Mpv: Support libsixel as a video output option

[HalosGhost]

One of the most creative libraries I've seen recently for those of us who may not wish to use X is libsixel. It allows for the output of images directly in a terminal which supports it. As mpv still supports image outputs, this would not be dramatically different.

In fact, there is already a fork of ffmpeg that supports libsixel playback, so such a thing is not beyond possibility. However, I cannot estimate how much time/work it would be to implement this feature. Rest assured, I would deeply appreciate it if it ever gets implemented!

[ghost]

There's already --vo=drm.

[HalosGhost]

I would ask you to reconsider. dvtm may get libsixel support, and if/when it does, window management in the console may allow for libsixel images to be displayed only in the relevant window. --vo=drm is incredibly helpful for the moment, but it obscures the whole framebuffer which makes the use of things like dvtm as window managers less functional.

This kind of support would dramatically increase the usefulness of such tools to have a functional non-X workflow.

[ghost]

Maybe if someone else writes support. I'm not interested in such toy hacks. There are already 2 proper methods to do this, X and Wayland. Why a 3rd, hacked-together one?

[HalosGhost]

I realize it's a fairly niche use-case, so I completely understand your not being too interested in writing it yourself. But there are plenty of people who do not really feel the need for a full GUI; or, in my case, wish to escape it on some machines.

As I am likely to be one of the folks trying to implement sixel in dvtm, if we are successful, I will take a look at creating a PR for this on mpv.

[haasn]

But there are plenty of people who do not really feel the need for a full GUI

Then they should accept the loss of window management and other “full GUI” things, IMO.

That, or just use a “full GUI”. Whatever that means.

[oatberry]

I'd just like to say that I'd be very interested in libsixel support as well.

I find the idea of an X-less workflow attractive, and I was very happy to learn of the existence of yaft (which, by the way, has sixel support) and dvtm (which may have sixel support in the future). These programs add several interesting features to a tty that make it act more like a full window manager.

libsixel support for mpv would just be icing on the cake. I understand your disinterest in implementing it, but I'm sure there are more people than just @HalosGhost and I who would be intrigued by this feature. Thanks!

[tantei3]

@HalosGhost mpv now supports sixel playback through libsixel. Do give it a try!