OpenCV (Open Source Computer Vision Library) is an open-source computer vision and machine learning software library. It is widely used in various real-time applications like face detection, object identification, and image processing. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to install OpenCV on CentOS 8. Whether you're using a Windows VPS UK or another hosting service, OpenCV can help you build powerful image processing applications.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

• A CentOS 8 server, which could be hosted on a UK Windows VPS, Windows Virtual Private Servers, or another Windows VPS Hosting UK solution.
• Root or sudo privileges on your server.

Step 1: Update Your System

As always, start by updating your system to ensure all packages are up to date:

sudo dnf update -y

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

OpenCV requires several dependencies to build and function properly. Install the required dependencies using the following command:

sudo dnf install epel-release -y
sudo dnf groupinstall "Development Tools" -y
sudo dnf install cmake gcc gcc-c++ git libjpeg-devel libpng-devel libtiff-devel jasper-devel openexr-devel libwebp-devel libdc1394-devel -y

Step 3: Install Python and Python Development Libraries

If you plan to use OpenCV with Python, you'll need to install Python and its development libraries:

sudo dnf install python3 python3-devel -y

Step 4: Download OpenCV Source Code

Download the OpenCV source code and the extra modules from the official GitHub repository:

cd /opt
sudo git clone https://github.com/opencv/opencv.git
sudo git clone https://github.com/opencv/opencv_contrib.git

Step 5: Build OpenCV Using CMake

Now, create a directory for building OpenCV and navigate to it:

cd /opt/opencv
mkdir build
cd build

Use CMake to configure the build process:

sudo cmake -D CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -D CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr/local -D OPENCV_EXTRA_MODULES_PATH=/opt/opencv_contrib/modules -D BUILD_EXAMPLES=ON ..

Once the configuration is complete, build OpenCV using the following command:

sudo make -j$(nproc)

This process may take some time depending on your server's resources.

Step 6: Install OpenCV

After the build process is complete, install OpenCV by running:

sudo make install
sudo ldconfig

Step 7: Verify the Installation

To verify that OpenCV has been successfully installed, you can open the Python interpreter and import the cv2 module:

python3
>>> import cv2
>>> print(cv2.__version__)

You should see the OpenCV version number if the installation was successful.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have successfully installed OpenCV on CentOS 8. OpenCV is now ready to be used for a variety of computer vision tasks. Whether you're hosting your server on a Windows VPS UK, Windows VPS Italy, or another Windows Virtual Dedicated Server Hosting solution, OpenCV will enhance your ability to work with images and video data in real time.