how to edit open source code

[Denz006]

I want to see the vlc code but there are these different files and don't know where to start 

 

[Eigenvektor]

That's how source code generally works, especially of large projects. There will be a ton of source code, split across a ton of different files. Their code seems to be hosted here: https://code.videolan.org/videolan/vlc

 

You can use a Git client to check it out, then any text editor to have a look at it. If you want to compile it, the project likely has instructions on how to do so. This particular one also includes a makefile to compile it.

 

They also have documentation to get you started: https://www.videolan.org/developers/vlc.html

[Denz006]

thanks

 

[evievi]

Will also add that a lot of open source projects, especially on GitHub will have the actual “core” of their code down a folder in because a large amount of source code to handle GUI, different platforms, etc. is (and rightfully so) independent of the “core” platform-independent code. So look for a folder called “src” or “core” which will probably contain more of what you’re looking for if you want to look at the main source. Otherwise, if you want to look for platform-specific code, searching for common headers is a good idea. (Ex. “#include <cocoa.h>” will probably help you find the file in a C++/C project that works with the Mac GUI because the cocoa header file is for Mac GUI apps. “#include <windows.h>” will help you find the windows GUI etc.)