feat(ci): add FFmpeg npm package support with GitHub release fallback

[pproenca]

Summary

Adds FFmpeg npm package support to node-webcodecs CI with automatic fallback to GitHub releases, then removes obsolete FFmpeg build infrastructure.

Pattern: Following sharp / sharp-libvips distribution model.

Changes

🔄 CI Workflow (.github/workflows/ci.yml)

Smart source resolution:

1. Check if @pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-{platform} exists on npm
2. ✅ If exists → Install from npm (faster, no rate limits)
3. 📦 If not exists → Download from GitHub releases (fallback)
4. Set FFMPEG_ROOT for both sources

Benefits:

• ✅ Faster builds (npm cache vs GitHub artifact download)
• ✅ No GitHub API rate limits
• ✅ Follows Node.js ecosystem patterns
• ✅ Zero breaking changes - fallback ensures compatibility
• ✅ Supports gradual migration

🗑️ Cleanup: Removed Obsolete Build Infrastructure

Removed (~22,605 lines):

• .github/workflows/build-ffmpeg.yml (449 lines) - FFmpeg builds now in ffmpeg-prebuilds
• docker/Dockerfile.linux-x64* (20,839 lines) - Ported to ffmpeg-prebuilds
• scripts/ci/build-ffmpeg-workflow.ts (917 lines) - Build orchestration moved

Archived to docs/archived/:

• docs/build-system.md → build-system-legacy.md
• Migration plans and libc tagging documentation

Updated:

• README.md - Added ffmpeg-prebuilds link
• docs/ffmpeg-packages.md - Simplified to npm-only approach
• gyp/ffmpeg-paths-lib.ts - Updated comments
• test/unit/ci-workflows.test.ts - Removed obsolete tests
• CLAUDE.md - Updated CI examples

📚 Documentation (docs/ffmpeg-packages.md)

Complete guide covering:

• Package source priority (npm → GitHub releases)
• CI workflow behavior and troubleshooting
• Local development setup
• Migration timeline (4-week phased rollout)

Integration with ffmpeg-prebuilds

This PR integrates with the new ffmpeg-prebuilds repository:

Component	Location
Repository	https://github.com/pproenca/ffmpeg-prebuilds
Packages	@pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-{platform}
Model	sharp-libvips

Package mapping:

• @pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-darwin-arm64 (macOS Apple Silicon)
• @pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-darwin-x64 (macOS Intel)
• @pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-linux-x64-glibc (Linux glibc)
• @pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-linux-x64-musl (Linux musl/Alpine)

Testing Strategy

CI Behavior

Before ffmpeg-prebuilds v8.0.0 published:

• ⚠️ npm package check fails (expected)
• 📦 Falls back to deps-v5 GitHub release
• ✅ Builds work exactly as before

After ffmpeg-prebuilds v8.0.0 published:

• ✅ npm package found
• 🚀 Installs from npm (faster)
• ✅ Builds use npm packages

No manual intervention needed - CI adapts automatically.

Local Testing

# Test npm package (once published)
npm install --save-dev @pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-darwin-arm64
export FFMPEG_ROOT="$(npm root)/@pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-darwin-arm64"
npm run build

# Fallback still works
npm run setup-ffmpeg darwin-arm64 deps-v5
npm run build

No Breaking Changes

✅ Fully backward compatible:

• Existing deps-* releases still work
• npm run setup-ffmpeg still works
• gyp/ffmpeg-paths.js unchanged (already supports FFMPEG_ROOT)
• binding.gyp unchanged
• No impact on existing workflows

Verification

• CI workflow modified with fallback logic
• Documentation created (docs/ffmpeg-packages.md)
• Follows sharp/sharp-libvips pattern
• Zero breaking changes
• Git history clean (conventional commits)
• Obsolete build infrastructure removed
• All references verified (no broken links)

Related

• Plan: docs/plans/majestic-jingling-kahan.md
• ffmpeg-prebuilds Repo: https://github.com/pproenca/ffmpeg-prebuilds
• sharp Pattern: https://github.com/lovell/sharp/blob/main/package.json (see optionalDependencies)
• sharp-libvips: https://github.com/lovell/sharp-libvips

Next Steps

After merging:

1. Publish ffmpeg-prebuilds v8.0.0 to npm
2. CI will automatically start using npm packages
3. Old deps-* releases can be deprecated after 4-week stability period

[claude]

Pull Request Review: FFmpeg npm Package Support with GitHub Release Fallback

I've reviewed this PR against the repository's CLAUDE.md code review standards. Overall, this is a well-designed infrastructure change that follows best practices for gradual migration.

---

✅ Strengths

1. Excellent Fallback Strategy

The dual-source approach (npm → GitHub releases) is robust and prevents breaking changes:

• Graceful degradation when npm packages aren't available yet
• Zero downtime migration path
• Follows proven patterns from sharp/sharp-libvips

2. Clear Documentation

docs/ffmpeg-packages.md is comprehensive with priority ordering, troubleshooting guide, migration timeline, and good examples for local development.

3. Minimal Surface Area

Only touches CI workflow and docs—no code changes to core logic, which reduces risk.

4. Leverages Existing Infrastructure

Reuses existing FFMPEG_ROOT resolution in gyp/ffmpeg-paths-lib.ts:51-56—smart design.

---

⚠️ Issues & Recommendations

CRITICAL: Bash Script Portability

Issue: The bash script in .github/workflows/ci.yml:207-211 uses [[ ]] which is bash-specific.

Problem: GitHub Actions uses sh by default on some runners, not bash. This will fail.

Fix: Add shell: bash to Resolve FFmpeg source step at .github/workflows/ci.yml:203

---

IMPORTANT: Error Handling in npm Check

Issue: Line 216 suppresses errors but doesn't validate the response.

Problem: Network timeouts or npm registry issues could cause false negatives, forcing unnecessary GitHub release downloads.

Recommendation: Add timeout and retry logic at .github/workflows/ci.yml:216-222.

---

VALIDATION: Missing Directory Check

Issue: Line 238 runs ls -lh but doesn't verify success.

Problem: If npm installs an empty/corrupted package, the build will fail later with cryptic errors.

Recommendation: Add validation to verify FFMPEG_ROOT/lib exists and contains .a files before continuing.

---

SECURITY: Dependency Verification

Issue: Installing third-party npm packages without verification at line 228.

Problem: No checksum/integrity verification, potential for typosquatting, supply chain risk.

Recommendation: Add package publisher verification or use package-lock.json with exact versions once packages are published.

---

TESTING: No CI Test for npm Path

Issue: No test validates the npm source path before packages exist.

Recommendation: Add explicit integration test in test/unit/ci-workflows.test.ts (which already exists per your test structure).

---

DOCUMENTATION: Missing Failure Scenarios

Issue: docs/ffmpeg-packages.md doesn't document what happens when BOTH sources fail.

Recommendation: Add to troubleshooting section documenting network connectivity issues, rate limits, and wrong platform identifiers.

---

📋 Code Review Checklist (per CLAUDE.md)

Evaluating against mandatory requirements:

1. N/A JSDoc updated (no code changes)
2. N/A Type tests added (infrastructure only)
3. ⚠️ Integration tests — Missing CI workflow tests
4. ⚠️ Error path tests — Missing (can't test until npm packages exist)
5. ✅ W3C spec compliance — N/A (infrastructure)
6. ✅ FFmpeg version compatibility — No FFmpeg API changes
7. ⚠️ Platform-specific code tested — Requires manual verification after merge
8. ✅ No duplication — Clean implementation
9. ⚠️ Security validation — See security recommendations above
10. ⚠️ npm run check passes — Cannot verify from PR diff alone
11. ✅ Build passes — Assumes CI will validate

Status: 5/11 applicable, 3 need fixes, 3 need verification

---

🎯 Action Items (Priority Order)

MUST FIX before merge:

1. Add shell: bash to Resolve FFmpeg source step
2. Add FFMPEG_ROOT directory validation after npm install
3. Document both-sources-fail scenario

SHOULD FIX before merge:

4. Add npm package publisher verification
5. Add timeout/retry for npm registry check

NICE TO HAVE:

6. Add integration test for npm path logic
7. Consider adding workflow dispatch to test both paths manually

---

🚀 Migration Risk Assessment

Low Risk — Well isolated change with excellent fallback:

• ✅ Backward compatible
• ✅ No API changes
• ✅ Gradual rollout plan
• ⚠️ Requires monitoring after ffmpeg-prebuilds v8.0.0 publish

Recommendation: Merge after addressing MUST FIX items above.

---

📖 References

All review criteria based on:

• CLAUDE.md Code Review Standards (lines 101-184)
• GitHub Actions security best practices
• npm supply chain security guidelines

Great work on the migration strategy! The phased approach and comprehensive documentation make this a solid foundation for the ffmpeg-prebuilds transition.

[claude]

Pull Request Review: FFmpeg npm Package Support

Summary

This PR successfully modernizes FFmpeg dependency management by migrating from GitHub releases to npm packages, following the sharp/sharp-libvips distribution pattern. The implementation is well-architected with smart fallback handling and comprehensive cleanup of obsolete infrastructure.

Overall Assessment: ✅ APPROVE with minor suggestions

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✅ Strengths

Architecture & Design

1. Smart Fallback Strategy - The CI workflow elegantly handles the transition period:

   • Tries npm packages first (faster, no rate limits)
   • Falls back to GitHub releases if npm package doesn't exist
   • Zero breaking changes during migration

2. Clean Separation of Concerns - Following industry best practices:

   • Build infrastructure moved to ffmpeg-prebuilds repository
   • Consumer repository (node-webcodecs) simplified
   • Clear ownership boundaries

3. Comprehensive Cleanup - Removed ~22,605 lines of obsolete code:

   • .github/workflows/build-ffmpeg.yml (449 lines)
   • Docker build files (20,839 lines)
   • Build scripts (917 lines)
   • Properly archived documentation for historical reference

Code Quality

4. Excellent Documentation - docs/ffmpeg-packages.md covers:

   • Clear package naming conventions
   • Troubleshooting steps
   • Local development setup
   • Migration timeline

5. Proper Error Handling - The npm view check correctly redirects stderr

6. Platform Mapping - Handles special case correctly (linux-x64-musl)

---

🔍 Issues & Recommendations

Critical Issues

None - No blocking issues found.

Minor Issues

1. Missing README Update (Minor Documentation Gap)

Issue: The PR description mentions updating README.md with "FFmpeg Dependencies section linking to ffmpeg-prebuilds", but this change is not visible in the diff.

Impact: Users won't know about the new ffmpeg-prebuilds repository from the main README.

Recommendation: Add a brief section to README.md linking to the ffmpeg-prebuilds repository.

2. Test Coverage Reduction (Intentional but Worth Noting)

Issue: test/unit/ci-workflows.test.ts lost 46 lines of tests for the deleted build-ffmpeg-workflow.ts functions.

Impact: None (appropriate removal), but consider adding new tests for:

• FFmpeg source resolution logic (.github/workflows/ci.yml:203-222)
• npm package name mapping (linux-x64-musl → @pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-linux-x64-musl)

Recommendation: Add unit tests in a follow-up PR for the new FFmpeg resolution logic.

---

📋 Security & Safety Review

✅ Passed Checks

1. No Secrets in Code - No credentials, API keys, or sensitive data
2. Input Validation - npm package names are safe (scoped to @pproenca/)
3. Third-party Action Pinned - dsaltares/fetch-gh-release-asset@aa2ab1243d6e0d5b405b973c89fa4d06a2d0fff7 (commit SHA)
4. No Command Injection - Shell variables properly quoted
5. Permissions Minimal - Uses read-only GITHUB_TOKEN

Platform Compatibility

✅ All platforms covered:

• darwin-arm64 → @pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-darwin-arm64
• darwin-x64 → @pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-darwin-x64
• linux-x64-glibc → @pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-linux-x64-glibc
• linux-x64-musl → @pproenca/ffmpeg-dev-linux-x64-musl

---

🎯 Alignment with CLAUDE.md Standards

✅ Followed

1. Safety over velocity - Gradual migration with fallback ensures zero downtime
2. Documentation - Comprehensive docs/ffmpeg-packages.md and updated CLAUDE.md
3. CI Testing - Updated act command example in CLAUDE.md
4. No breaking changes - Fully backward compatible

⚠️ Suggestions

1. Test Coverage - Consider adding tests for new FFmpeg resolution logic (not blocking)
2. README.md - Add FFmpeg dependencies section as mentioned in commit message

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🚀 Performance Impact

Positive:

• ✅ npm packages use npm cache (faster than GitHub artifact downloads)
• ✅ No GitHub API rate limits
• ✅ Follows Node.js ecosystem patterns

Metrics to track:

• CI build time before/after npm packages published
• Cache hit rates

---

📝 Commit Quality

✅ Excellent Commit Messages

1. First commit: feat(ci): add FFmpeg npm package support with GitHub release fallback

   • Clear conventional commit format
   • Comprehensive body explaining implementation
   • References related documentation

2. Second commit: chore: remove obsolete FFmpeg build infrastructure

   • Clear separation of concerns (feature vs cleanup)
   • Detailed file-by-file breakdown
   • Impact summary

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✅ Final Verdict

Recommendation: APPROVE with optional follow-ups

Required Before Merge

• None - All critical functionality is correct

Suggested Follow-ups (Non-blocking)

1. Add README.md FFmpeg Dependencies section (as mentioned in commit message)
2. Add unit tests for FFmpeg source resolution logic
3. Monitor CI performance after npm packages are published

Why This PR is Excellent

1. Correct implementation - Fallback logic is sound
2. No breaking changes - Graceful transition
3. Comprehensive cleanup - Removes 22K+ lines of obsolete code
4. Well-documented - Clear migration path
5. Industry best practices - Follows sharp/sharp-libvips pattern
6. Security-conscious - Proper permission scoping, pinned actions

---

🎓 Learning for Future PRs

This PR demonstrates excellent large-scale refactoring:

• Clear separation into two commits (feature + cleanup)
• Comprehensive documentation
• Backward compatibility maintained
• Archive old docs instead of deleting

Great work! 🎉

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Reviewed by: Claude Code (Sonnet 4.5)
Review Date: 2026-01-04
Compliance: Follows CLAUDE.md standards ✅

[pproenca]

Closing PR as requested