How to Install OpenCV on Ubuntu Using Homebrew | Fastest Beginner Method

TL;DR (Quick Answer)

If you want to install OpenCV on Ubuntu quickly, here’s the fastest way:

1. Install Homebrew (Linuxbrew) on Ubuntu
2. Run brew info opencv to check details
3. Run brew install opencv to install

Requirements:

• Ubuntu system
• Internet connection

Time required: 5–10 minutes
Skill level: Beginner

What You’ll Learn

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• How to install OpenCV using Homebrew on Ubuntu
• How to avoid compiling OpenCV manually
• How to verify your installation
• How to fix common installation issues

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

• Ubuntu (20.04, 22.04, or newer)
• Basic terminal access
• Git and curl installed
• A working internet connection

If you don't have the above requirements, you can run the command below in the Terminal:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y git curl build-essential

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Install Homebrew on Ubuntu

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Explanation:
This installs Homebrew (also called Linuxbrew), which lets you install packages easily without dealing with complex dependencies.

Step 2: Add Homebrew to PATH

echo 'eval "$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.bashrc  
eval "$(/home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/bin/brew shellenv)"

Explanation:
This ensures the brew command works globally in your terminal.

Step 3: Check OpenCV Package Info

brew info opencv

Explanation:
This shows details like version, dependencies, and installation path so you know exactly what you're installing.

Step 4: Install OpenCV

brew install opencv

Explanation:
This downloads and installs OpenCV along with all required dependencies automatically—no manual compilation needed.

Verification (Confirm It Works)

To verify everything is working:

Run:

opencv_version

You should see:

• A version number (e.g., 4.x.x)
• No errors
• Successful import of OpenCV

What are the system requirements?

• Ubuntu 20.04+
• ~2–4 GB free disk space
• Internet connection

Is there a better alternative to Homebrew?

• APT (sudo apt install libopencv-dev) → More stable, older versions
• Pip → Best for Python-only projects
• Manual build → Most flexible but complex

Summary

To summarize:

• You learned how to install OpenCV using Homebrew
• You avoided manual compilation
• You verified the installation using Python
• You fixed common issues

You can now start building computer vision applications with OpenCV.