GStreamer Pipeline Studio

A modern, visual tool for creating and managing GStreamer multimedia pipelines with automatic code generation.

Overview

GStreamer Pipeline Studio is a Qt6-based graphical application that provides an intuitive interface for building complex GStreamer pipelines. By combining visual node-based editing with dynamic element discovery, it bridges the gap between GStreamer's powerful capabilities and user-friendly pipeline creation.

Key Features

• Visual Pipeline Editor - Drag-and-drop interface for connecting GStreamer elements
• Dynamic Element Discovery - Automatically detects all installed GStreamer plugins using gst-inspect
• Real-time Property Editing - Configure element properties through dynamically generated GUI controls
• Code Generation - Export working pipelines as clean C++ or Python code
• Element Browser - Searchable catalog of available elements with detailed documentation
• Compatibility Validation - Visual feedback for valid/invalid element connections
• Modern UI - Material Design dark theme with professional styling

Current Status

Phase 1: Element Browser ✅ Completed

• GStreamer element discovery and parsing
• Dynamic property and pad template display
• Search and filtering capabilities
• Qt6 + QML interface

Phase 2: Visual Pipeline Editor 🚧 In Development

• Node-based pipeline canvas
• Drag-and-drop element placement
• Visual connection system
• Real-time pipeline validation

Phase 3: Code Generation 📋 Planned

• C++ code export with proper error handling
• Python code generation (GObject and modern bindings)
• Pipeline string export
• Template and boilerplate code

Technology Stack

• Frontend: Qt6 with QML and Material Design
• Backend: C++ with Qt6 Core/Quick
• Parser: Custom gst-inspect output parser
• Styling: Material Dark theme with KDE compatibility
• Build System: CMake

Screenshots

Element Browser showing available GStreamer plugins with detailed property information

Installation

Prerequisites

# Arch Linux / Manjaro
sudo pacman -S qt6-base qt6-declarative qt6-quickcontrols2 gstreamer

# Ubuntu / Debian
sudo apt install qt6-base-dev qt6-declarative-dev qt6-controls2-dev \
                 libgstreamer1.0-dev

# Fedora
sudo dnf install qt6-qtbase-devel qt6-qtdeclarative-devel \
                 qt6-qtquickcontrols2-devel gstreamer1-devel

Building

git clone https://github.com/drook207/gststudio.git
cd gststudio
mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
make -j$(nproc)
./gst-pipeline-studio

Running

# Standard launch
./gst-pipeline-studio

# Force Material Dark theme (KDE systems)
QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME="" QT_QUICK_CONTROLS_STYLE=Material ./gst-pipeline-studio

Usage

1. Browse Elements: Use the left panel to explore available GStreamer elements
2. Search & Filter: Find specific elements using the search functionality
3. View Details: Click any element to see its properties, pad templates, and capabilities
4. Understand Properties: See property types, default values, ranges, and access flags
5. Explore Pads: View source/sink pad capabilities and connection requirements

Development Roadmap

Near Term

• Node-based visual pipeline editor
• Element placement and connection system
• Real-time pipeline validation
• Basic code generation

Medium Term

• Advanced property editing widgets
• Pipeline templates and presets
• Plugin system for custom elements
• Pipeline testing and debugging tools

Long Term

• Remote pipeline monitoring
• Collaborative editing features
• Integration with GStreamer development tools
• Cross-platform deployment

Architecture

┌─────────────────┬─────────────────┐
│   QML Frontend  │  Element Browser │
├─────────────────┼─────────────────┤
│ GstElementBrowser (C++)            │
├─────────────────┼─────────────────┤
│ GstInspectParser│ Property Models │
├─────────────────┼─────────────────┤
│    GStreamer    │   gst-inspect   │
└─────────────────┴─────────────────┘

Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please see our Contributing Guidelines for details.

Development Setup

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch: git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature
3. Make your changes and test thoroughly
4. Submit a pull request with a clear description

Code Style

• C++: Follow Qt coding conventions
• QML: Use consistent indentation and Material Design patterns
• Commit messages: Use conventional commit format

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

• GStreamer development team for the powerful multimedia framework
• Qt Project for the excellent cross-platform toolkit
• The open-source community for inspiration and feedback

Support

• Issues: Report bugs and feature requests on GitHub Issues
• Discussions: Join conversations in GitHub Discussions
• Documentation: Visit our Wiki

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"Making GStreamer pipeline creation as visual and intuitive as the multimedia content it processes."