              Plain media file
    http://ip:port/file            HTTP URL
    ftp://ip:port/file             FTP URL
    mms://ip:port/file             MMS URL
    screen://                      Screen capture
    [dvd://][device][@raw_device]  DVD device
    [vcd://][device]               VCD device
    [cdda://][device]              Audio CD device
    udp:[[<source address>]@[<bind address>][:<bind port>]]
    */

    /* Create a new LibVLC media descriptor */
    _m = libvlc_media_new_path(_vlcinstance, file.toAscii());
    //_m = libvlc_media_new (_vlcinstance, file.toAscii(), &_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    //raise(&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.

    libvlc_media_player_set_media (_mp, _m);
    //libvlc_media_player_set_media (_mp, _m, &_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    //raise(&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.

    // /!\ Please note /!\
    //
    // passing the widget to the lib shows vlc at which position it should show up
    // vlc automatically resizes the video to the ´given size of the widget
    // and it even resizes it, if the size changes at the playing

    /* Get our media instance to use our window */
    #if defined(Q_OS_WIN)
        libvlc_media_player_set_drawable(_mp, reinterpret_cast<unsigned int>(_videoWidget->winId()));
        //libvlc_media_player_set_drawable(_mp, reinterpret_cast<unsigned int>(_videoWidget->winId()), &_vlcexcep ); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
        //libvlc_media_player_set_hwnd(_mp, _videoWidget->winId(), &_vlcexcep ); // for vlc 1.0
    #elif defined(Q_OS_MAC)
        libvlc_media_player_set_drawable(_mp, _videoWidget->winId());
        //libvlc_media_player_set_drawable(_mp, _videoWidget->winId(), &_vlcexcep ); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
        //libvlc_media_player_set_agl (_mp, _videoWidget->winId(), &_vlcexcep); // for vlc 1.0
    #else //Linux
        //[20101201 Ondrej Spilka] obsolete call on libVLC >=1.1.5
        //libvlc_media_player_set_drawable(_mp, _videoWidget->winId(), &_vlcexcep );
        //libvlc_media_player_set_xwindow(_mp, _videoWidget->winId(), &_vlcexcep ); // for vlc 1.0

     /* again note X11 handle on Linux is needed
        winID() returns X11 handle when QX11EmbedContainer us used */

        int windid = _videoWidget->winId();
        libvlc_media_player_set_xwindow (_mp, windid );

    #endif
    //raise(&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.

    /* Play */
    libvlc_media_player_play (_mp);
    //libvlc_media_player_play (_mp, &_vlcexcep ); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    //raise(&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.

    _isPlaying=true;
}

void Player::changeVolume(int newVolume)
{
    //libvlc_exception_clear(&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    libvlc_audio_set_volume (_mp,newVolume);
    //libvlc_audio_set_volume (_vlcinstance,newVolume , &_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    //raise(&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
}

void Player::changePosition(int newPosition)
{
    //libvlc_exception_clear(&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    // It's possible that the vlc doesn't play anything
    // so check before
    libvlc_media_t *curMedia = libvlc_media_player_get_media (_mp);
    //libvlc_media_t *curMedia = libvlc_media_player_get_media (_mp, &_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    //libvlc_exception_clear(&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    if (curMedia == NULL)
        return;

    float pos=(float)(newPosition)/(float)POSITION_RESOLUTION;
    libvlc_media_player_set_position (_mp, pos);
    //libvlc_media_player_set_position (_mp, pos, &_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    //raise(&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
}

void Player::updateInterface()
{
    if(!_isPlaying)
        return;

    // It's possible that the vlc doesn't play anything
    // so check before
    libvlc_media_t *curMedia = libvlc_media_player_get_media (_mp);
    //libvlc_media_t *curMedia = libvlc_media_player_get_media (_mp, &_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    //libvlc_exception_clear(&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    if (curMedia == NULL)
        return;

    float pos=libvlc_media_player_get_position (_mp);
    //float pos=libvlc_media_player_get_position (_mp, &_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    int siderPos=(int)(pos*(float)(POSITION_RESOLUTION));
    _positionSlider->setValue(siderPos);
    int volume=libvlc_audio_get_volume (_mp);
    //int volume=libvlc_audio_get_volume (_vlcinstance,&_vlcexcep); // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.
    _volumeSlider->setValue(volume);
}
/*void Player::raise(libvlc_exception_t * ex)
{
    if (libvlc_exception_raised (ex))
    {
         fprintf (stderr, "error: %s\n", libvlc_exception_get_message(ex));
         exit (-1);
    }
}*/  // [20101215 JG] Used for versions prior to VLC 1.2.0.