 | |
 Guvcview 2.0.1 | |
| Original author(s) | Paulo Assis |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 2008; 17 years ago (2008) |
| Stable release | |
| Repository | |
| Written in | C |
| Platform | Linux |
| Size | 960.7 kB (Guvcview 2.0.1)[1] |
| Type | Photo capture program |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Website | guvcview |
Guvcview (GTK+ UVC Viewer) is awebcam application, i.e. software to handleUVC streams, for theLinux desktop, started by Paulo Assis in 2008. The application is written inC[1][2] and isfree and open-source software released underGPL-2.0-or-later.
Guvcview is compatible with allV4L2 camera devices, using the LinuxUVC driver and based onluvcview for video rendering. Audio support employs thePortAudio open-source library. The application'suser interface is built usingGTK+ and is designed to be simple and easy to use.[3][4][5][6]
The application has been noted as using fewer resources than other webcam applications, such as theGNOME standard webcam application,Cheese, and is an alternative to other webcam applications, includingApple Photo Booth andKDE Kamoso.[2][7]
Guvcview uses a two-window interface in normal use. One window displays the camera image to be recorded and the other displays the settings and controls, as well as menus.[8]
Through the Linux UVC driver, Guvcview offers extension controls, vendor-specific controls included in the UVC specifications, which are dynamically loaded into the driver. At present only webcam-makerLogitech has provided the specifications for their UVC webcam extension controls and as a result Logitech camera extension controls are included.[3]
Starting with version 0.9.9, Guvcview was able to be operated incontrol window only mode and used to control images on other applications, includingEkiga,Cheese,mplayer andSkype.[3]
Still images can be recorded in.bmp,.jpg,.png,.raw and videos in.avi,.mkv (Matroska Multimedia Container open standard format) andGoogle's.webm open standard format.[1][7]
The video capture mode includes some basic special effects. These are: mirror, invert, negative, mono, pieces and particles, which can be combined by selecting more than one.[1][7]
Guvcview has been available inDebian for manyinstruction sets,[9] and in theUbuntu repositories sinceUbuntu 13.10 in 2012.[5][10] Until the 18.10 release, it was the default webcam application included withLubuntu.[11][12]
Guvcview is also available in theDebian andPuppy Linux repositories.[13][14]
In reviewing Guvcview in February 2011, Jack Wallen wrote inGhacks, "Recently I have had to do some video tutorials. I tried recording these tutorials with Ubuntu's default Cheese Webcam Booth, but unfortunately the combination of my Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000, Ubuntu 10.10, and Cheese didn't want to record video in any usable FPS. So I had to look elsewhere. My search turned me to GUVCView and I can't tell you how happy I have been with the results. Not only is this tool as easy to use as Cheese, it's far more flexible, and renders much better video... GUVCView, from my perspective, is a much better means of recording video than Cheese. This especially applies if the video you are recording is to be used for something other than, say, Skype chatting."[8]
Jim Lynch, writing onLinux Desktop Reviews in May 2011, was less enthusiastic about the application's inclusion inLubuntu, "I actually like Cheese so I can’t say I’m real thrilled about it being replaced by guvcview, but it’s sort of six of one or half dozen of the other when it comes to these two programs. I could get by fine with either one though your mileage may vary depending on your needs and preferences."[12]
Hectic Geek reviewed the application in September 2012 and concluded "...I didn’t have any issues with it and successfully recorded videos (you can manually disable audio input) and took pictures, added few funny effects … all is good with guvcview...."[7]
The application is rated as 4.5/5 onSourceForge.[6]
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