We should be more excited for WebCodecs!

WebCodecs is a new, open specification by the W3C group. It has a game-changing API that allows a unified, platform-agnostic API to developers for extremele fine control over media: in particular video and audio encoding and decoding.

Traditionally this has always been a complex matter and typically required a server + tools like FFmpeg to start with. But soon we will have complete in-browser implementations: Chrome and Firefox are already implemented, Safari is soon to follow suit. This will unlock a completely new paradigm of working with media and for some workflows, can even replace FFmpeg altogether.

Since the tech is so new, the session can act as a gateway/entry-point for intermediate + advanced developers to learn about WebCodecs and explore it further for their own use-cases. We are one of the first companies to use WebCodecs (alongside WebGPU) in our production apps and can support our session with real-world examples.

A basic session outline could be:

1. Overview of the WebCodecs API

2. Differences from existing media technologies

3. Platform support: current and planned

4. Real-world examples of using it

5. A few jumping off points to start one's own exploration

1. Learn about a new, emerging media technology: WebCodecs

2. Understand some use-cases for which it can already start being used

3. Comparisons between FFmpeg and WebCodecs implementations to see the pros/cons of each