Seeking a Comprehensive List of Open Source Libraries Used i

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Oli Koos

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Seeking a Comprehensive List of Open Source Libraries Used i

PostSat Apr 19, 2025 5:41 am

Hi everyone,
I'm trying to get a better understanding of the open-source software components used within DaVinci Resolve.
I located the license information folder in my Resolve installation directory (usually under C:\Program Files\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Docs\Licenses on Windows or similar paths on Mac/Linux) and found several files, including:
LGPL-2.1.txt
log4cxx-LICENSE.txt & log4cxx-NOTICE.txt
magick-LICENSE.txt & magick-NOTICE.txt (presumably ImageMagick or GraphicsMagick?)
openssl-LICENSE.txt
zip-LICENSE.txt (presumably zlib or a similar zip library?)
While some files clearly point to specific libraries (like Log4cxx, OpenSSL, etc.), others like LGPL-2.1.txt just contain the license text itself, without specifying which library included in Resolve is covered by that LGPL license.
This leads me to a few questions I'm hoping the community might have insights on:
Comprehensive List: Does anyone know if a more complete, official list exists that details all the open-source libraries and components bundled with DaVinci Resolve? The included files seem like only a partial list.
Identifying Libraries: Can anyone help identify which specific library (or libraries) in Resolve are licensed under the LGPL-2.1.txt found in the installation folder?
Modifications: Has Blackmagic Design made modifications to any of these open-source libraries for use within Resolve?
Source Code Availability: If modifications were made, particularly to copyleft-licensed libraries like the one(s) under LGPL, has Blackmagic Design made the corresponding source code for these modifications publicly available, as required by such licenses? Where could this be found?
AI Features: With the newer AI-powered features (like Magic Mask, Voice Isolation, Dialogue Leveler, Transcription, etc.), does anyone know if these rely on specific open-source AI/ML libraries or models? If so, what are they and under which licenses are they provided?
I'm essentially trying to get a clearer picture of Resolve's software stack and its open-source dependencies and compliance.
Any information, pointers to official documentation, or insights would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
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roger.magnusson

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Re: Seeking a Comprehensive List of Open Source Libraries Us

PostSat Apr 19, 2025 11:37 am

What is the purpose of this exercise?

You mention one directory with licenses but that's not where the files you later list are actually located (Program Files vs ProgramData for one thing). Are you looking at an old version? Just seems fishy to me that someone who's gone looking for it ignores the obvious file that is actually there and contains the information you're after, including links to source code for BMDs patches: %PROGRAMFILES%\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Documents\Third Party Licenses.rtf

As to which individual features use which libraries, that's not publicly available information.
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Oli Koos

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Re: Seeking a Comprehensive List of Open Source Libraries Us

PostMon Apr 21, 2025 9:04 am

roger.magnusson wrote:What is the purpose of this exercise?

You mention one directory with licenses but that's not where the files you later list are actually located (Program Files vs ProgramData for one thing). Are you looking at an old version? Just seems fishy to me that someone who's gone looking for it ignores the obvious file that is actually there and contains the information you're after, including links to source code for BMDs patches: %PROGRAMFILES%\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Documents\Third Party Licenses.rtf

As to which individual features use which libraries, that's not publicly available information.


Thank you for pointing out the location of the Third Party Licenses.rtf file. That information was helpful and provided the details I wanted.
That said, I found the accusatory tone suggesting my question was 'fishy' to be unnecessarily confrontational and unwarranted.
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Oli Koos

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Re: Seeking a Comprehensive List of Open Source Libraries Us

PostMon Apr 21, 2025 9:30 am

Based on the Third Party Licenses.rtf file discussed, I put together this summary of the open-source libraries listed within it. I don't guarantee this list is perfectly accurate or exhaustive, but if anyone else is looking for such an overview, here it is:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML) / Computer Vision (CV):
Whisper (OpenAI) (MIT License): AI model for Speech-to-Text. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
OpenCV (BSD 3-Clause): Computer Vision library (image/video analysis). Link to Modified Source: None Listed
Ceres Solver (New BSD License): Optimization library (ML/CV backend). Link to Modified Source: None Listed

2. Graphical User Interface (GUI) & Framework:
Qt (Nokia/The Qt Co.) (LGPL v2.1/v3 + Exception): Cross-platform GUI framework. Link to Modified Source: http://software.blackmagicdesign.com/Th ... .8.0-1.zip, .../Qt-4.8.2-1.zip, .../Qt-4.8.2-retina-2.zip, .../Qt-5.3.1-1.zip, .../Qt-5.6-1.zip
WTL (Windows Template Library) (CPL 1.0): Windows GUI development library. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
qtsingleapplication (LGPL v2.1 + Nokia Qt Exception v1.0): Ensures single app instance (Qt addon). Link to Modified Source: http://software.blackmagicdesign.com/Th ... urce-1.zip

3. Audio Processing, Codecs & I/O:
FDK AAC (Fraunhofer) (Custom Fraunhofer License): AAC audio codec (encoder/decoder). Link to Modified Source: None Listed
FAAC (ISO/IEC Base + LGPL v2.1+ for changes): AAC audio encoder. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
Opus (BSD 3-Clause): Audio codec (compression). Link to Modified Source: None Listed
LAME (LGPL v3.0): MP3 audio encoder. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
libsndfile (LGPL v2.1 or later): Read/write audio files (WAV, AIFF, etc.). Link to Modified Source: http://software.blackmagicdesign.com/Th ... 0.25-1.zip
SoX Resampler (soxr) (LGPL v2.1 or later): Audio resampling. Link to Modified Source: http://software.blackmagicdesign.com/Th ... .1.1-1.zip
RtMidi (MIT-style): Realtime MIDI I/O. Link to Modified Source: None Listed

4. Video/Image Processing, Codecs & Formats:
OpenEXR (BSD 3-Clause): HDR image format handling. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
OpenColorIO (BSD 3-Clause): Color management framework. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
libjpeg-turbo (IJG License / BSD-style / zlib): JPEG image handling. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
libpng (libpng License): PNG image handling. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
libtiff (libtiff License): TIFF image handling. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
AOMedia Library (libaom) (BSD 2-Clause): AV1 video codec (encoder/decoder). Link to Modified Source: None Listed
cfitsio (Custom NASA / optional GPL): FITS image/data format handling (astronomy). Link to Modified Source: None Listed
Asdcplib (BSD 3-Clause): Digital Cinema Package (DCP) handling. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
libMXF (LGPL v2.1 or later): MXF container format handling (read/write). Link to Modified Source: http://software.blackmagicdesign.com/Th ... 0103-2.zip
Intel ISPC Texture Compressor (BSD 3-Clause): GPU texture compression. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
IMath (BSD 3-Clause): Basic math library for graphics (vectors, matrices). Link to Modified Source: None Listed

5. Multimedia Framework / Pipelines:
GStreamer (LGPL v2.0): Multimedia pipeline framework. Link to Modified Source: None Listed

6. Networking & Web:
libcurl (curl/MIT License): Network data transfer (HTTP, FTP, etc.). Link to Modified Source: None Listed
MDNSResponder (Apache 2.0): Network service discovery (Bonjour/Zeroconf). Link to Modified Source: None Listed
LibSRTP (BSD 3-Clause): Secure Real-time Transport Protocol. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
lwIP (BSD 3-Clause): Lightweight TCP/IP networking stack. Link to Modified Source: None Listed

7. Cryptography & Security:
OpenSSL (Dual OpenSSL/SSLeay License): SSL/TLS and cryptography toolkit. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
MBedTLS (Apache 2.0): SSL/TLS and cryptography library. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
libsodium (ISC License): Cryptography library. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
SHA-1 (Christophe Devine) (BSD 3-Clause): SHA-1 Hashing algorithm. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
MD5 (RSA Data Security) (Custom RSA License): MD5 Hashing algorithm. Link to Modified Source: None Listed

8. Data Handling, Serialization & Metadata:
Protobuf (Protocol Buffers) (BSD 3-Clause): Data serialization library. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
Flatbuffers (Apache 2.0): Data serialization library. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
cJSON (MIT License): JSON data parsing. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
TinyXML (zlib License): XML data parsing. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
exempi (BSD 3-Clause): XMP metadata handling. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
NanoPB (zlib License): Protocol Buffers implementation (embedded). Link to Modified Source: None Listed

9. Compression (General):
zlib (zlib License): Data compression library. Link to Modified Source: None Listed

10. Scripting:
Lua (MIT License): Scripting language. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
LuaJIT (MIT License): Just-In-Time compiler for Lua. Link to Modified Source: None Listed

11. Fonts & Text Rendering:
freetype2 (FTL License): Font rendering engine. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
OpenSans (Apache 2.0): Font. Link to Modified Source: N/A
Noto Sans CJK (SIL OFL 1.1): Font. Link to Modified Source: N/A
Android AOSP Fonts (Apache 2.0): Font. Link to Modified Source: N/A

12. Core Utilities, System & Math:
GLib (LGPL v2.1): Core utility library (data structures, loop). Link to Modified Source: None Listed
GLog (BSD 3-Clause): Application-level logging. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
GFlags (BSD 3-Clause): Command-line flag parsing. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
libffi (MIT License): Foreign Function Interface (calling between languages). Link to Modified Source: None Listed
fastapprox (BSD 3-Clause): Fast approximate math functions. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
Spectra (MPL 2.0): Linear algebra library. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
NewLib (Various Permissive): C standard library (for embedded). Link to Modified Source: None Listed
FreeRTOS (Modified GPL + Exception): Real-time OS kernel (for hardware/embedded). Link to Modified Source: http://software.blackmagicdesign.com/Th ... .1.1-1.zip

13. Hardware Specific (BMD):
AVR32 (Custom Atmel License): Libraries for Atmel AVR32 MCUs. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
Atmel ASF (Custom Atmel License): Software framework for Atmel MCUs. Link to Modified Source: None Listed
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rNeil H

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Re: Seeking a Comprehensive List of Open Source Libraries Us

PostMon Apr 21, 2025 5:06 pm

I didn't see any accusatory question asked of you. Simply asking a question isn't implying squat, normally.

And I'm curious about your interest in this also. So I'd love to hear why you think this is of interest, value, or use.

Note, as an autistic, I personally find things of interest especially into the details in a depth others roll their eyes at.

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Jack Takashi

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Re: Seeking a Comprehensive List of Open Source Libraries Us

PostMon Apr 21, 2025 9:34 pm

Oli, this is a good list of the software used. You are, as you know, well within your rights to ask for the licenses. Nothing "fishy" about it. Good on you.

Also, to add, it shows how much open source software is used in Davinci Resolve, albeit, mostly under the Lesser GNU Public License.
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roger.magnusson

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Re: Seeking a Comprehensive List of Open Source Libraries Us

PostMon Apr 21, 2025 9:56 pm

Sorry, I guess I had a knee-jerk reaction to it.

It just seemed like questions a lawyer or perhaps a reporter would ask, which didn't make sense to me because if this was someone looking to sue for one reason or another, he wouldn't go to the user forum in search of facts. That combined with the incorrect path just didn't add up, perhaps ChatGPT provided it?. I realize the path could just have been written from memory and it was a mistake. But, like I said, knee-jerk reaction. Especially around the part about which libraries were used to build specific AI features. That type of information (a breakdown of library use per feature instead of the whole app) is normally not part of the commitment to these open source licenses and I thought it was a strange ask.

The other option, I thought, was if this person was looking to create some sort of Linux distribution or software package. I don't know, I just didn't see the point of it but as rNeil H reminded me we all have our interests and that's perfectly fine.

Mostly my reaction comes down to my frame of mind at the time. Sceptical. ;)

Oh, there's another reason why I don't think it's a good idea for end users to publish information like this, despite their good intentions. It happens all the time with the Resolve API; Someone makes a web page with the whole API and declares that "this is the ultimate way to reference the API documentation". Then a new version of Resolve comes out and the information on the web page is obsolete and never gets updated. It's still in Google and all the LLMs, making it harder for API users. Pointing users to the original source is always the best option. Or make it very clear which specific version the information is for.
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Oli Koos

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Re: Seeking a Comprehensive List of Open Source Libraries Us

PostTue Apr 22, 2025 12:55 pm

@roger.magnusson All good, no harm done, and thanks for the follow-up!

Alright, due to popular request: – my interest is simply tech curiosity. I love Open Source Software. With all the new AI features being added recently, I was particularly interested to see whether Blackmagic was building these entirely from scratch or leveraging some of the excellent open-source projects already available in the AI/ML field. Seeing components like OpenAI's Whisper listed was quite interesting in that regard. It's just technical curiosity, really.

Regarding the list: fair point about info getting old, but that's forum life! Users should always double-check sources, especially if using AI tools later. I still think sharing can be a useful starting point.
And yes, my initial path was a fumble! I first checked C:\ProgramData\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Support\License which had some files (LGPL-2.1.txt, log4cxx-LICENSE.txt, etc.) but clearly wasn't the full picture either. So, thanks again for pointing me to the comprehensive .rtf file!

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