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mpv-build: Customize your own mpv player from your browser

#mpvplayer #videoplayer #mpveasy #player

MPV is an incredible open-source media player, but let’s face it—for newcomers, setting it up can feel overwhelming. Picking the right download source, finding the perfect zip file, figuring out how to extract a 7z file, and then hunting down plugins via Google or online forums? It’s a lot. That’s why I created mpv-build, a website that lets you build a custom MPV player right in your browser. No privacy worries here either—it doesn’t collect any of your info (mostly because I can’t afford a server!). You pick your UI, add features like yt-dlp for remote video playback, search for scripts, and download a ready-to-go zip file. Unzip it, and you’re done!

What is mpv-build?

mpv-build is all about making MPV accessible. It’s a browser-based tool that helps you craft a personalized MPV media player without the usual setup headaches. Here’s what you can do with it:

  • Choose your UI: Pick from options like mpv, mpv uosc, modernx, modernz, or mpv-easy.
  • Add extra features: Want to play remote videos? Add yt-dlp. Need advanced functionality? Throw in ffmpeg. Prefer browser integration? Select play-with.
  • Install scripts: Search for scripts by keyword and enhance MPV with the features you need.
  • Download and go: Get a zip file with everything pre-configured—just extract and start using your custom MPV.

How to use mpv-build

Getting started is a breeze. Here’s the step-by-step:

  1. Pick your UI:
    Choose from supported UI scripts: mpv, mpv uosc, modernx, modernz, or mpv-easy.

  2. Select extra features:

    • yt-dlp: Play remote videos.
    • ffmpeg: Unlock advanced yt-dlp features.
    • play-with: Open the player from your browser.

  3. Add scripts:
    Type keywords into the search box to find scripts, select the ones you want, and see them listed at the bottom.

  4. Download your MPV:
    Hit the download button, wait a few minutes as the browser grabs the files and packs them into a zip, then extract the portable package to start enjoying your tailored MPV.

How mpv-build works

Curious about the magic behind it? mpv-build keeps things simple and server-free:

  • Resource fetching: All files come from GitHub via the mpv-easy-cdn, dodging CORS issues since I don’t have the budget for a dedicated server.
  • Processing: Once downloaded, WebAssembly (WASM) unpacks the files, installs your chosen scripts into the portable_config folder, and repacks everything into a zip.
  • Browser-based: It all happens in your browser, keeping it fast and private.

Benefits of mpv-build

mpv-build is convenient for different users:

  • For developers:
    It creates a stable bug-testing environment. Download the same config on any machine, and if a plugin clash happens, it’s easy to reproduce and fix.

  • For beginners:
    No config? No problem—you’ll get a origin MPV. Plus, using a GUI to add plugins and extensions beats wrestling with the command line any day.

Future plans

mpv-build is a work in progress with big potential:

  • Script library: Third-party script info lives in this GitHub repo, parsed from awesome-mpv. That’s over 400 scripts! Most haven’t been tested yet (time’s tight), and some haven’t been updated in years.
  • Script upgrades: I’m planning to reimplement some scripts with mpv-easy. Lua scripts are tricky to bundle, but JavaScript ones? They pack into a single file, making management a breeze.

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