2.5. Features
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## 2.5. Features

- Decide if you need GUI. If you do, see the GUI section before compiling.

- If you want to install MEncoder (our great all-purpose encoder), see the MEncoder section.

- If you have a V4L compatible TV tuner card, and wish to watch/grab and encode movies with MPlayer, read the TV input section.

- There is a neat OSD Menu support ready to be used. Check the OSD menu section.

Then build MPlayer:

    ./configure
    make
    make install

At this point, MPlayer is ready to use. The directory `$PREFIX/share/mplayer` contains the `codecs.conf` file, which is used to tell the program all the codecs and their capabilities. This file is needed only when you want to change its properties, as the main binary contains an internal copy of it. Check if you have `codecs.conf` in your home directory (`~/.mplayer/codecs.conf`) left from old MPlayer versions, and remove it.

Note that if you have a `codecs.conf` in `~/.mplayer/`, the builtin and system `codecs.conf` will be ignored completely. Do not do this unless you want to fiddle with MPlayer internals as this can can cause many problems. If you want to change the codecs search order, use the `-vc`, `-ac`, `-vfm`, or `-afm` options either on the command line or in your config file (see the manual page).

Debian users can build a .deb package for themselves, it's very simple. Just exec

    fakeroot debian/rules binary

in MPlayer's root directory. See Debian packaging for detailed instructions.

Always browse the output of `./configure`, and the `configure.log` file, they contain information about what will be built, and what will not. You may also want to view `config.h` and `config.mak` files. If you have some libraries installed, but not detected by `./configure`, then check if you also have the proper header files (usually the -dev packages) and their version matches. The `configure.log` file usually tells you what is missing.

Though not mandatory, the fonts should be installed in order to gain OSD, and subtitle functionality. The recommended method is installing a TTF font file and telling MPlayer to use it. See the Subtitles and OSD section for details.

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