libfreenect ☆

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Description:
Drivers and libraries for the Xbox Kinect device

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: System utilities

Tags: kinect driver computer-vision hardware libusb

Install: brew install libfreenect

About:
Libfreenect is an open-source driver and library for the Microsoft Xbox Kinect sensor. It provides low-level access to the device's motor, camera, and audio components, enabling developers to create custom applications. This package allows users to interface with the Kinect on macOS without proprietary software.

Key Features:

Open-source implementation of Kinect protocols
Access to depth, RGB, and IR camera streams
Control over motor tilt and LED status
C library with bindings for languages like Python and Processing

Use Cases:

Robotics and computer vision projects
Interactive art installations
3D scanning and motion tracking applications

Alternatives:

libfreenect2 – Successor designed specifically for Kinect for Windows v2 hardware
OpenNI/NITE – Proprietary frameworks offering skeletal tracking (requires separate installation)

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Sep 14, 2025 3:21am		0	VERSION_BUMP	e724d687
Sep 13, 2024 1:35pm		0	VERSION_BUMP	9ae7710f