gst-launch-1.0

Play test video in a window

$ gst-launch-1.0 videotestsrc ! autovideosink

$ gst-launch-1.0 audiotestsrc ! autoaudiosink

$ gst-launch-1.0 playbin uri=[protocol]://[host]/[path/to/file]

$ gst-launch-1.0 filesrc location=[path/to/file] ! [file_type]demux ! [codec_type]dec ! [codec_type]enc ! [file_type]mux ! filesink location=[path/to/file]

$ gst-launch-1.0 filesrc location=[path/to/file] ! rtspclientsink location=rtsp://[host_IP]/[path/to/file]

$ gst-launch-1.0 [[-e|--eos-on-shutdown]] videotestsrc ! x264enc ! mp4mux ! filesink location=[path/to/file.mp4]

$ gst-launch-1.0 [[-e|--eos-on-shutdown]] videotestsrc ! x264enc ! [element_name]. audiotestsrc ! opusenc ! [element_name]. matroskamux name=[element_name] ! filesink location=[path/to/file.mkv]

$ GST_DEBUG_DUMP_DOT_DIR=[path/to/directory] gst-launch-1.0 [pipeline]

gst-launch-1.0 [OPTION...] [PIPELINE-DESCRIPTION]

-v, --verbose
    Output status information and property notifications. Use multiple times for increased verbosity.

-q, --quiet
    Suppress progress information, print only errors.

-m, --messages
    Output status messages and timestamped property notifications.

-t, --trace
    Print memory allocation trace (if enabled at compile time).

-V, --version
    Print version information and exit.

-e, --eos-on-shutdown
    Force end-of-stream on sources before pipeline shutdown.

-M, --list-media-types
    List all raw media types supported by installed plugins.

--help-all
    Show complete list of help options.

--help-gst
    Show GStreamer-specific options.

--help-gst-launch
    Show gst-launch-1.0-specific options.

-?, -h, --help
    Show basic help options.

--no-fault
    Disable installation of fault handler.

gst-launch-1.0 is a versatile command-line utility from the GStreamer multimedia framework designed to build, link, and execute media processing pipelines directly from textual descriptions. It enables quick prototyping, testing, playback, encoding, and streaming without compiling custom applications.

Users specify pipelines using element names separated by !, such as videotestsrc ! videoconvert ! autovideosink. Properties are set with dot notation like filesrc location=/path/to/file.mp4, and pads can be explicitly named for dynamic or complex links (e.g., ! .src_0). The tool automatically handles plugin loading, negotiation of capabilities, and pipeline state changes.

Ideal for developers debugging elements, users testing hardware, or scripting media tasks, it supports verbose logging, message output, and error reporting. GStreamer plugins provide sources (filesrc, udpsrc), filters (videoscale, audioconvert), demuxers, decoders, encoders, muxers, and sinks (xvimagesink, alsasink, rtpmanager). Environment variables like GST_PLUGIN_PATH and GST_DEBUG enhance functionality.

While powerful for ad-hoc use, it prints pipeline graphs and stats, making it indispensable for GStreamer workflows across Linux, Unix, and embedded systems.

Intended for testing and prototyping, not production; lacks fine-grained control, async handling, and UI integration of custom apps. Use ! for 'sometimes' pads in dynamic links.

Elements linked by !: element[.padname][.property=value] ! element. Use % for URI escaping, ^ for pad blocking probes.

Video test pattern: gst-launch-1.0 videotestsrc ! videoconvert ! autovideosink
Play file: gst-launch-1.0 playbin uri=file:///path/video.mp4
Encode audio: gst-launch-1.0 audiotestsrc ! audioconvert ! lamemp3 bitrate=192 ! filesink location=test.mp3

Part of GStreamer project initiated in 1999 by Wim Taymans for cross-platform multimedia. gst-launch-1.0 debuted in early versions for pipeline testing; stabilized in GStreamer 1.0 (2012), with ongoing enhancements for new plugins and features.

gst-inspect-1.0(1), gst-typefind-1.0(1), gst-play-1.0(1), gst-validate-1.0(1)