Installation

Installing on Debian and Ubuntu

  1. Install Bazelisk.

    Follow the official Bazel documentation to install Bazelisk.

  2. Checkout MediaPipe repository.

    $ cd $HOME
    $ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/google/mediapipe.git
    
    # Change directory into MediaPipe root directory
    $ cd mediapipe
    
  3. Install OpenCV and FFmpeg.

    Option 1. Use package manager tool to install the pre-compiled OpenCV libraries. FFmpeg will be installed via libopencv-video-dev.

    OS OpenCV
    Debian 9 (stretch) 2.4
    Debian 10 (buster) 3.2
    Debian 11 (bullseye) 4.5
    Ubuntu 16.04 LTS 2.4
    Ubuntu 18.04 LTS 3.2
    Ubuntu 20.04 LTS 4.2
    Ubuntu 20.04 LTS 4.2
    Ubuntu 21.04 4.5
    $ sudo apt-get install -y \
        libopencv-core-dev \
        libopencv-highgui-dev \
        libopencv-calib3d-dev \
        libopencv-features2d-dev \
        libopencv-imgproc-dev \
        libopencv-video-dev
    

    Note. On Debian 11/Ubuntu 21.04 when OpenCV 4.5 is installed with libopencv-video-dev, libopencv-contrib-dev should also be installed.

    $ sudo apt-get install -y libopencv-contrib-dev
    

    MediaPipe's opencv_linux.BUILD and WORKSPACE are already configured for OpenCV 2/3 and should work correctly on any architecture:

    # WORKSPACE
    new_local_repository(
      name = "linux_opencv",
      build_file = "@//third_party:opencv_linux.BUILD",
      path = "/usr",
    )
    
    # opencv_linux.BUILD for OpenCV 2/3 installed from Debian package
    cc_library(
      name = "opencv",
      linkopts = [
        "-l:libopencv_core.so",
        "-l:libopencv_calib3d.so",
        "-l:libopencv_features2d.so",
        "-l:libopencv_highgui.so",
        "-l:libopencv_imgcodecs.so",
        "-l:libopencv_imgproc.so",
        "-l:libopencv_video.so",
        "-l:libopencv_videoio.so",
      ],
    )
    

    For OpenCV 4 you need to modify opencv_linux.BUILD taking into account current architecture:

    # WORKSPACE
    new_local_repository(
      name = "linux_opencv",
      build_file = "@//third_party:opencv_linux.BUILD",
      path = "/usr",
    )
    
    # opencv_linux.BUILD for OpenCV 4 installed from Debian package
    cc_library(
      name = "opencv",
      hdrs = glob([
        # Uncomment according to your multiarch value (gcc -print-multiarch):
        #  "include/aarch64-linux-gnu/opencv4/opencv2/cvconfig.h",
        #  "include/arm-linux-gnueabihf/opencv4/opencv2/cvconfig.h",
        #  "include/x86_64-linux-gnu/opencv4/opencv2/cvconfig.h",
        "include/opencv4/opencv2/**/*.h*",
      ]),
      includes = [
        # Uncomment according to your multiarch value (gcc -print-multiarch):
        #  "include/aarch64-linux-gnu/opencv4/",
        #  "include/arm-linux-gnueabihf/opencv4/",
        #  "include/x86_64-linux-gnu/opencv4/",
        "include/opencv4/",
      ],
      linkopts = [
        "-l:libopencv_core.so",
        "-l:libopencv_calib3d.so",
        "-l:libopencv_features2d.so",
        "-l:libopencv_highgui.so",
        "-l:libopencv_imgcodecs.so",
        "-l:libopencv_imgproc.so",
        "-l:libopencv_video.so",
        "-l:libopencv_videoio.so",
      ],
    )
    

    Option 2. Run setup_opencv.sh to automatically build OpenCV from source and modify MediaPipe's OpenCV config. This option will do all steps defined in Option 3 automatically.

    Option 3. Follow OpenCV's documentation to manually build OpenCV from source code.

    You may need to modify WORKSPACE and opencv_linux.BUILD to point MediaPipe to your own OpenCV libraries. Assume OpenCV would be installed to /usr/local/ which is recommended by default.

    OpenCV 2/3 setup:

    # WORKSPACE
    new_local_repository(
      name = "linux_opencv",
      build_file = "@//third_party:opencv_linux.BUILD",
      path = "/usr/local",
    )
    
    # opencv_linux.BUILD for OpenCV 2/3 installed to /usr/local
    cc_library(
      name = "opencv",
      linkopts = [
        "-L/usr/local/lib",
        "-l:libopencv_core.so",
        "-l:libopencv_calib3d.so",
        "-l:libopencv_features2d.so",
        "-l:libopencv_highgui.so",
        "-l:libopencv_imgcodecs.so",
        "-l:libopencv_imgproc.so",
        "-l:libopencv_video.so",
        "-l:libopencv_videoio.so",
      ],
    )
    

    OpenCV 4 setup:

    # WORKSPACE
    new_local_repository(
      name = "linux_opencv",
      build_file = "@//third_party:opencv_linux.BUILD",
      path = "/usr/local",
    )
    
    # opencv_linux.BUILD for OpenCV 4 installed to /usr/local
    cc_library(
      name = "opencv",
      hdrs = glob([
        "include/opencv4/opencv2/**/*.h*",
      ]),
      includes = [
        "include/opencv4/",
      ],
      linkopts = [
        "-L/usr/local/lib",
        "-l:libopencv_core.so",
        "-l:libopencv_calib3d.so",
        "-l:libopencv_features2d.so",
        "-l:libopencv_highgui.so",
        "-l:libopencv_imgcodecs.so",
        "-l:libopencv_imgproc.so",
        "-l:libopencv_video.so",
        "-l:libopencv_videoio.so",
      ],
    )
    

    Current FFmpeg setup is defined in ffmpeg_linux.BUILD and should work for any architecture:

    # WORKSPACE
    new_local_repository(
      name = "linux_ffmpeg",
      build_file = "@//third_party:ffmpeg_linux.BUILD",
      path = "/usr"
    )
    
    # ffmpeg_linux.BUILD for FFmpeg installed from Debian package
    cc_library(
      name = "libffmpeg",
      linkopts = [
        "-l:libavcodec.so",
        "-l:libavformat.so",
        "-l:libavutil.so",
      ],
    )
    
  4. For running desktop examples on Linux only (not on OS X) with GPU acceleration.

    # Requires a GPU with EGL driver support.
    # Can use mesa GPU libraries for desktop, (or Nvidia/AMD equivalent).
    sudo apt-get install mesa-common-dev libegl1-mesa-dev libgles2-mesa-dev
    
    # To compile with GPU support, replace
    --define MEDIAPIPE_DISABLE_GPU=1
    # with
    --copt -DMESA_EGL_NO_X11_HEADERS --copt -DEGL_NO_X11
    # when building GPU examples.
    
  5. Run the Hello World! in C++ example.

    $ export GLOG_logtostderr=1
    
    # if you are running on Linux desktop with CPU only
    $ bazel run --define MEDIAPIPE_DISABLE_GPU=1 \
        mediapipe/examples/desktop/hello_world:hello_world
    
    # If you are running on Linux desktop with GPU support enabled (via mesa drivers)
    $ bazel run --copt -DMESA_EGL_NO_X11_HEADERS --copt -DEGL_NO_X11 \
        mediapipe/examples/desktop/hello_world:hello_world
    
    # Should print:
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    

If you run into a build error, please read Troubleshooting to find the solutions of several common build issues.

Installing on CentOS

Disclaimer: Running MediaPipe on CentOS is experimental.

  1. Install Bazelisk.

    Follow the official Bazel documentation to install Bazelisk.

  2. Checkout MediaPipe repository.

    $ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/google/mediapipe.git
    
    # Change directory into MediaPipe root directory
    $ cd mediapipe
    
  3. Install OpenCV.

    Option 1. Use package manager tool to install the pre-compiled version.

    $ sudo yum install opencv-devel
    

    Option 2. Build OpenCV from source code.

    new_local_repository(
        name = "linux_opencv",
        build_file = "@//third_party:opencv_linux.BUILD",
        path = "/usr/local",
    )
    
    new_local_repository(
        name = "linux_ffmpeg",
        build_file = "@//third_party:ffmpeg_linux.BUILD",
        path = "/usr/local",
    )
    
    cc_library(
        name = "opencv",
        srcs = glob(
            [
                "lib/libopencv_core.so",
                "lib/libopencv_highgui.so",
                "lib/libopencv_imgcodecs.so",
                "lib/libopencv_imgproc.so",
                "lib/libopencv_video.so",
                "lib/libopencv_videoio.so",
            ],
        ),
        hdrs = glob([
            # For OpenCV 3.x
            "include/opencv2/**/*.h*",
            # For OpenCV 4.x
            # "include/opencv4/opencv2/**/*.h*",
        ]),
        includes = [
            # For OpenCV 3.x
            "include/",
            # For OpenCV 4.x
            # "include/opencv4/",
        ],
        linkstatic = 1,
        visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
    )
    
    cc_library(
        name = "libffmpeg",
        srcs = glob(
            [
                "lib/libav*.so",
            ],
        ),
        hdrs = glob(["include/libav*/*.h"]),
        includes = ["include"],
        linkopts = [
            "-lavcodec",
            "-lavformat",
            "-lavutil",
        ],
        linkstatic = 1,
        visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
    )
    
  4. Run the Hello World! in C++ example.

    $ export GLOG_logtostderr=1
    # Need bazel flag 'MEDIAPIPE_DISABLE_GPU=1' if you are running on Linux desktop with CPU only
    $ bazel run --define MEDIAPIPE_DISABLE_GPU=1 \
        mediapipe/examples/desktop/hello_world:hello_world
    
    # Should print:
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    

If you run into a build error, please read Troubleshooting to find the solutions of several common build issues.

Installing on macOS

  1. Prework:

    • Install Homebrew.
    • Install Xcode and its Command Line Tools by xcode-select --install.
  2. Install Bazelisk.

    Follow the official Bazel documentation to install Bazelisk.

  3. Checkout MediaPipe repository.

    $ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/google/mediapipe.git
    
    $ cd mediapipe
    
  4. Install OpenCV and FFmpeg.

    Option 1. Use HomeBrew package manager tool to install the pre-compiled OpenCV 3 libraries. FFmpeg will be installed via OpenCV.

    $ brew install opencv@3
    
    # There is a known issue caused by the glog dependency. Uninstall glog.
    $ brew uninstall --ignore-dependencies glog
    

    Option 2. Use MacPorts package manager tool to install the OpenCV libraries.

    $ port install opencv
    
    new_local_repository(
        name = "macos_opencv",
        build_file = "@//third_party:opencv_macos.BUILD",
        path = "/opt",
    )
    
    new_local_repository(
        name = "macos_ffmpeg",
        build_file = "@//third_party:ffmpeg_macos.BUILD",
        path = "/opt",
    )
    
    cc_library(
        name = "opencv",
        srcs = glob(
            [
                "local/lib/libopencv_core.dylib",
                "local/lib/libopencv_highgui.dylib",
                "local/lib/libopencv_imgcodecs.dylib",
                "local/lib/libopencv_imgproc.dylib",
                "local/lib/libopencv_video.dylib",
                "local/lib/libopencv_videoio.dylib",
            ],
        ),
        hdrs = glob(["local/include/opencv2/**/*.h*"]),
        includes = ["local/include/"],
        linkstatic = 1,
        visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
    )
    
    cc_library(
        name = "libffmpeg",
        srcs = glob(
            [
                "local/lib/libav*.dylib",
            ],
        ),
        hdrs = glob(["local/include/libav*/*.h"]),
        includes = ["local/include/"],
        linkopts = [
            "-lavcodec",
            "-lavformat",
            "-lavutil",
        ],
        linkstatic = 1,
        visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
    )
    
  5. Make sure that Python 3 and the Python "six" library are installed.

    $ brew install python
    $ sudo ln -s -f /usr/local/bin/python3.7 /usr/local/bin/python
    $ python --version
    Python 3.7.4
    $ pip3 install --user six
    
  6. Run the Hello World! in C++ example.

    $ export GLOG_logtostderr=1
    # Need bazel flag 'MEDIAPIPE_DISABLE_GPU=1' as desktop GPU is currently not supported
    $ bazel run --define MEDIAPIPE_DISABLE_GPU=1 \
        mediapipe/examples/desktop/hello_world:hello_world
    
    # Should print:
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    

If you run into a build error, please read Troubleshooting to find the solutions of several common build issues.

Installing on Windows

Disclaimer: Running MediaPipe on Windows is experimental.

  1. Install MSYS2 and edit the %PATH% environment variable.

    If MSYS2 is installed to C:\msys64, add C:\msys64\usr\bin to your %PATH% environment variable.

  2. Install necessary packages.

    C:\> pacman -S git patch unzip
    
  3. Install Python and allow the executable to edit the %PATH% environment variable.

    Download Python Windows executable from https://www.python.org/downloads and install.

  4. Install Visual C++ Build Tools 2019 and WinSDK

    Go to the VisualStudio website, download build tools, and install Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable and Microsoft Build Tools 2019.

    Download the WinSDK from the official MicroSoft website and install.

  5. Install Bazel or Bazelisk and add the location of the Bazel executable to the %PATH% environment variable.

    Option 1. Follow the official Bazel documentation to install Bazel 6.1.1 or higher.

    Option 2. Follow the official Bazel documentation to install Bazelisk.

  6. Set Bazel variables. Learn more details about "Build on Windows" in the Bazel official documentation.

    # Please find the exact paths and version numbers from your local version.
    C:\> set BAZEL_VS=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\BuildTools
    C:\> set BAZEL_VC=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\BuildTools\VC
    C:\> set BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION=<Your local VC version>
    C:\> set BAZEL_WINSDK_FULL_VERSION=<Your local WinSDK version>
    
  7. Checkout MediaPipe repository.

    C:\Users\Username\mediapipe_repo> git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/google/mediapipe.git
    
    # Change directory into MediaPipe root directory
    C:\Users\Username\mediapipe_repo> cd mediapipe
    
  8. Install OpenCV.

    Download the Windows executable from https://opencv.org/releases/ and install. MediaPipe 0.10.x supports OpenCV 3.4.10. Remember to edit the WORKSPACE file if OpenCV is not installed at C:\opencv.

    new_local_repository(
        name = "windows_opencv",
        build_file = "@//third_party:opencv_windows.BUILD",
        path = "C:\\<path to opencv>\\build",
    )
    
  9. Run the Hello World! in C++ example.

    C:\Users\Username\mediapipe_repo>bazel build -c opt --define MEDIAPIPE_DISABLE_GPU=1 --action_env PYTHON_BIN_PATH="C://python_36//python.exe" mediapipe/examples/desktop/hello_world
    
    C:\Users\Username\mediapipe_repo>set GLOG_logtostderr=1
    
    C:\Users\Username\mediapipe_repo>bazel-bin\mediapipe\examples\desktop\hello_world\hello_world.exe
    
    # should print:
    # I20200514 20:43:12.277598  1200 hello_world.cc:56] Hello World!
    # I20200514 20:43:12.278597  1200 hello_world.cc:56] Hello World!
    # I20200514 20:43:12.279618  1200 hello_world.cc:56] Hello World!
    # I20200514 20:43:12.279618  1200 hello_world.cc:56] Hello World!
    # I20200514 20:43:12.279618  1200 hello_world.cc:56] Hello World!
    # I20200514 20:43:12.279618  1200 hello_world.cc:56] Hello World!
    # I20200514 20:43:12.279618  1200 hello_world.cc:56] Hello World!
    # I20200514 20:43:12.279618  1200 hello_world.cc:56] Hello World!
    # I20200514 20:43:12.279618  1200 hello_world.cc:56] Hello World!
    # I20200514 20:43:12.280613  1200 hello_world.cc:56] Hello World!
    

If you run into a build error, please read Troubleshooting to find the solutions of several common build issues.

Installing on Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

  1. Follow the instruction to install Windows Subsystem for Linux (Ubuntu).

  2. Install Windows ADB and start the ADB server in Windows.

  3. Launch WSL.

  4. Install the needed packages.

    username@DESKTOP-TMVLBJ1:~$ sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y build-essential git python zip adb openjdk-8-jdk
    
  5. Install Bazelisk.

    Follow the official Bazel documentation to install Bazelisk.

  6. Checkout MediaPipe repository.

    username@DESKTOP-TMVLBJ1:~$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/google/mediapipe.git
    
    username@DESKTOP-TMVLBJ1:~$ cd mediapipe
    
  7. Install OpenCV and FFmpeg.

    Option 1. Use package manager tool to install the pre-compiled OpenCV libraries. FFmpeg will be installed via libopencv-video-dev.

    username@DESKTOP-TMVLBJ1:~/mediapipe$ sudo apt-get install libopencv-core-dev libopencv-highgui-dev \
                           libopencv-calib3d-dev libopencv-features2d-dev \
                           libopencv-imgproc-dev libopencv-video-dev
    

    Option 2. Run setup_opencv.sh to automatically build OpenCV from source and modify MediaPipe's OpenCV config.

    Option 3. Follow OpenCV's documentation to manually build OpenCV from source code.

    new_local_repository(
        name = "linux_opencv",
        build_file = "@//third_party:opencv_linux.BUILD",
        path = "/usr/local",
    )
    
    cc_library(
        name = "opencv",
        srcs = glob(
            [
                "lib/libopencv_core.so",
                "lib/libopencv_highgui.so",
                "lib/libopencv_imgcodecs.so",
                "lib/libopencv_imgproc.so",
                "lib/libopencv_video.so",
                "lib/libopencv_videoio.so",
            ],
        ),
        hdrs = glob(["include/opencv4/**/*.h*"]),
        includes = ["include/opencv4/"],
        linkstatic = 1,
        visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
    )
    
  8. Run the Hello World! in C++ example.

    username@DESKTOP-TMVLBJ1:~/mediapipe$ export GLOG_logtostderr=1
    
    # Need bazel flag 'MEDIAPIPE_DISABLE_GPU=1' as desktop GPU is currently not supported
    username@DESKTOP-TMVLBJ1:~/mediapipe$ bazel run --define MEDIAPIPE_DISABLE_GPU=1 \
        mediapipe/examples/desktop/hello_world:hello_world
    
    # Should print:
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    

If you run into a build error, please read Troubleshooting to find the solutions of several common build issues.

Installing using Docker

This will use a Docker image that will isolate mediapipe's installation from the rest of the system.

  1. Install Docker on your host system.

  2. Build a docker image with tag "mediapipe".

    $ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/google/mediapipe.git
    $ cd mediapipe
    $ docker build --tag=mediapipe .
    
    # Should print:
    # Sending build context to Docker daemon  147.8MB
    # Step 1/9 : FROM ubuntu:latest
    # latest: Pulling from library/ubuntu
    # 6abc03819f3e: Pull complete
    # 05731e63f211: Pull complete
    # ........
    # See http://bazel.build/docs/getting-started.html to start a new project!
    # Removing intermediate container 82901b5e79fa
    # ---> f5d5f402071b
    # Step 9/9 : COPY . /edge/mediapipe/
    # ---> a95c212089c5
    # Successfully built a95c212089c5
    # Successfully tagged mediapipe:latest
    
  3. Run the Hello World! in C++ example.

    $ docker run -it --name mediapipe mediapipe:latest
    
    root@bca08b91ff63:/mediapipe# GLOG_logtostderr=1 bazel run --define MEDIAPIPE_DISABLE_GPU=1 mediapipe/examples/desktop/hello_world
    
    # Should print:
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    # Hello World!
    

If you run into a build error, please read Troubleshooting to find the solutions of several common build issues.

  1. Build a MediaPipe Android example.

    $ docker run -it --name mediapipe mediapipe:latest
    
    root@bca08b91ff63:/mediapipe# bash ./setup_android_sdk_and_ndk.sh
    
    # Should print:
    # Android NDK is now installed. Consider setting $ANDROID_NDK_HOME environment variable to be /root/Android/Sdk/ndk-bundle/android-ndk-r19c
    # Set android_ndk_repository and android_sdk_repository in WORKSPACE
    # Done
    
    root@bca08b91ff63:/mediapipe# bazel build -c opt --config=android_arm64 mediapipe/examples/android/src/java/com/google/mediapipe/apps/objectdetectiongpu:objectdetectiongpu
    
    # Should print:
    # Target //mediapipe/examples/android/src/java/com/google/mediapipe/apps/objectdetectiongpu:objectdetectiongpu up-to-date:
    # bazel-bin/mediapipe/examples/android/src/java/com/google/mediapipe/apps/objectdetectiongpu/objectdetectiongpu_deploy.jar
    # bazel-bin/mediapipe/examples/android/src/java/com/google/mediapipe/apps/objectdetectiongpu/objectdetectiongpu_unsigned.apk
    # bazel-bin/mediapipe/examples/android/src/java/com/google/mediapipe/apps/objectdetectiongpu/objectdetectiongpu.apk
    # INFO: Elapsed time: 144.462s, Critical Path: 79.47s
    # INFO: 1958 processes: 1 local, 1863 processwrapper-sandbox, 94 worker.
    # INFO: Build completed successfully, 2028 total actions