FrameTrellis v1.1.1: Safer Title Creation and Stronger MP4 Export Testing
FrameTrellis v1.1.1 is now available on GitHub.
This release focuses on improving the reliability of title creation, making user-interface feedback more predictable, and expanding the automated testing of video export workflows.
FrameTrellis is a free, open-source, local-first desktop video editor built using C++20, Qt/QML, MLT, and FFmpeg.
Why v1.1.1 matters
In v1.1.0, FrameTrellis introduced several editing capabilities, including clip duplication and transparent PNG title overlays.
These features expanded what users could do directly within the editor.
However, new editing features also introduce new edge cases.
For example, what should happen if someone tries to create a title when every video track is locked?
What should the editor display when a title is generated but cannot be inserted into the timeline?
And how can we prevent future changes from breaking transparent title overlays during MP4 export?
Version 1.1.1 focuses on these questions.
1. Safer title creation on locked tracks
Previously, the title creation workflow could generate and import a PNG even when no unlocked video track was available for placement.
The updated workflow now checks whether at least one unlocked video track is available.
When all video tracks are locked, the Create Title action is disabled and the dialog explains what needs to change.
Unlocking a track makes the action available again.
This helps prevent confusing editing states.
2. Better feedback when inserting titles
Another improvement concerns how the title creation dialog responds to insertion failures.
Previously, the workflow could imply success even if the generated title was not actually placed on the timeline.
In v1.1.1, the dialog closes only after successful insertion.
If placement is refused, the dialog remains open.
This makes the interface more accurately reflect the application's state.
3. Stronger MP4 export regression testing
Transparent title overlays depend on the compositing process working correctly.
FrameTrellis now includes an end-to-end regression test that:
- Places a transparent title-style PNG above video.
- Exports the composition to MP4.
- Decodes the resulting video.
- Checks that the title overlay and underlying video are both visible.
This test helps catch regressions in the rendering pipeline.
The goal is not simply to verify that an export command completes, but also to check meaningful properties of the output.
4. Expanded GUI regression coverage
The new GUI tests cover interactions involving title creation and video track locking.
They verify that creating titles is disabled when all video tracks are locked and becomes available again after unlocking a track.
This is an important part of building a dependable desktop application.
Automated tests cannot cover every real-world editing environment, but they help prevent known problems from returning.
Technology behind FrameTrellis
FrameTrellis uses:
- C++20 for the core application.
- Qt 6 and QML for the desktop interface.
- MLT and FFmpeg for multimedia workflows.
- CMake for its build system.
- Automated unit, integration, GUI, and packaging tests.
The editor follows a local-first approach.
Video processing happens on the user's computer, without requiring accounts or cloud uploads.
Compatibility and downloads
Windows 10/11 x64
The release includes an installer and a portable ZIP.
Linux x86-64
The project can be built from source and is tested on Ubuntu 24.04.
macOS
Official support is not available in this release.
Existing FrameTrellis projects continue using the same .ftproj project format.
Current limitations
Title overlays are stored as PNG files rather than native editable text layers.
Users should keep the generated title files together with their project.
MP4 using H.264/AAC remains the supported export format.
Windows packages are not digitally signed, so users should verify the published SHA-256 checksums.
Download FrameTrellis v1.1.1
GitHub release:
https://github.com/sanskarIN/frametrellis/releases/tag/v1.1.1
Project website:
https://sanskarin.github.io/frametrellis/
Source repository:
https://github.com/sanskarIN/frametrellis
Issue tracker:
https://github.com/sanskarIN/frametrellis/issues
What's next?
Future development will continue exploring capabilities such as editable title layers, subtitles, keyframes, proxy media, broader export options, and additional platform packaging.
These are planned capabilities, not features included in v1.1.1.
Final thoughts
FrameTrellis v1.1.1 is a maintenance release, but it reflects an important principle in software development:
Adding features matters, but ensuring those features behave consistently matters just as much.
This release represents another step toward building a practical, dependable, open-source video editor.
If you're interested in C++, Qt, multimedia development, or open-source desktop applications, I welcome your feedback and contributions.
FrameTrellis — Local-first video editing, built in the open.
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