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ECP-0074: Archive HLS Engine Selection For Chromium

Status: Implemented

Context

Archive mode currently chooses native HLS whenever video.canPlayType("application/vnd.apple.mpegurl") is non-empty.

Chromium may report support but still fail to actually play event-style fMP4 HLS in this path, leaving the player stuck at readyState = 0.

Decision

Use native HLS only on Safari/iOS user agents. For all other browsers (including Chromium), force hls.js playback.

Why

  • Restores archive playback on Chrome/Chromium.
  • Keeps Safari native path where it is reliable.
  • Preserves a single URL and UI flow (/api/archive/.../master.m3u8).

Alternatives considered

  • Keep canPlayType as the only gate. Rejected because Chromium reports support but fails event-style playback.
  • Force hls.js for all browsers including Safari. Rejected because Safari native playback is already reliable and simpler.

Rollout / teardown

  • Deploy UA-gated engine selection in web app and validate archive playback on Chromium and Safari.
  • Teardown by reverting to the previous generic canPlayType gate.

Reversibility

Revert the UA gate and return to the previous canPlayType-only check.