# `mix ffix.ffmpeg.fetch`
[🔗](https://github.com/akash-akya/ffix/blob/v0.2.0/lib/mix/tasks/ffix.ffmpeg.fetch.ex#L1)

Download a pinned static FFmpeg build for development.

    mix ffix.ffmpeg.fetch --variant gpl

Archives come from [BtbN FFmpeg builds](https://github.com/BtbN/FFmpeg-Builds).
The task checks the archive's SHA-256 against `priv/ffmpeg/checksums.exs`, then
extracts it under `.ffmpeg/<archive-name>/` and prints the executable paths.
Select the downloaded binary with `FFMPEG_BIN` or `FFix.run/2`'s `ffmpeg:` option.

## Options

- `--variant gpl|lgpl` — required. GPL builds include encoders such as libx264
  and libx265; LGPL builds omit them. Review the build's licenses before redistribution.
- `--branch VERSION` — defaults to `9.0`; the branch must have recorded checksums.

Windows and glibc Linux builds are supported on x86_64 and ARM64. Linux requires
glibc 2.28+, kernel 4.18+, and `tar` with xz support. For macOS, use an installation
method listed on [FFmpeg's download page](https://ffmpeg.org/download.html).

> #### Keep builds explicit {: .info}
> Downloading leaves your environment and FFix's helper reference unchanged.
> Choose the executable explicitly when testing a different FFmpeg build.

An existing destination is left untouched; remove it yourself before fetching
the same archive again. BtbN archives may expire, and release-branch builds may
include commits after a point release. To record another dated build, see
`Mix.Tasks.Ffix.Ffmpeg.Checksum`.

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*Consult [api-reference.md](api-reference.md) for complete listing*