OpenCV (Open Source Computer Vision Library) is an open-source computer vision and machine learning software library. OpenCV supports a wide variety of programming languages such as C++, Python, Java etc. It can take advantage of multi-core processing and features GPU acceleration for real-time operation. This article will guide you through the process of installing OpenCV after downloading it.
To install OpenCV after downloading, you can use the package manager in Ubuntu 12.04 or later versions. For Ubuntu 12.04, use the command "sudo apt-get install libopencv-dev". For Ubuntu 16.04 and later, use "pip install opencv-python" for Python 2.7 or "pip3 install opencv-python" for Python 3.x. After installation, verify by importing the cv2 module in Python and checking the version.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have the following:
- A system running Ubuntu 16.04 or later
- Python installed (either version 2.7 or 3.x)
- pip or pip3 installed
Downloading OpenCV
You can download the latest version of OpenCV from the official OpenCV website. Choose the source files for Linux and download the zip file.
Installing OpenCV
For Ubuntu 12.04
If you’re using Ubuntu 12.04, you can install OpenCV 2.3.1 directly from the repository. To do this, open the terminal using Ctrl+Alt+T and run the following command:
sudo apt-get install libopencv-devIn this command, sudo allows you to run commands with the security privileges of the superuser, apt-get is the package handling utility in Ubuntu, and install is the command to install a new package. libopencv-dev is the package name for OpenCV.
For Ubuntu 16.04 and later
For Ubuntu 16.04 and later, you can install OpenCV using pip for Python 2.7 or pip3 for Python 3.x. Open the terminal and run the appropriate command:
For Python 2.7:
pip install opencv-pythonFor Python 3.x:
pip3 install opencv-pythonIn these commands, pip and pip3 are package installers for Python, install is the command to install a new package, and opencv-python is the package name for OpenCV.
Verifying the Installation
After installing OpenCV, you can verify the installation by importing the cv2 module in Python. Open the Python interpreter in your terminal by typing python or python3 and then try to import cv2:
import cv2
print(cv2.__version__)If OpenCV is installed correctly, this will print the version number of OpenCV.
Conclusion
Installing OpenCV on Ubuntu is a straightforward process, whether you’re using Ubuntu 12.04 with Python 2.7 or a later version of Ubuntu with Python 3.x. By following the steps in this guide, you should now have OpenCV installed and ready to use for your computer vision projects. Remember to verify your installation by checking the OpenCV version in Python. Happy coding!
OpenCV (Open Source Computer Vision Library) is an open-source computer vision and machine learning software library. It provides a wide range of functions and tools for image and video processing, including object detection, face recognition, and motion tracking.
OpenCV supports a variety of programming languages, including C++, Python, Java, and more. This allows developers to use their preferred language for computer vision applications.
Yes, OpenCV is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. However, the installation process may vary slightly depending on the operating system.
Before installing OpenCV, you need to ensure that you have a system running Ubuntu 16.04 or later, Python installed (either version 2.7 or 3.x), and pip or pip3 installed.
You can download the latest version of OpenCV from the official OpenCV website. Choose the source files for Linux and download the zip file.
If you’re using Ubuntu 12.04, you can install OpenCV 2.3.1 directly from the repository. Use the command sudo apt-get install libopencv-dev in the terminal to install the package.
For Ubuntu 16.04 and later, you can install OpenCV using pip for Python 2.7 or pip3 for Python 3.x. Use the command pip install opencv-python for Python 2.7 or pip3 install opencv-python for Python 3.x in the terminal to install the package.
After installing OpenCV, you can verify the installation by importing the cv2 module in Python. Open the Python interpreter in your terminal by typing python or python3 and then try to import cv2. If OpenCV is installed correctly, it will import without any errors.
OpenCV offers a wide range of functionalities for computer vision and image processing tasks. Some common tasks include image and video manipulation, object detection and tracking, facial recognition, feature extraction, and more.
The official OpenCV website provides comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and examples for using OpenCV in different programming languages. You can find these resources at https://docs.opencv.org/. Additionally, there are many online tutorials and forums where you can find helpful guides and discussions related to OpenCV.
