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

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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.