m-bain/whisperX

[FEATURE] multiple output formats (`--output_format`) with CLI

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#1318 opened on Jan 5, 2026

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 (1 comment) (2 reactions) (0 assignees)Python (6,880 stars) (650 forks)batch import
enhancementgood first issue

Description

details

potential implementation plan

  1. update __main__.py to allow comma-separated values (for example, --output_format srt,txt,json)
  2. update get_writer() in utils.py to loop through all output_formats

Contributor guide

Tech stack
python
Domain
cli
Issue type
feature
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
2
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
under 1 hour
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
fresh
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
clear
Prerequisites
PythonargparsewhisperX codebase structure
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
80
Research direction
The issue requests adding support for multiple output formats via a comma separated ` output format` CLI argument. The implementation involves two steps: first, modify ` main .py` (line 25) to change the argument from a single choice to accepting comma separated values; second, update `get writer()` in `utils.py` (lines 448-459) to loop through each format and call the corresponding writer. No maintainer response or linked PR exists, so the work is available. Ensure backward compatibility by handling the default 'all' case gracefully.