I am trying to use ffmpeg to create a video out of an image file that is overwritten constantly. I'm checking the documentation and I can see this is achievable in reverse:

ffmpeg -y -f v4l2 -video_size 1280x720 -i /dev/video0 \
       -r 0.2 -qscale:v 2 -update 1 /tmp/webcam.jpg

Is there a way I can recreate this video file from this /tmp/webcam.jpg file that is being overwritten constantly with the new frame? Ie: Specify a time to loop over the same image?

In this case, an application is sending a new image every split second via a socket and being saved to /tmp/image.jpg. I need to convert it to a one minute video for example whilst that image is being rewritten.

CodePudding user response：

Named pipe "proof of concept":

• Create named pipe in Linux terminal:

   mkfifo webcam_pipe
  

• Execute FFmpeg command that reads from named pipe and writes video to webcam.mkv file:

   ffmpeg -y -r 1 -f image2pipe -vcodec mjpeg -i webcam_pipe -vcodec copy webcam.mkv
  

• Open another console, and Execute FFmpeg command that writes JPEG images to the named pipe at 1Hz (60 seconds long):

   ffmpeg -y -re -f lavfi -i testsrc=size=1280x720:rate=1 -t 60 -vcodec mjpeg -f image2pipe webcam_pipe
  

It's also working when the pipe name is /tmp/webcam.jpg

In your case "application is sending a new image via a socket", and I have no idea if it's going to work...