Compatibility Policy¶
PyFFmpegCore supports only combinations backed by visible automated evidence. “Expected to work” is not the same as “tested.”
Python Policy¶
Python 3.10 through 3.14 are the supported interpreter versions. Every version runs the package contract on Linux. Python 3.10 and 3.14 are the baseline and newest-version anchors for installed-wheel media smoke tests on all supported operating systems.
End-of-life Python versions are not advertised. A Python version is removed in the next feature release after upstream end of life unless the project documents and continuously tests an explicit exception.
Operating-System Matrix¶
| Platform | Python 3.10 | Python 3.11–3.13 | Python 3.14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu GitHub-hosted runner | Exact-wheel media smoke | Package contract | Exact-wheel media smoke |
| macOS GitHub-hosted runner | Exact-wheel media smoke | Expected to work | Exact-wheel media smoke |
| Windows GitHub-hosted runner | Exact-wheel media smoke | Expected to work | Exact-wheel media smoke |
The CI workflow is authoritative. A cell counts as tested only when its current required check is green. Compatibility JSON artifacts record the runner architecture, Python version, CLI version, FFmpeg path/version, and FFprobe path/version.
FFmpeg Policy¶
PyFFmpegCore does not bundle FFmpeg. CI tests the FFmpeg package available from the current Ubuntu, Homebrew, and Chocolatey runner channels. The exact versions are captured by pyffmpegcore doctor --json; therefore, this page deliberately avoids pretending that a moving system package is one fixed version.
Expected baseline behavior requires:
ffmpegandffprobeexecutables onPATH, or explicit binary paths;- common demuxers/muxers for MP4, MOV, WebM, MP3, WAV, PNG, and JPEG;
- representative encoders such as H.264, AAC, VP9, Opus, MP3, PCM, and image codecs for the selected workflow;
- filters required by the selected task.
Optional filters and encoders vary by build. Tests skip a capability only when the environment reports that it is absent, and the skip remains visible. A missing optional capability is not silently advertised as supported.
Scheduled Drift Detection¶
The scheduled cold-fixture workflow regenerates fixtures without cache reuse and runs representative media jobs on all three operating systems every week. Failures indicate runner, package-manager, Python, or FFmpeg drift that must be triaged before the next release.
Latest policy update: 2026-08-25. Consult the linked workflows for the latest execution date and exact versions.