HEIC Support

[dannyhanes]

Describe the feature you'd like
Add support for HEIC images

Describe the benefits this feature would bring to BookStack users
Not sure how many users run into this, but before I can upload photos to Bookstack, I would need to convert them to a compatible format. This would just allow for easier uploading of iPhone images.

[ssddanbrown]

Thanks for the request @dannyhanes, (And also thanks for the support via sponsor!),

Ideally, to be supported, we'd need our image resizing library to support these files otherwise it'll be tricky to be able to display these in the gallery or auto-create reduced sized versions for page content.

In addition, It seems that general support for the file format is still pretty weak with it potentially dependant on people having installed system extensions/packages to support the format. It's a similar case with AVIF although that may some sooner thanks to its openess.

I seem to remember something about iOS auto-converting files to jpeg upon upload to web? Apple page lightly mentions something along these lines. Might have to power up the old iPhone SE and have a play.

[dannyhanes]

@ssddanbrown Yeah, when I put the request in, I kinda figured with it being new'ish and generally an Apple only feature, that it would probably be low on the list. I just noticed it when I went to upload some photos and thought at the very least I could make a request.

And I am glad I am able to support Bookstack. :) Honestly, it is probably the most used self-hosted app in my house. Keep up the great work!

[ssddanbrown]

Just checking in on this, Kinda also tracking AVIF as part of this since it's a similar situation (And since they're somewhat related via HEIF).

AVIF

• System: Looks to now be supported to some level, although potentially only on PHP 8.1 and greater.
• Browser: Support has improved, although Safari dragging everyone back.

HEIC

• System:
  • Not yet supported by GD
  • Could technically be supported by ImageMagik but requires some quite specific and complex imagemagik building to get imagemagik to support the format.
• Browser: Still pretty bad, Currently nothing appears to support them, even Safari doesn't seem to yet support the format from what I can find.

Thoughts

AVIF is coming along quite nicely although PHP 8.1 support requirement will be a restriction. I'm thinking early/mid next year would be a good point to add support (Since 8.1 would have been out leaving PHP and browser support to mature a little).

HEIC isn't really viable, especially for our use where the image system is primarily for images to be visible within content and the gallery. Think it's going to be a while (Range of years potentially) before we see viability here.

[Nawor3565]

@ssddanbrown Any updates on AVIF support? When trying to upload an AVIF image, it's actually displayed in the pop-up message saying that the format isn't supported, implying that AVIFs are already functional but not enabled.

[ssddanbrown]

@Nawor3565 No updates but it looks well supported now. Feel free to open a specific request for it, referencing this issue for context, so it's available for something to be picked up as a potential easy add for a future feature release.