Concepts

Forge is built on three principles: repeatable preparation, explicit settings, and predictable failure.

Repeatable Jobs

A Forge job is designed to be repeatable. Given the same input file and the same preparation settings, the output should match the operator's chosen setup every time. There is no hidden optimization or automatic correction.

This means you can re-run a job deliberately and review what happened after the fact. The local job record stores the settings that were applied.

Explicit Settings

Forge does not guess. Every core parameter in a preparation job — codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, output folder, and preset — is set explicitly by the user or by a saved preset. If a required setting is missing, the job will not run.

This is intentional. Implicit defaults are a common source of inconsistency in media pipelines. Forge avoids them entirely.

Predictable Failure

When a job cannot complete, Forge fails immediately and states why. Common failure reasons include:

• Source file not found or not readable
• Unsupported media format
• Insufficient disk space
• Missing dependency (e.g., Resolve Studio for RAW workflows)

Forge does not retry silently or produce partial output. A failed job is clearly marked as failed, with the reason recorded in the local job record.