Installing FFmpeg on Ubuntu 16.04: Resolving Issues with libcudart5.5

FFmpeg, a powerful multimedia processing tool, has become an essential component for many users. However, installing it on Ubuntu 16.04 can be challenging, particularly when dealing with outdated graphics cards and missing libraries. In this article, we will explore the issue of FFmpeg trying to link to libcudart5.5 and provide a solution to resolve this problem.

The Issue: FFmpeg Trying to Link to libcudart5.5

When attempting to install FFmpeg on Ubuntu 16.04, users may encounter an error message indicating that FFmpeg is trying to link to libcudart5.5. This issue arises when upgrading the Nvidia driver (nvidia-367) as a dependency, which can tank the entire system due to outdated graphics cards. The closest available library in the repository to what is needed is libcudart7.5, a later version.

The solution lies in understanding that the file libcudart5.5 does not exist on the system, nor any other version of libcudart. Running the command `ldd /usr/bin/ffmpeg | grep libcudart` confirms that this library (the CUDA runtime library) is missing, but everything else is fine.

When Did It Happen?

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly when this issue occurred, but it might have been during the upgrade from 14.04 to 16.04. On an older laptop running Ubuntu 16.04, attempting to use FFmpeg results in the following error message:

`ffmpeg: error while loading shared libraries: libcudart.so.5.5: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory`

FFmpeg used to work fine and broke at some point.

In conclusion, resolving the issue of FFmpeg trying to link to libcudart5.5 requires understanding that this library is missing from the system. The solution involves finding an alternative version of libcudart, in this case, libcudart7.5. By upgrading the Nvidia driver and ensuring compatibility with the graphics card, users can successfully install and use FFmpeg on Ubuntu 16.04.

Ubuntu install ffmpeg 16.04