This PR adds small reproducible scripts and documentation demonstrating an import-order issue between torchcodec and transformers' audio modules and a minimal runtime workaround that preloads the system libavcodec before loading torchcodec's extension.\n\nFiles added:\n- scripts/torchcodec_preload/repro_fail_order.py — repro that imports torchcodec first and may fail\n- scripts/torchcodec_preload/repro_fix_ctypes_preload.py — preloads libavcodec via ctypes then loads torchcodec and transformers\n- scripts/torchcodec_preload/README.md — instructions to inspect libavcodec and run examples\n\nTesting notes:\n- In some environments (including the container used to create this PR), ffmpeg/libavcodec may not be installed; may return nothing. Run locally to find a candidate path.\n- Recommended local test sequence:\n 1) \n 2) Could not find libavcodec via ctypes.util.find_library('avcodec').
Run ldconfig -p | grep avcodec to locate a system lib, or set LD_PRELOAD. — should preload and succeed\n 3) — demonstrates the original failing order\n\nRationale and suggested next steps:\n- This PR intentionally adds only examples and docs to help reproduce and triage loader/symbol-version mismatches without modifying library code.\n- If maintainers prefer, we can follow up with either a small runtime helper in to optionally preload ffmpeg libs, or open a reproducible issue on the torchcodec repo and collaborate on a longer-term fix.\n\nIf you want me to also add a small helper function and unit tests in this PR, say so and I will prepare the changes.