SOURCE CODE & LICENSES

The source code and the small print

Lau & Found is a community camera-file recovery project by Kevin Lau. Recovery and downloading the result are free. Coffee support is optional.

Source code

Download the complete corresponding source, including the application, recovery engines, retained third-party source, licenses, and instructions. The committed browser application is buildless. Rebuilding the scanner uses Node 24 or newer; running media checks also requires Python and FFmpeg.

Lau & Found application code is licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 3 or later. Individual third-party components retain their own notices and licenses. Copyright © 2026 Kevin Lau, except where otherwise identified.

Acknowledgments

The H.264/HEVC missing-index scanner incorporates video-repair by Daniel Vazač, under the MIT License, pinned to commit 3081801edfbf35ca1aeb08cc33f13b9ca5e0e294. Modifications and original source are included in the source package.
The Sony recovery module is informed by the published rtmd/GOP format research from repair-rsv.
The public repair demonstration uses a synthetic FFmpeg test chart and tone. It contains no client footage.

What has been checked

The recovery engines have automated tests using encoded H.264, HEVC, ProRes and PCM/AAC fixtures. Tests cover selected reconstruction paths, decoded video comparison, retained media bytes, timing and errors. They do not certify every camera model, firmware version or failure condition.

Sony RSV recovery is experimental. Its rtmd/GOP reconstruction is tested on generated layout fixtures with real encoded video and PCM audio. Broad validation against damaged files from actual cameras is still needed.

Recovery limits

The tool checks file structure and creates a separate output. It cannot reconstruct original bytes that were never written, were overwritten, or are unavailable from damaged storage. A structural check cannot establish full image integrity or perceptual audio sync. Review recovered footage in your editor and retain the original.

Generic missing-index scanning recovers video only. The public catalog lists implemented browser recovery paths. Formats with no available repair path receive an explicit unsupported result. Experimental camera-index audio recovery does not reconstruct AAC priming or original audio alignment.

Your footage and privacy

The Lau & Found application processes selected recordings locally and has no endpoint for uploading your footage. File names and repair reports remain in the page unless you choose to save or share them. The hosting provider may process normal website request information when the site loads. An external donation provider handles its own payment and privacy practices after you follow a configured support link.

The software is provided without warranty as described in its licenses. Lau & Found is independent of camera manufacturers. Format names identify supported recovery paths and do not guarantee that an individual recording can be repaired.