Fedora 42 Installation Guide For Libfreenect2 On AMD GPU

Jul 29, 2025 by ADMIN 57 views

Hey guys! So, I managed to get libfreenect2 up and running on Fedora 42 with an AMD GPU. I can now see the raw camera feeds, which is super exciting! I'm still working on getting the loopback module functional, but I wanted to share what I've got so far. Right now, the camera feed is locked at 1080p 60 frames, which is causing some pretty low frame rates. I'm gonna keep tinkering and will let you know if I make any progress.

This guide focuses on getting the basic camera feeds working. The alternative installation process I'm sharing doesn't include the loopback module, but it's a great starting point. Let's dive in!

Installing libfreenect2 on Fedora 42: A Step-by-Step Guide

Let's get started with installing libfreenect2 on Fedora 42! This guide will walk you through each step, from cloning the source repo to testing your setup. We'll cover everything you need to get those raw camera feeds displaying. Remember, this guide is focused on getting the core functionality working, so we'll skip the loopback module for now. Don't worry, though; once you have the basics down, you can explore more advanced features. So, let's roll up our sleeves and get this done!

Git Clone the libfreenect2 Source Repo

First up, we need to grab the libfreenect2 source code from its repository. To do this, we'll use Git. Open up your terminal and navigate to the directory where you want to store the libfreenect2 source code. Then, we need to install the C development tools. These tools are essential for compiling the libfreenect2 library from source. Think of them as the building blocks that allow your system to understand and create the software we need. Without these tools, we wouldn't be able to turn the source code into an executable program. So, making sure we have these tools installed is a crucial first step in our journey to getting libfreenect2 up and running on Fedora 42. This command installs a group of packages that are commonly used for C development, including compilers, linkers, and other utilities. Go ahead and run this command in your terminal:

sudo dnf group install c-development development-tools1

This command will prompt you for your sudo password, so enter it and let the installation process begin. Once it's done, you'll have the necessary tools to move on to the next step. Make sure you have a stable internet connection, as this command downloads packages from the Fedora repositories. Be patient; the download and installation may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed and system configuration. Once the installation is complete, you'll be ready to tackle the next stage of the libfreenect2 installation process. Trust me, each step you take brings you closer to seeing those raw camera feeds in action!

Install LibUSB

Next up, we need to install LibUSB, a crucial library that allows our system to communicate with USB devices, including the Kinect sensor. Think of LibUSB as the translator that allows your computer to understand the language spoken by the Kinect. Without it, our system wouldn't be able to recognize and interact with the Kinect, making it impossible to capture those awesome camera feeds. This step is essential for ensuring that our system can properly interface with the hardware, so let's get it done! To install LibUSB, we'll use the dnf package manager, which is the go-to tool for installing software on Fedora. This command specifically installs the shared library file libusb.so, which is what libfreenect2 needs to communicate with USB devices. So, let's fire up our terminal and run the following command:

dnf install /usr/lib64/libusb.so

This command will check if the specified file is already installed on your system. If it's not, dnf will download and install the necessary packages. You might be prompted to confirm the installation, so just type y and press Enter. Once the installation is complete, we'll have LibUSB ready to go, paving the way for our system to communicate with the Kinect. We're making great progress, guys! Each step we complete gets us closer to our goal of getting libfreenect2 up and running on Fedora 42.

Install TurboJpeg

TurboJpeg is a high-speed JPEG image compression and decompression library. In our case, it's essential for efficiently handling the image data coming from the Kinect sensor. Think of TurboJpeg as a super-fast image processor that helps us deal with the large amounts of data produced by the Kinect's cameras. Without it, we might experience performance bottlenecks and laggy video feeds. So, let's make sure we have TurboJpeg installed to ensure smooth sailing! To install TurboJpeg, we'll once again rely on our trusty dnf package manager. This time, we need to install the development files for TurboJpeg, which include the headers and libraries necessary for compiling libfreenect2 with TurboJpeg support. Let's jump into our terminal and run the following command:

sudo dnf install turbojpeg-devel-3.1.0-2.fc42

This command will download and install the TurboJpeg development packages from the Fedora repositories. As with previous commands, you'll be prompted for your sudo password, so enter it and let the installation process begin. The version number in the command (3.1.0-2.fc42) might be slightly different depending on the latest available version in the Fedora repositories. Don't worry if the numbers don't exactly match; just make sure you're installing the turbojpeg-devel package. Once the installation is complete, we'll have TurboJpeg ready to rock, ensuring that our system can handle the Kinect's image data with speed and efficiency. We're on a roll, guys! Keep up the great work!

Install OpenGL

OpenGL is a cross-language, cross-platform API for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics. In our context, it's crucial for displaying the camera feeds from the Kinect sensor on our screen. Think of OpenGL as the artist that paints the images from the Kinect onto your display. Without it, we wouldn't be able to see those raw camera feeds we're so eager to get working. This step is vital for making our efforts visible, so let's dive in! This step involves downloading a specific .rpm package from a link. Now, it's generally recommended to install packages from official repositories whenever possible, but in this case, we're following the original guide's instructions. However, always be cautious when downloading and installing packages from external sources. Make sure you trust the source and that the package is intended for your system. Download the .rpm package from http://www.cse.iitm.ac.in/~vplab/courses/CG/openGL/XFree86-Mesa-libGL-4.3.0-42.i386.rpm, which is from cse.iitm.ac.in openGL project by Vinod Pathangay. Once you've downloaded the package, navigate to the directory where you saved it in your terminal. Then, run the following command:

sudo dnf install http://www.cse.iitm.ac.in/~vplab/courses/CG/openGL/XFree86-Mesa-libGL-4.3.0-42.i386.rpm

This command will instruct dnf to install the OpenGL package from the downloaded .rpm file. Be patient, as the installation process might take a few minutes depending on your system configuration. Once the installation is complete, we'll have OpenGL ready to bring those Kinect camera feeds to life on our screen. We're making fantastic progress, guys! With each step, we're building the foundation for a successful libfreenect2 installation.

Install Tools & Deps

Now, we need to install a bunch of essential tools and dependencies that libfreenect2 relies on. Think of these as the supporting cast that helps libfreenect2 perform its magic. Without these tools and dependencies, libfreenect2 wouldn't be able to compile and run correctly. This step might seem a bit overwhelming with the long list of packages, but trust me, it's crucial for a smooth installation. Let's break it down and get it done! We'll use dnf to install these packages in two batches. First, let's install the core tools and development libraries. Fire up your terminal and run the following command:

sudo dnf install -y cmake gcc-c++ make git pkgconf-pkg-config \
libusb1-devel libjpeg-turbo-devel glew-devel glfw-devel

This command installs a variety of packages, including:

cmake: A cross-platform build system generator.
gcc-c++: The GNU C++ compiler.
make: A build automation tool.
git: A distributed version control system.
pkgconf-pkg-config: A system for managing compiler and linker flags.
libusb1-devel: Development files for LibUSB.
libjpeg-turbo-devel: Development files for TurboJpeg.
glew-devel: Development files for the OpenGL Extension Wrangler Library.
glfw-devel: Development files for the Graphics Library Framework.

The -y flag automatically answers "yes" to any prompts, so the installation will proceed without requiring manual confirmation. This can save you some time and effort. Once this command completes, we'll move on to installing the OpenCL-related packages. OpenCL is a framework for writing programs that execute across heterogeneous platforms, including CPUs, GPUs, and other processors. It's particularly relevant for us because it can help accelerate the processing of the Kinect's depth data. So, let's install the necessary OpenCL packages by running the following command in our terminal:

sudo dnf install -y opencl-headers ocl-icd ocl-icd-devel

This command installs:

opencl-headers: Header files for OpenCL development.
ocl-icd: The OpenCL Installable Client Driver (ICD) loader.
ocl-icd-devel: Development files for the OpenCL ICD loader.

With these two commands, we've installed a comprehensive set of tools and dependencies that will enable us to build and run libfreenect2. We're making fantastic progress, guys! The groundwork is laid, and we're ready to start compiling libfreenect2 itself. Let's keep the momentum going!

 rm -rf build && mkdir build && cd build
cmake .. -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="$HOME/freenect2"
make -j"$(nproc)"
make install

This sequence of commands does the following:

rm -rf build: This command removes the build directory if it exists. This ensures that we're starting with a clean build environment.
mkdir build: This command creates a new build directory. This is where we'll build libfreenect2.
cd build: This command changes the current directory to the build directory.
cmake .. -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="$HOME/freenect2": This command runs CMake to generate the build files. Let's break this down further:
- cmake ..: This tells CMake to look for the CMakeLists.txt file in the parent directory (which is the root of the libfreenect2 source code).
- -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="$HOME/freenect2": This sets the installation prefix. This means that when we run make install, libfreenect2 will be installed in the $HOME/freenect2 directory. You can change this to a different directory if you prefer.
make -j"$(nproc)": This command compiles libfreenect2. The -j"$(nproc)" flag tells make to use multiple threads for compilation, which can significantly speed up the process. $(nproc) is a shell command that returns the number of processors on your system.
make install: This command installs libfreenect2 to the directory specified by CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX (which we set to $HOME/freenect2).

This compilation and installation process might take a while, especially if you have a lot of processors. Be patient and let it run its course. Once it's done, we'll have libfreenect2 installed on our system, ready to be used. We're getting so close, guys! The finish line is in sight. Let's keep pushing forward!

Allow Device Access (udev)

To allow your system to access the Kinect sensor without requiring root privileges, we need to set up udev rules. Udev is a device manager for the Linux kernel that handles the creation and removal of device nodes in the /dev directory. Think of udev as the traffic controller for your hardware, ensuring that devices are properly recognized and accessed. By setting up udev rules, we can grant specific permissions to access the Kinect, making it easier to use without constantly needing to use sudo. Let's get these rules in place! First, we need to copy the udev rules file from the libfreenect2 source code to the /etc/udev/rules.d/ directory. Run the following command in your terminal:

sudo cp ../platform/linux/udev/90-kinect2.rules /etc/udev/rules.d/

This command copies the 90-kinect2.rules file, which contains the rules for Kinect 2 devices, to the /etc/udev/rules.d/ directory. Next, we need to reload the udev rules and trigger a device scan. This tells udev to re-read its configuration and apply the new rules. Run the following command:

sudo udevadm control --reload-rules && sudo udevadm trigger

This command first reloads the udev rules using sudo udevadm control --reload-rules, and then triggers a device scan using sudo udevadm trigger. The && operator ensures that the second command only runs if the first command is successful. With these udev rules in place, your system should now be able to access the Kinect sensor without requiring root privileges. This makes it much more convenient to use libfreenect2 in your projects. We're making great progress, guys! We've taken care of the permissions, and we're ready to put our installation to the test.

Quick Test

Alright, guys, the moment of truth! Let's run a quick test to see if everything we've done so far is working correctly. We're going to use the Protonect example program, which is included with libfreenect2, to display the raw camera feeds from the Kinect. This is like the final exam for our installation process; if we see those camera feeds, we know we've nailed it! To run Protonect, we need to navigate to the bin directory inside our libfreenect2 installation directory (which we set to $HOME/freenect2 earlier). Then, we can run the program with the gl argument, which tells it to use OpenGL for rendering. Fire up your terminal and run the following command:

./bin/Protonect gl

If everything is set up correctly, you should see a window pop up displaying the raw feed from all the Kinect's cameras. This includes the color camera, the depth camera, and potentially the infrared camera, depending on your Kinect model. If you see these feeds, give yourself a pat on the back! You've successfully installed libfreenect2 on Fedora 42. This is a huge milestone, guys! We've gone through a lot of steps, but we've made it. Now you can start exploring the possibilities of using the Kinect with libfreenect2 in your projects. If you don't see the window or if you encounter any errors, don't panic! Double-check the previous steps, make sure you haven't missed anything, and try again. Troubleshooting is a part of the process, and you'll learn a lot along the way. Remember, the important thing is that we're learning and making progress together. And if you need help, don't hesitate to reach out to the libfreenect2 community or ask for assistance in forums or online groups. We're all here to support each other. Congratulations on getting this far, guys! You've done an amazing job!