Hey everyone, I’m stuck trying to find a good solution for my project. I need to grab screenshots of HTML5 video player pages and their thumbnails automatically. The problem is, I’ve been looking at popular headless browsers like PhantomJS, but they don’t seem to support HTML5 video.
I ran a test using Modernizr, and it showed that while PhantomJS supports a lot of features, HTML5 video isn’t one of them. This is really holding me back.
Does anyone know of a lightweight headless browser that actually supports HTML5 video? I’d really appreciate any suggestions or alternatives you might have. Thanks in advance for your help!
Have you considered Ultralight? It’s a lightweight option that might suit your needs. While it’s primarily designed for embedding HTML in games and apps, it does offer experimental support for HTML5 video. The memory footprint is significantly smaller than Chromium-based solutions, which could be a plus for your project.
Just keep in mind that the HTML5 video support is still in development, so you might encounter some limitations. It’s worth testing to see if it can handle the specific video players you’re targeting. If you need more robust video support, you might have to compromise on the lightweight aspect and go with a fuller solution like Puppeteer or Playwright.
Alternatively, if you’re comfortable with .NET, CefSharp could be an option. It’s not the lightest, but it offers solid HTML5 video support and might be a good middle ground between functionality and resource usage.
I’ve been down this road before, and I totally get your frustration with PhantomJS. Have you looked into Playwright? It’s been a game-changer for me when it comes to automating tasks with HTML5 video support.
Playwright is more feature-rich than some lightweight options, but it’s incredibly versatile. It supports multiple browser engines (Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit) and handles HTML5 video like a champ. I’ve used it for similar screenshot tasks, and it’s been really reliable.
One big advantage is its cross-browser compatibility. If you need to test your screenshots across different browsers, Playwright makes that pretty straightforward. It also has great documentation and a supportive community, which can be a lifesaver when you hit roadblocks.
Just keep in mind that while it’s not the most lightweight option out there, the trade-off in functionality might be worth it for your project. Give it a try and see how it performs for your specific needs.
hey there, have u tried out puppeteer? it’s pretty solid for automation stuff and can handle HTML5 video. it’s not super lightweight, but it’s got good support for what ur trying to do. might be worth givin it a shot if u haven’t already. good luck with ur project!