[gst-devel] How to debug the gstreamer code flow?

[Benjamin Otte]

GStreamer doesn't do anything without plugins. Every element inside the 
framework is built as a plugin. You can however just use the plugins shipped 
by the GStreamer core itself, which are test plugins, file readers and other 
generic elements.
GStreamer has some configure options to increase/decrease debugging options. 
You can enable allocation tracing on compile for example or you can disable 
the whole debugging stuff.
We have not done any heavy optimizing of our core yet. So I'd imagine there 
being room for improvement. :)
To profile GStreamer we (or at least I) have used the common tools available, 
like memprof, valgrind, oprofile.

Benjamin


Quoting vishy S <vishy_s1976 at yahoo.co.in>:

> Hello Thomas,
> 
> Thank you for the response. 
> 
> Here we go :)
> 
> Basically I want to evaluate the entire gstreamer
> core, before i start integrating the Media codecs into
> Gstreamer framework C code. I need to know the memory,
> MIPS and any other overheads that is added by the
> Gstreamer code to the Media Player application. Its
> true that the documentation says it does not add any
> overhead, but even then i expect overheads by the
> Gstreamer core practically. So I need to evaluate the
> following with repect to Gstreamer core C code.
> 
> 1. Memory and MIPS-> needs profiling, so i need a
> profiler tools and methods to profile this installed
> code. Problem i see here is, without integrating the
> plugins i need to profile and evaluate. Do you suggest
> any tools and ways to do this? 
> 
> 2. I need to eveluate the functionalities of the
> Gstreamer core. Hence I need to find ways to test
> other than using gst-launch and without integrating
> the plugins.
> 
> 3. I need to check memory leaks and memory management
> by Gstreamer code. Are there any tools?
> 
> 4. Can I build a binary of Gstreamer core alone in
> debug version and start debuggin it? This way i can
> understand the the code flow? Here i tihnk i can have
> the dummy plugins whereever required. Am I correct?
> 
> I need to evaluate the effort required to make this
> framework fully fit to handle all the multimedia
> codecs integrated to form a media player application.
> 
> Thanks and Regards,
> -vishwa-
> 
> 
> 
>  --- Thomas Vander Stichele <thomas at apestaart.org>
> wrote: > Hi,
> > 
> > > I need details on the profiling the Gstreamer
> > core.
> > 
> > What exactly do you want to profile ?
> > 
> > > Also is the gst-launch is the only way to test the
> > > gstreamer?
> > 
> > No, writing apps/using apps works fine too.
> > 
> > > I want to undersand the Gstreamer code by going
> > > through the code flow. How do i do this?
> > 
> > Well, going through the code flow is a matter of
> > reading the code :)
> > It can be helpful to you to read the manual first
> > though, and to read
> > debug logs for simple gst-launch pipelines.
> > 
> > >  What i can
> > > understand the gstreamer is a Library and can be
> > > included in our code. But if I want to
> > > optimize/modify, i need to understand the code
> > flow.
> > > How will I see the code flow?
> > > Also how to profile this code. Is it possible to
> > test
> > > Gstreamer core (no plugins) alone?
> > 
> > Sure.  Standard profiling techniques apply.
> > 
> > 
> > Dave/Dina : future TV today ! -
> > http://www.davedina.org/
> > <-*- thomas (dot) apestaart (dot) org -*->
> > Nobody cares when you're gone
> > <-*- thomas (at) apestaart (dot) org -*->
> > URGent, best radio on the net - 24/7 ! -
> > http://urgent.fm/
> > 
> >  
> 
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