how do these tools relate to eachother?

[sybariten]

OK, so i need to learn more about video coding.
However, before i dwelve into the area of command line programs, there are some general ideas i need to get the hang of. I need to know what "place" each tool that i read about here, has.
So, is it possible to elaborate on how the following tools relate to (or compete with) eachother?

mencoder
mjpeg tools
ffmpeg
transcode

hope someone understands
peace

[sybariten]

* bump *

[sybariten]

just *bumping* again .... unless i'm asking something that is way more difficult to explain than it is for me to find out myself