Rivergate Software Inc. - makers of DVDAfterEdit

Abstraction Layer is a term used to describe the techniques used by "wysiwyg" authoring applications like Ulead DVD Workshop, Apple DVD Studio Pro and Adobe Encore. Roughly speaking, this means they use a "one size fits all" template for commands and the layout of assets on the DVD, regardless of how complicated it is. So, there is an abstract "layer" of commands and structure that is generated automatically. The great advantage of this approach is that users don't have to learn the "nitty gritty" of DVD "spec" authoring, but the disadvantage is that the code becomes extremely complex, even on very simple discs - and, slow to operate as a consequence.

DVDAfterEdit offers an option to delete all the commands in a project and start again, resulting in a disc with noticeably faster menu operation in most players. This process has become affectionately known as "nuking the abstraction layer", and for many of our users has become the default way of working. With a little planning, it can produce discs indistinguishable from those authored in Scenarist or the proprietary Sony and Toshiba systems.

There is a detailed examination of the Abstraction Layer commands of a DVD Studio Pro project here.