ErrorBuilder causes UI freeze due to infinite error callbacks during network issues (ffurl_read 0xffffff92)

[kishankothiya2022]

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Severe UI Freezing When errorBuilder is Triggered Repeatedly

Description

The errorBuilder callback in ChewieController causes severe UI freezing when network connectivity issues trigger continuous error callbacks.

During poor network conditions, the underlying video player (FFmpeg) generates repeated ffurl_read returned 0xffffff92 TCP errors. These errors invoke errorBuilder in a tight, infinite loop on the main thread, overwhelming the UI and freezing the application.

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Root Cause

1. Network connectivity becomes unstable during video playback
2. FFmpeg/video player emits continuous ffurl_read returned 0xffffff92 errors
3. Each error synchronously triggers errorBuilder
4. The callback executes on the UI thread (logging, analytics, widget building, etc.)
5. With no rate limiting/debouncing, hundreds/thousands of error callbacks flood the UI thread
6. Application becomes completely frozen

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Error Pattern

Error: ffurl_read returned 0xffffff92
Error: ffurl_read returned 0xffffff92
Error: ffurl_read returned 0xffffff92
... (repeats continuously during network issues)

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Reproduction Steps

1. Create a ChewieController with an errorBuilder performing any operation (logging, analytics, widget building, etc.)
2. Start video playback with a network URL
3. Simulate unstable/poor network conditions
4. Observe continuous ffurl_read returned 0xffffff92 errors in logs
5. UI freezes as the error callback is executed infinitely

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Problematic Code Example

ChewieController(
  videoPlayerController: newController,
  errorBuilder: (context, errorMessage) {
    debugPrint('Error: $errorMessage'); // Called hundreds of times per second
    analytics.track(
      AnalyticsPayload(
        key: AnalyticsKeys.errorFromVideoPlayer,
        props: {...?widget.analyticsPayload, 'errorMessage': errorMessage},
      ),
    ); // Heavy operation repeated infinitely
    return const SizedBox.shrink(); // Widget rebuild repeated infinitely
  },
);

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Expected Behavior

• errorBuilder should not be called infinitely for the same error
• The callback should be debounced/throttled or only triggered once per error event
• Application UI should remain responsive even under poor network conditions

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Proposed Solutions

• Add internal debouncing to errorBuilder calls
• Allow developers to configure max frequency or rate limiting of error callbacks
• Provide an option to emit only the latest error rather than triggering for every repeated FFmpeg error

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Environment

• Chewie version: 1.11.3
• Video Player version: 2.9.5
• Flutter version: stable 3.27.4
• Platform: Android

[kishankothiya2022]

@diegotori @cbenhagen

Hello 👋, I reported this issue about a month ago and noticed it’s still open. I completely understand you may be busy, but I just wanted to kindly ask if you could take a look when you have some time. Please let me know if you need any additional details or steps from my side to help reproduce or resolve it. Thanks a lot for your efforts in maintaining this project 🙏.