refactor(deps): remove ffprobe-static and fix playwright flakiness

Replace ffprobe-static with ffmpeg-static for metadata extraction in
migration scripts. This removes the requirement for ffprobe binaries
across Docker, CI, and Vercel environments, simplifying the dependency
graph.

.env.example

@@ -72,6 +72,5 @@ IMPORT_LIBRARY_DIRS=
 # (Required without Docker) Path to your local whisper.cpp CLI binary for STT timestamp generation
 WHISPER_CPP_BIN=/whisper.cpp/build/bin/whisper-cli
 
-# (Optional) Override ffmpeg/ffprobe binary paths used for audiobook processing/probing
+# (Optional) Override ffmpeg binary path used for audiobook processing
 FFMPEG_BIN=
-FFPROBE_BIN=

.github/workflows/playwright.yml

@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     env:
       FFMPEG_BIN: /usr/bin/ffmpeg
-      FFPROBE_BIN: /usr/bin/ffprobe
       USE_EMBEDDED_WEED_MINI: true
       BASE_URL: http://127.0.0.1:3003
       S3_ENDPOINT: http://127.0.0.1:8333

Dockerfile

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ FROM node:lts-alpine AS runner
 
 # Add runtime OS dependencies:
 # - libreoffice-writer: required for DOCX → PDF conversion
-# ffmpeg/ffprobe are provided by ffmpeg-static/ffprobe-static from node_modules.
+# ffmpeg is provided by ffmpeg-static from node_modules.
 RUN apk add --no-cache ca-certificates libreoffice-writer
 
 # Install pnpm globally for running the app

docs-site/docs/deploy/vercel-deployment.md

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ This guide covers deploying OpenReader WebUI to Vercel with external Postgres an
 ## What works on Vercel
 
 - Documents (PDF/EPUB/TXT/MD) work with `POSTGRES_URL` + external S3 storage.
-- Audiobook routes work on Node.js serverless functions using `ffmpeg-static`/`ffprobe-static`.
+- Audiobook routes work on Node.js serverless functions using `ffmpeg-static`.
 
 :::warning DOCX Conversion Limitation
 `docx` conversion requires `soffice` (LibreOffice), which is not available in a standard Vercel runtime.
@@ -65,9 +65,9 @@ For internet-exposed Vercel deployments, set both `BASE_URL` and `AUTH_SECRET`.
 For all variables and defaults, see [Environment Variables](../reference/environment-variables).
 :::
 
-## 2. FFmpeg/ffprobe packaging in Vercel functions
+## 2. FFmpeg packaging in Vercel functions
 
-`ffmpeg-static` and `ffprobe-static` binaries must be included in function traces. This repo already does that in `next.config.ts` via `outputFileTracingIncludes` for:
+`ffmpeg-static` binaries must be included in function traces. This repo already does that in `next.config.ts` via `outputFileTracingIncludes` for:
 
 - `/api/audiobook`
 - `/api/audiobook/chapter`
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ For all variables and defaults, see [Environment Variables](../reference/environ
 - `/api/whisper`
 
 :::info
-`serverExternalPackages` should include `ffmpeg-static` and `ffprobe-static` so package paths resolve at runtime instead of being bundled into route output.
+`serverExternalPackages` should include `ffmpeg-static` so package paths resolve at runtime instead of being bundled into route output.
 :::
 
 If you change route paths or split handlers, update `outputFileTracingIncludes` accordingly.

docs-site/docs/reference/environment-variables.md

@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ This is the single reference page for OpenReader WebUI environment variables.
 | `IMPORT_LIBRARY_DIRS` | Library import | unset | Set multiple roots (comma/colon/semicolon separated) |
 | `WHISPER_CPP_BIN` | Word timing | unset | Set to enable `whisper.cpp` timestamps |
 | `FFMPEG_BIN` | Audio runtime | auto-detected (`ffmpeg-static`) | Override ffmpeg binary path |
-| `FFPROBE_BIN` | Audio runtime | auto-detected (`ffprobe-static`) | Override ffprobe binary path |
 
 ## Client Runtime and Feature Flags
 
@@ -369,10 +368,3 @@ Absolute path or executable name for the ffmpeg binary used by audiobook/process
 
 - Resolution order: `FFMPEG_BIN` -> `ffmpeg-static`
 - Example: `/var/task/node_modules/ffmpeg-static/ffmpeg`
-
-### FFPROBE_BIN
-
-Absolute path or executable name for the ffprobe binary used for audio probing.
-
-- Resolution order: `FFPROBE_BIN` -> `ffprobe-static`
-- Example: `/var/task/node_modules/ffprobe-static/bin/linux/x64/ffprobe`

package.json

@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
     "epubjs": "^0.3.93",
     "fast-xml-parser": "^5.3.5",
     "ffmpeg-static": "^5.3.0",
-    "ffprobe-static": "^3.1.0",
     "howler": "^2.2.4",
     "jszip": "^3.10.1",
     "lru-cache": "^11.2.6",
@@ -65,7 +64,6 @@
     "@playwright/test": "^1.58.2",
     "@tailwindcss/typography": "^0.5.19",
     "@types/better-sqlite3": "^7.6.13",
-    "@types/ffprobe-static": "^2.0.3",
     "@types/howler": "^2.2.12",
     "@types/node": "^20.19.33",
     "@types/pg": "^8.16.0",

pnpm-lock.yaml

@@ -67,9 +67,6 @@ importers:
       ffmpeg-static:
         specifier: ^5.3.0
         version: 5.3.0
-      ffprobe-static:
-        specifier: ^3.1.0
-        version: 3.1.0
       howler:
         specifier: ^2.2.4
         version: 2.2.4
@@ -137,9 +134,6 @@ importers:
       '@types/better-sqlite3':
         specifier: ^7.6.13
         version: 7.6.13
-      '@types/ffprobe-static':
-        specifier: ^2.0.3
-        version: 2.0.3
       '@types/howler':
         specifier: ^2.2.12
         version: 2.2.12
@@ -1395,9 +1389,6 @@ packages:
   '@types/estree@1.0.8':
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-dWHzHa2WqEXI/O1E9OjrocMTKJl2mSrEolh1Iomrv6U+JuNwaHXsXx9bLu5gG7BUWFIN0skIQJQ/L1rIex4X6w==}
 
-  '@types/ffprobe-static@2.0.3':
-    resolution: {integrity: sha512-86Q8dIzhjknxA6935ZcVLkVU3t6bP+F08mdriWZk2+3UqjxIbT3QEADjbO5Yq8826cVs/aZBREVZ7jUoSTgHiw==}
-
   '@types/hast@3.0.4':
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-WPs+bbQw5aCj+x6laNGWLH3wviHtoCv/P3+otBhbOhJgG8qtpdAMlTCxLtsTWA7LH1Oh/bFCHsBn0TPS5m30EQ==}
 
@@ -2406,9 +2397,6 @@ packages:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-H+K6sW6TiIX6VGend0KQwthe+kaceeH/luE8dIZyOP35ik7ahYojDuqlTV1bOrtEwl01sy2HFNGQfi5IDJvotg==}
     engines: {node: '>=16'}
 
-  ffprobe-static@3.1.0:
-    resolution: {integrity: sha512-Dvpa9uhVMOYivhHKWLGDoa512J751qN1WZAIO+Xw4L/mrUSPxS4DApzSUDbCFE/LUq2+xYnznEahTd63AqBSpA==}
-
   file-entry-cache@8.0.0:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-XXTUwCvisa5oacNGRP9SfNtYBNAMi+RPwBFmblZEF7N7swHYQS6/Zfk7SRwx4D5j3CH211YNRco1DEMNVfZCnQ==}
     engines: {node: '>=16.0.0'}
@@ -5306,8 +5294,6 @@ snapshots:
 
   '@types/estree@1.0.8': {}
 
-  '@types/ffprobe-static@2.0.3': {}
-
   '@types/hast@3.0.4':
     dependencies:
       '@types/unist': 3.0.3
@@ -6397,8 +6383,6 @@ snapshots:
     transitivePeerDependencies:
       - supports-color
 
-  ffprobe-static@3.1.0: {}
-
   file-entry-cache@8.0.0:
     dependencies:
       flat-cache: 4.0.1

scripts/migrate-fs-v2.mjs

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import {
 const require = createRequire(import.meta.url);
 const { Pool } = require('pg');
 const BetterSqlite3 = require('better-sqlite3');
-const ffprobeStatic = require('ffprobe-static');
+const ffmpegStatic = require('ffmpeg-static');
 
 const DOCSTORE_DIR = path.join(process.cwd(), 'docstore');
 const DOCUMENTS_V1_DIR = path.join(DOCSTORE_DIR, 'documents_v1');
@@ -321,34 +321,29 @@ function chooseBinary(preferred, bundled, envVarName, packageName) {
   return bundledValue;
 }
 
-function getFFprobePath() {
+function getFFmpegPath() {
-  return chooseBinary(process.env.FFPROBE_BIN || null, ffprobeStatic?.path || null, 'FFPROBE_BIN', 'ffprobe-static');
+  return chooseBinary(process.env.FFMPEG_BIN || null, ffmpegStatic || null, 'FFMPEG_BIN', 'ffmpeg-static');
 }
 
 async function ffprobeTitleTag(filePath) {
   return new Promise((resolve) => {
-    const child = spawn(getFFprobePath(), [
+    const child = spawn(getFFmpegPath(), [
-      '-v', 'quiet',
+      '-i', filePath,
-      '-print_format', 'json',
+      '-f', 'ffmetadata',
-      '-show_entries', 'format_tags=title',
+      '-',
-      filePath,
     ]);
 
-    let output = '';
+    let stdout = '';
-    child.stdout.on('data', (data) => { output += data.toString(); });
+    child.stdout.on('data', (data) => { stdout += data.toString(); });
     child.on('error', () => resolve(null));
-    child.on('close', (code) => {
+    child.on('close', () => {
-      if (code !== 0) {
+      const line = stdout.split(/\r?\n/).find((l) => l.startsWith('title='));
+      if (!line) {
         resolve(null);
         return;
       }
-      try {
+      const raw = line.slice('title='.length).trim();
-        const parsed = JSON.parse(output);
+      resolve(raw.length > 0 ? raw : null);
-        const title = parsed?.format?.tags?.title;
-        resolve(typeof title === 'string' ? title : null);
-      } catch {
-        resolve(null);
-      }
     });
   });
 }