Worked on improving the AV1 encoder’s stability in the libsdl-org/aom repository by addressing unintended partitioning behavior. Focused on a targeted bug fix that ensures adaptive bit partitions are disabled when the configuration flag is set to zero, aligning encoder behavior with user expectations and configuration semantics. The solution was implemented in C, leveraging expertise in AV1 codec development and video encoding. This change enhances encoding determinism and reliability across different configurations. The work involved careful code review and integration, resulting in a merged fix that directly addresses a nuanced issue in the encoder’s partitioning logic without introducing new features.