The Lede
OpenCV, one of the most widely used computer vision libraries, has just released its latest version, OpenCV 5. This significant update brings a new permissive license, C++17 as the minimum required version, and the dropping of the C API. These changes are designed to modernize the library and make it more compatible with current industry trends, which are increasingly focused on AI, machine learning, and cloud computing.
Background & Context
OpenCV has been a stalwart of the computer vision community for over two decades, providing developers with a comprehensive set of tools and algorithms for image and video processing, feature detection, object recognition, and more. The library has been widely adopted in various fields, including robotics, autonomous vehicles, surveillance, and healthcare. However, as the industry has evolved, OpenCV has faced challenges in keeping up with the latest technological advancements and changing user requirements.
Deep Dive
The new license, Apache 2.0, is a permissive license that allows developers to use, modify, and distribute OpenCV code freely, including for commercial purposes. This change is expected to attract more developers and organizations to the OpenCV community. The minimum required version of C++ has been updated to C++17, which provides improved language features, performance, and security. The C API has been dropped in favor of C++ APIs, which are more modern, flexible, and expressive. These changes are expected to improve performance, security, and ease of use for developers.
Expert Angle
According to Dr. Guoyue Gu, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, and a contributor to OpenCV, the changes in OpenCV 5 are a significant step towards making the library more modern and compatible with current industry trends. 'The new license and C++17 requirements will attract more developers and organizations to the OpenCV community, which will in turn drive innovation and adoption of computer vision technology,' Dr. Gu said. However, some experts have raised concerns about the potential impact of the changes on backward compatibility and the need for developers to update their code.
What Comes Next
The release of OpenCV 5 marks a significant milestone in the library's evolution. As the computer vision industry continues to grow and mature, OpenCV is expected to play an increasingly important role in driving innovation and adoption of AI, machine learning, and computer vision technology. Developers, researchers, and organizations should watch for updates on the new features, tools, and algorithms that will be added to OpenCV in the coming months and years. The future of computer vision looks bright, and OpenCV 5 is an exciting step towards that future.