fftool

A simple way to use ffmpeg without learning the commands.

What is fftool?

fftool is a menu-based program that lets you do common video and audio tasks without typing ffmpeg commands. You pick what you want to do from a menu, fill in a few fields, and fftool shows you the command it's about to run — then you can run it or change your mind.

Why use it?

ffmpeg is powerful but the commands are hard to remember. The flags have specific orders, the syntax is confusing, and some operations need multiple commands run in sequence.

fftool remembers all of that for you. It's like having a cheat sheet that actually runs the commands for you.

What can it do?

• Trim video — cut out a part of a video
• Convert format — change from one format to another (mp4, mkv, webm, etc.)
• Resize — make a video smaller or larger
• Extract audio — pull the sound out of a video
• Stabilize — fix shaky video (two-pass, automatic)
• Normalize audio — make loud and quiet parts more balanced
• Generate test patterns — create color bars, test screens, fractals
• Much more...

Requirements

• Linux (won't work on Windows or Mac)
• ffmpeg installed (sudo apt install ffmpeg on Debian/Ubuntu)
• A terminal at least 60 characters wide
• Go 1.21+ (only if building from source)

How do I get it?

1. Download fftool-source.tar.gz or fftool-source.zip
2. Extract it
3. Open a terminal in the fftool folder

If you just want to run it, you need the compiled binary. Check the releases or build it yourself.

How do I build it?

In the fftool folder:

go mod tidy
go build -o fftool .

Then run:

./fftool

How do I use it?

1. Run ./fftool
2. Use arrow keys to navigate
3. Press Enter to select
4. Fill in the fields (input file, output file, etc.)
5. Review the command on the confirmation screen
6. Press Enter to run or Esc to go back

Keyboard shortcuts

Key	What it does
↑ / ↓	Move around
Enter	Select / Confirm
Esc	Go back
Tab	Next field
q	Quit
c	Copy command to clipboard

Do I need to know ffmpeg?

No. That's the point. But fftool shows you the actual ffmpeg command it's running, so you can learn by watching. Over time, you'll recognize the patterns and maybe start running commands yourself.

Troubleshooting

"ffmpeg not found" — Install ffmpeg: sudo apt install ffmpeg

"terminal too small" — Make your terminal window wider (at least 60 columns)

Build fails — Install Go 1.21 or later

Getting help

This is a simple tool. If something doesn't work, check that:

• ffmpeg is installed and working (ffmpeg -version)
• You have a video file to work with
• The output folder is writable

License

MIT