Python OpenCV Setup

This was tested with Ubuntu 16.04

Python Install

Make sure we are in our home directory

cd ~

Update & Upgrade OS

Upgrade any currently installed packages (may take a long time)

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Install Tools:

sudo apt-get install build-essential
sudo apt-get install cmake git libgtk2.0-dev pkg-config libavcodec-dev libavformat-dev libswscale-dev
sudo apt-get install python-dev python-numpy
sudo apt-get install -y unzip wget

Install File Format Libs

sudo apt-get install libtbb2 libtbb-dev libjpeg-dev libpng-dev libtiff-dev libjasper-dev libdc1394-22-dev

Install Image -> GUI handler

sudo apt-get install libgtk2.0-dev

If you want to do any Video Processing:

sudo apt-get install libavcodec-dev libavformat-dev libswscale-dev libv4l-dev

Install OpenCV Optimisation Libs

sudo apt-get install libatlas-base-dev gfortran

Install Python Package Manager (PIP)

wget https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py
sudo -H python get-pip.py

Install Python 2.7

sudo -H apt-get install python2.7-dev

Install Python Numpy

Numpy is used by Python for Image representation.

sudo pip install numpy

OpenCV Setup

Copy OpenCV Repo

Get OpenCV 3.3 build from GitHub

cd ~
wget https://github.com/opencv/opencv/archive/3.3.0.zip
unzip 3.3.0.zip
mv opencv-3.3.0/ opencv
cd opencv

Build OpenCV

cd ~/opencv
$ mkdir build
$ cd build
$ sudo cmake -D CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RELEASE -D CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr/local ..

Compile OpenCV

make -j7

If you run out of disk space on your VM check out the little guide on extending your Virtual Disk
https://avinton.com/en/academy/extending-virtualbox-virtual-drive/

Install OpenCV

sudo make install
sudo ldconfig

Test

python

import cv2
cv2.__version__

The above should return 3.3.0 (The OpenCV Version you installed)


Exit python interpreter and return to terminal

exit()