macos - python cannot import opencv because it can't find libjpeg.8.dylib

Question

Trying to get opencv for python working on Mac OSX - Mavericks but keep getting an image not found for libjpeg.8.dylib when doing import cv from python

(Recently updated from Mountain Lion)

This is what I did:

1.brew tap homebrew/science

2.brew install opencv

3.python

4.import cv

-got the following error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/usr/local/Cellar/opencv/2.4.9/lib/python2.7/site-packages/cv.py", line 1, in <module>
    from cv2.cv import *
ImportError: dlopen(/usr/local/Cellar/opencv/2.4.9/lib/python2.7/site-packages/cv2.so, 2): Library not loaded: /usr/local/lib/libjpeg.8.dylib
  Referenced from: /usr/local/Cellar/opencv/2.4.9/lib/libopencv_highgui.2.4.dylib
  Reason: image not found

---

5. I looked for libjpeg.8.dylib and found it in /usr/local/Cellar/jpeg/8d/lib/ which, apparently, is not where libopencv_highgui.2.4.dylib is looking.

I'm a bit new to Mac OS and homebrew. Could anyone explain how to resolve this error and get opencv running? I have the python that comes preinstalled with Mac and them python installed by homebrew.

Thank you.

Answer 1

The quick and dirty solution for this is to make a symlink inside of the /usr/local/lib folder pointing to the actual location of libjpeg.8.dylib, like this:

$ sudo ln -s /usr/local/Cellar/jpeg/8d/lib/libjpeg.8.dylib /usr/local/lib/libjpeg.8.dylib

The problem is opencv and python expect libjpeg.8.dylib to be in /usr/local/lib/ but homebrew installs it in /usr/local/Cellar/, hence annoying error.