Compiling instructions Created Nov 12, 2008

You will need Ant and Flex SDK installed.

There is a build.properties file at the root of the source package and you need to configure the Flex SDK location there:

  flex3dir=/Users/Api/flex3sdk

Once that's done you should be able to run ant and compile. Typing just 'ant' will build the default target that builds the Free player version. After the build is complete flowplayer.swf is available in the build directory.

If you are developing plugins at the same time download the devkit and the plugin sources first. Unzip those to the same directory where you have the player source directory. So you will have following directories in your 'workspace':

• flowplayer
• flowplayer.devkit
• myplugin
• other plugin directories...

The plugins also have a build.properties file and the Flex SDK need to be defined correctly also there. You can compile plugins by running their ant build.xml files. But you can also configure them to be compiled as part of the player's build. To enable this, configure following in the flowplayer/build.properties:

# list of plugins to build as part of this build
plugin.buildfiles=rtmp-streaming/build.xml,
  controls/build.xml,pseudostreaming/build.xml,
  content/build.xml,font-trebuchet/build.xml

Above is what I have configured there (i'm working on those plugins at the moment). Now when I run ant in the flowplayer directory the build will check if any source file in any plugin directory has been modified, and if so, builds the corresponding plugins. The resulting plugins will be copied over to flowplayer/build so that you can easily have a test.html file in flowplayer/build where you run and test the plugins inside the player.

That was an incredible adventure configing all those JDK's, SDK's and so on. It took me 2 hours to figure out what does not fit to start compiling.
Anyway don't forget to set all of the enviorement variables:
ANT_HOME
JAVA_HOME
PATH

Read carefully comments in xml files.
Make sure .exe extensions are mentioned in flowplayer.devkitplugin-build.properties

Finally, don't forget to restart command line, after any changes to configs. I was surprised when I`ve discovered that :)

Bummer...

I installed Java, Ant and Flex.
Now, it seems like there's a conflict between Flex and Ant !

First, I installed everything, tested Flex in the command prompt, and everything was fine.
I then installed ant, and in order for it to work, I had to set the JAVA_HOME variable. It now works, but now Flex won't !
When I type mxmlc in command prompt, it gives me the error message :

Error loading C:Program FilesJavajdk1.6.0_14jreinserverjvm.dll

If I remove the JAVA_HOME variable, Flex responds properly, but ant can't find java.exe...

How can I fix this ?

ugh I'm having the same issue, was hoping someone would've responded by now.

Hi,
could you please advise how I can add these enviroment variables?

ANT_HOME
JAVA_HOME
PATH

thanks

has anyone tried compiling it with ant via Eclipse+Flex_sdk?

I'm working on it now and its throwing some odd ball errors.

I can complete the compile but the end result is a 2.5k swf.
Its not loading. Odd thing is this is after fixing all the location vars.

Edit: it seems to choke on the Building binary its asking for the flowplayer.swf instead of the src/flash/resources.swf

I'm working using Eclipse and the Flex SDK all the time. I've set up the build paths so that the error highlighting and autocompletion work. I'm using Ant to build the SWFs, the build files are available in our SVN repositories at Google code.

I'm using the Eclipse based FDT IDE in ActionScript development.

Ahh great! Found the svn ty.
I also just downloaded the trial version of fdt-3. Very sexy app.

I'm pretty impressed with eclipse, I like its built in ant options --how the custom ant... run is setup.

off topic:http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2008/12/05/french-go-cart-driver-does-mario-kart-for-real-with-video

Funny video... I'll post back after toying around with fdt a little.

Wow ftd + project's can import svn's... very cool.

I'm getting this error any ideas?
build.xml:91: Warning: Could not find file C:workspaceflowplayer runkuildflowplayer.swf to copy.

This build error happens because the flowplayer.swf was not properly created because of some error that happened earlier in the build. Can you post some more of the build output so that we can see the earlier error message.

Buildfile: C:workspaceflowplayer runkuild.xml
compile:
[echo] Building binary flowplayer.swf
[exec] command line: Error: configuration variable 'compiler.define' expected 2 argument(s), got 1
[exec] Use 'mxmlc -help' for information about using the command line.
[exec] Result: 1

BUILD FAILED
C:workspaceflowplayer runkuild.xml:91: Warning: Could not find file C:workspaceflowplayer runkuildflowplayer.swf to copy.

Total time: 406 milliseconds

I'm guessing I have to define the compiler.

Edit: I have no idea how to do this lol... define the compiler that is.
I'm tempted to throw this on a nix server and run it.
I just don't want to install any unneeded apps or dependencies.

Ok I give up lol.

After hours on google with no luck I really have no idea why this msg is popping up.

In FTD in the lower area "tabs section next to the console" theres a error's/warnings/problems area. In there there are 0 errors/warning. All the paths seem to be correct.

I have tried this with Netbeans/ant, FDT/ant and Eclipse with ant. They all give the exact same error. Any ideas?

Buildfile: C:workspaceflowplayer runkuild.xml
compile:
[echo] Building binary flowplayer.swf
[exec] command line: Error: configuration variable 'compiler.define' expected 2 argument(s), got 1
[exec] Use 'mxmlc -help' for information about using the command line.
[exec] Result: 1

BUILD FAILED
C:workspaceflowplayer runkuild.xml:91: Warning: Could not find file C:workspaceflowplayer runkuildflowplayer.swf to copy.

So anyone got any ideas?

[echo] Building binary flowplayer.swf
[exec] command line: Error: configuration variable 'compiler.define' expected 2 argument(s), got 1
[exec] Use 'mxmlc -help' for information about using the command line.
[exec] Result: 1

Hey Edge, Did you ever find a resolution to this problem. I'm hitting this same wall and I'm about out of ideas ;)

No matter where I house the FlexSDK and no matter how I build (Ant, Eclipse+mxmlc, command line Ant, whatever) I always get:

BUILD FAILED
/Users/shipweck/Documents/FlexBuilder3/Flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build.xml:81: The following error occurred while executing this line:
/Users/shipweck/Documents/FlexBuilder3/Flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build.xml:105: Warning: Could not find file /Users/shipweck/Documents/FlexBuilder3/Flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build/flowplayer.swf to copy.

From the command line, I know it is finding mxmlc and compc because if I remove them, the error changes to a JavaIOError ("mxmlc not found")

Would love even a tiny clue. ;)

Thanks.

Could you guide me build FlowPlayer 3.0.x from source?

I use cygwin, java 6, apache ant 1.7.0 and Flex SDK 3 on Window

I encountered these errors, one can point me in the right direction?

$ant -version
Apache Ant version 1.7.0 compiled on December 13 2006

$java -version
java version "1.6.0_10"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_10-b33)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 11.0-b15, mixed mode, sharing)

$mxmlc -version
Version 3.2.0 build 3958

$cd C:

$cd flowplayer

$ls
LICENSE.txt             LICENSE_MUIDOMAIN.txt
LICENSE_BUNDLED.txt     LICENSE_COMMERCIAL.txt
apache-ant-1.7.0        src
flex_sdk_3              build.xml
build.properties        README.txt
...

$ant
Buildfile: build.xml

check-uptodate:
[echo] main up-to-date: ${uptodate.main}
[echo] main up-to-date: ${uptodate.commercial}
[echo] lib up-to-date: ${uptodate.lib}

build-lib:

prepare:

compile-lib:
[exec] Loading configuration file C:flowplayerflex_sdk_3frameworksflexconfig.xml
[copy] Copying 1 file to C:flowplayerild
[copy] Copying 1 file to C:flowplayer.devkit

plugins:
[subant] No sub-builds to iterate on

build:

prepare:

compile:
[echo] Building binary flowplayer.swf
[exec] command line: Error: configuration variable 'compiler.define' expected 2 argument(s), got 1
[exec] Adobe Compc (Flex Component Compiler)
[exec]
[exec] Use 'mxmlc -help' for information about using the command line.
[exec] Result: 1

BUILD FAILED
C:flowplayeruild.xml:64: The following error occurred while executing this line:
C:flowplayeruild.xml:78: Warning: Could not find file C:flowplayeruildflowplayer.swf to copy.

Total time: 25 second

Thanks for all the help!

I'm using java 6, apache ant 1.7.1 and Flex SDK 3.2 on Window.
Same problem.
When i changed the line
<property name="version-status" value="" />
to
<property name="version-status" value="release" />
in the build.xml.

It compiles and throw out a new error:

compile:
     [echo] Building binary flowplayer.swf
     [exec] Loading configuration file C:programFlex3sdks3.2.0frameworksflex-config.xml
     [exec] D:flowplayersrcactionscriptorgflowplayerviewPreloader.as(1): col: 1 Error: The initializer for a configuration value must be a compile time constant.
     [exec] 
     [exec] package org.flowplayer.view {
     [exec] ^
     [exec] 
     [exec] Result: 1
     [echo] building example
   [delete] Deleting directory D:flowplayeruildexample-free
     [copy] Copying 1 file to D:flowplayeruildexample-free
     [copy] Copying 2 files to D:flowplayeruildexample-free

Since I am new to as, can anyone provides some tips?

I comment the following line in build.xml:

<!--arg line="-define+=CONFIG::versionStatus,'${version-status-quoted}'" />
<arg line="-define+=CONFIG::controlsVersion,'${controls-version-info-quoted}'" />
<arg line="-define+=CONFIG::audioVersion,'${audio-version-info-quoted}'" /-->

And I also edith the as file srcactionscript-commercialorgflowplayerconfigVersionInfo.as, like
replace

return controlVersion;

with

return "3.0.3";

And finally it comiled, seems work fine.

I also test the command line build script, which same as the in the build.xml, same error occured. So I think it maybe related to the too much args in windows.

A bit late but this fixes the build without hacking the source files:
Change line 145 of build.xml to

<arg line="-define+=CONFIG::versionStatus,'${version-status-quoted}';" />

The extra semi-colon seems to fix it. No idea why - just following a suggestion found elsewhere. It seems to be an ActionScript bug.

Ok, this doesn't work.
The correct fix is to escape all of the &quot; entities with backslashes in the definitions of something-or-other-quoted.

I would give an example but this comment editor doesn't seem to want me to.

The build process seems to go fine the swf's are built and the example dirs. However when I run the built flowplayer-3.0.2.swf I get the following error ->

301: Unable to load flowplayer.controls-3.0.2.swf

I've looked and this file is not created. Any ideas?

Thanks

Mike

It loads the controls swf by default even when it's not configured. You can download the controls and place it next to flowplayer-3.0.2.swf and you should be able to run the player.

Bump...

Better instruction for compiling.

Hey guys,

I have been trying to compile flowplayer for sometime now...After few hours of trial and error, i came across a forum topic (from one of the author?) that users of windows machines have to checkout directly from svn to fix CONFIG:: string stuff. BTW, can you please update this information here:http://flowplayer.org/documentation/developer/development-environment.html

Then i had to fix these two lines(comment out) in flowplayer.core build.xml for compc.exe to work when loading libraries: (If uncommented, i got the below error)

# for plugins that can be built inside the player
#plugin.classes=../controls/src/actionscript ../content/src/actionscript ../content/src/flash
#plugin.libs=../content/src/flash ../controls/src/flash/default

compile:
[echo] Building binary flowplayer.swf
[exec] Loading configuration file C:flowplayerflex_sdk_3frameworksflex-
config.xml
[exec] command line: Error: unable to open '../content/src/flash'
[exec]
[exec] Use 'mxmlc -help' for information about using the command line.

BUILD FAILED
C:flowplayerflowplayer.coreuild.xml:75: The following error occurred while e
xecuting this line:
C:flowplayerflowplayer.coreuild.xml:98: The following error occurred while e
xecuting this line:
C:flowplayerflowplayer.coreuild.xml:146: exec returned: 1

Total time: 1 second

Now, i am stuck with this error, please help.

prepare:

compile:
[echo] Building binary flowplayer.swf
[exec] Loading configuration file C:flowplayerflex_sdk_3frameworksflex-
config.xml
[exec] C:flowplayerflowplayer.coresrcactionscript-plugintempPlugins.as
(4): col: 44 Error: Type was not found or was not a compile-time constant: Conte
nt.
[exec]
[exec] private var content:org.flowplayer.content.Content;
[exec] ^
[exec]
[exec] C:flowplayerflowplayer.coresrcactionscript-plugintempPlugins.as
(2): col: 31 Error: Definition org.flowplayer.content:Content could not be found
.
[exec]
[exec] import org.flowplayer.content.Content;
[exec] ^
[exec]

BUILD FAILED
C:flowplayerflowplayer.coreuild.xml:75: The following error occurred while e
xecuting this line:
C:flowplayerflowplayer.coreuild.xml:98: The following error occurred while e
xecuting this line:
C:flowplayerflowplayer.coreuild.xml:146: exec returned: 2

Total time: 16 seconds

You need to remove the comment in the build.properties file (and not build.xml as you wrote)

and check out all the following projects:

akamai
audio
bwcheck
captions
cluster
content
controls
pseudostreaming
rtmp
securestreaming
smil

ie: svn checkout http://flowplayer-plugins.googlecode.com/svn/flash/captions/trunk/ captions

I am having the following issue. When I try to compile flowplayer, it tries to load this folder flowplayer/flowplayer/build but can't find it.

I resolved this problem creating a symbolic link between in the parent flowplayer directory : flowplayer >> flowplayer.core.

Is there an other way to solve this issue ?

Here is the log:

Buildfile: build.xml

check-uptodate:
     [echo] main up-to-date: ${uptodate.main}
     [echo] main up-to-date: ${uptodate.commercial}
     [echo] lib up-to-date: true

build-lib:

plugins:

build:
     [echo] ++ flowplayer.akamai.swf +++
     [echo] 
     [echo] checking if flowplayer.akamai.swf is uptodate
     [echo] main up-to-date: true

prepare:

compile:

deploy:

_deploy:
     [echo] deploying plugin to ../flowplayer.core
     [copy] Copying 1 file to /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build
     [copy] Copying 1 file to /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build
     [copy] Copying 1 file to /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/dist

build:
     [echo] ++ flowplayer.audio.swf +++
     [echo] 
     [echo] checking if flowplayer.audio.swf is uptodate
     [echo] main up-to-date: ${uptodate.main}

prepare:
    [mkdir] Created dir: /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/audio/example
    [mkdir] Created dir: /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/audio/build
    [mkdir] Created dir: /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/audio/dist
     [copy] Copying 1 file to /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/audio/build
    [unzip] Expanding: /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.devkit/flowplayer.swc into /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/audio/build

compile:
     [echo] compiling with  
     [echo] compiling with  
     [exec] Loading configuration file /data/home/dev/apps/flex-sdk/frameworks/flex-config.xml
     [exec] /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/audio/build/flowplayer.audio.swf (2896 bytes)

build:
     [echo] ++ flowplayer.audio.swf +++
     [echo] 
     [echo] checking if flowplayer.audio.swf is uptodate
     [echo] main up-to-date: true

prepare:

compile:
     [copy] Copying 1 file to /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/audio/build

example:

BUILD FAILED
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build.xml:269: The following error occurred while executing this line:
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build.xml:283: The following error occurred while executing this line:
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.devkit/plugin-build.xml:184: The following error occurred while executing this line:
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.devkit/plugin-build.xml:29: The following error occurred while executing this line:
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.devkit/plugin-build.xml:176: The following error occurred while executing this line:
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.devkit/plugin-build.xml:180: The following error occurred while executing this line:
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.devkit/plugin-build.xml:162: /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer/build not found.

Total time: 5 seconds

I am having another issue !!

Here is the log, it speaks from itself :

$Buildfile: build.xml

check-uptodate:
     [echo] main up-to-date: ${uptodate.main}
     [echo] main up-to-date: ${uptodate.commercial}
     [echo] lib up-to-date: true

build-lib:

plugins:

build:
     [echo] ++ flowplayer.akamai.swf +++
     [echo] 
     [echo] checking if flowplayer.akamai.swf is uptodate
     [echo] main up-to-date: true

prepare:

compile:

deploy:

_deploy:
     [echo] deploying plugin to ../flowplayer.core
     [copy] Copying 1 file to /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build
     [copy] Copying 1 file to /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build
     [copy] Copying 1 file to /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/dist

build:
     [echo] ++ flowplayer.audio.swf +++
     [echo] 
     [echo] checking if flowplayer.audio.swf is uptodate
     [echo] main up-to-date: true

prepare:

compile:

deploy:

_deploy:
     [echo] deploying plugin to ../flowplayer.core
     [copy] Copying 1 file to /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build
     [copy] Copying 1 file to /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build
     [copy] Copying 1 file to /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/dist

build:
     [echo] ++ flowplayer.bwcheck.swf +++
     [echo] 
     [echo] checking if flowplayer.bwcheck.swf is uptodate
     [echo] main up-to-date: ${uptodate.main}

prepare:
    [mkdir] Created dir: /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/bwcheck/build
    [mkdir] Created dir: /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/bwcheck/dist
     [copy] Copying 1 file to /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/bwcheck/build
    [unzip] Expanding: /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.devkit/flowplayer.swc into /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/bwcheck/build

compile:
     [echo] compiling with  
     [echo] compiling with  
     [exec] Loading configuration file /data/home/dev/apps/flex-sdk/frameworks/flex-config.xml
     [exec] /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/bwcheck/src/actionscript/org/flowplayer/bwcheck/DynamicStream.as(119): col: 40 Error: Access of possibly undefined property info through a reference with static type flash.net:NetStream.

     [exec]                     _previousDroppedFrames = _netStream.info.droppedFrames;
     [exec]                                                         ^

     [exec] /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/bwcheck/src/actionscript/org/flowplayer/bwcheck/DynamicStream.as(127): col: 36 Error: Access of possibly undefined property info through a reference with static type flash.net:NetStream.

     [exec]                             var maxbw:Number =  _netStream.info.maxBytesPerSecond*8/1024;
     [exec]                                                            ^

     [exec] /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/bwcheck/src/actionscript/org/flowplayer/bwcheck/DynamicStream.as(131): col: 34 Error: Access of possibly undefined property info through a reference with static type flash.net:NetStream.

     [exec]                              _maxBandwidth =  _netStream.info.maxBytesPerSecond*8/1024;
     [exec]                                                          ^

     [exec] /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/bwcheck/src/actionscript/org/flowplayer/bwcheck/DynamicStream.as(169): col: 21 Error: Access of possibly undefined property info through a reference with static type flash.net:NetStream.

     [exec]                             || ((_netStream.info.droppedFrames - _previousDroppedFrames)*1000/(nowTime - _previousDroppedFramesTime) > _netStream.currentFPS*0.25)) {
     [exec]                                             ^

     [exec] /data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/bwcheck/src/actionscript/org/flowplayer/bwcheck/DynamicStream.as(201): col: 69 Error: Access of possibly undefined property info through a reference with static type flash.net:NetStream.

     [exec]                                     log.debug("Switching down because of dropped fps "+(_netStream.info.droppedFrames - _previousDroppedFrames)*1000/(nowTime - _previousDroppedFramesTime)+ " is greather than 0.25 of fps: "+ _netStream.currentFPS*0.25);
     [exec]                                                                                                    ^

  (...)

BUILD FAILED
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build.xml:269: The following error occurred while executing this line:
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.core/build.xml:283: The following error occurred while executing this line:
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.devkit/plugin-build.xml:184: The following error occurred while executing this line:
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.devkit/plugin-build.xml:29: The following error occurred while executing this line:
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.devkit/plugin-build.xml:175: The following error occurred while executing this line:
/data/home/dev/flex/flowplayer/flowplayer.devkit/plugin-build.xml:95: exec returned: 10

I have to compile a list of software to purchase for developers on my team.

Can flowplayer be compiled with the new FlashBuilder 4 without anything else (ant)? As a developer, do you prefer FlashBuilder or FDT?

The devs work with both php/java. Reason we need to compile... to customize flowplayer for use with wowza custom compiled java modules.

I'm "just" trying to build this thing...following the instructions here:
http://static.flowplayer.org/documentation/developer/development-environment.html

But I get build failures because of a reference to a ..contentsrc directory in the parent flowplayer directory. The instructions don't mention any content directory and there is not one.

Methinks with 8000+ hits on this thread alone that there is a problem building this beast and perhaps its time to abandon this mission.

My original objective was to use the flowplayer as a flex component built right into a flex application (rather than embedded in a web page) but first, the flowplayer.swc which is supposed to be in the flowplayer.devkit repos is not there so I'm forced to build this thing (outside of eclipse/flexbuilder) and then there are these references to some directory never before mentioned. Oy!

Pretty graphics on this thing but beauty is only skin deep I guess. Has anyone figured out what the reference to /content is in the build.xml and more importantly, how to get around the fact that it does not exist?

thanks, sorry for the cynical tone....frustration setting in...

My original objective was to use the flowplayer as a flex component built right into a flex application (rather than embedded in a web page) but first, the flowplayer

1 Install Ant. Instructions
2 Download Adobe Flex 3 SDK.
3 Unzip the Flex 3 SDK that you just downloaded.
% unzip flex_sdk_3.zip
4 Download the Flowplayer development kit.
5 Unzip the Flowplayer development kit.
% upzip flowplayer.devkit-3.0.3.zip
6 Edit the plugin-build.properties file in the Flowplayer development kit. Specifically edit the line that says:
flex3dir=/Users/api/flex3sdk
to point to the location to which you unzipped the Flex 3 SDK. After editing my file looks like this:
flex3dir=/Users/anil/Desktop/flex_sdk_3
7 Navigate to the example plugin that is contained within the Flowplayer development kit. For me this is located here:
/Users/anil/Desktop/flowplayer.devkit/example
8 Finally, type:
% ant
The output should look like this:

Buildfile: build.xml

build:
[echo] ++ flowplayer.helloworld.swf +++
[echo]
[echo] checking if flowplayer.helloworld.swf is uptodate
[echo] main up-to-date: ${uptodate.main}

prepare:
[unzip] Expanding: /Users/anil/env/flowplayer.devkit/flowplayer.swc into
/Users/anil/env/flowplayer.devkit/example/build

check-compile-dirs:

check-compile-dirs2:

compile:
[exec] Loading configuration file
/Users/anil/Desktop/flex_sdk_3/frameworks/flex-config.xml
[exec] /Users/anil/env/flowplayer.devkit/example/build
/flowplayer.helloworld.swf (1304 bytes)
[copy] Copying 1 file to /Users/anil/env/flowplayer.devkit/example/build

BUILD SUCCESSFUL
reparacion de maquinas

thanks