guvcview

guvcview [OPTIONS]

-d, --device=DEVICE
    Specifies the video device to use (e.g., /dev/video0).

-a, --audio=DEVICE
    Sets the audio device for recording (e.g., hw:0,0).

-f, --format=FORMAT
    Defines the video format (e.g., YUYV, MJPG, RGB3).

-r, --resolution=WxH
    Sets the video resolution (e.g., 640x480, 1280x720).

-c, --config=FILE
    Loads a saved configuration file at startup, applying previously stored settings.

-s, --save=FILE
    Saves the current application and camera configuration to a specified file.

-i, --image=FILE
    Captures a single still image immediately and saves it to the specified file.

-v, --video=FILE
    Starts recording video immediately to the specified file upon launch.

-t, --time=SECONDS
    Sets the duration for video capture in seconds when using the --video option.

-m, --minimized
    Starts the guvcview application minimized to the system tray or dock.

-o, --on-top
    Keeps the guvcview window always on top of other application windows.

-p, --profile=PROFILE
    Loads a specific GUI profile, customizing the interface layout or features.

-V, --version
    Displays the version information of guvcview and exits.

-h, --help
    Shows a brief help message with available command-line options and exits.

guvcview is a free, open-source application designed to provide a simple GTK+ interface for capturing video and still images from UVC (USB Video Class) compatible webcams and other video devices on Linux. It stands out by offering extensive control over camera settings, often beyond what's available in other simple webcam tools. Users can adjust parameters such as brightness, contrast, exposure, white balance, gain, focus, and more, all through an intuitive graphical user interface.

It supports various video formats and resolutions, allows for video recording and still image capture, and includes features like on-screen display, visual effects, and custom profiles for saving and loading settings. guvcview is a valuable tool for anyone needing robust control over their webcam, from basic video calls to testing camera capabilities and fine-tuning image quality.

guvcview primarily targets UVC (USB Video Class) compatible devices. While it might work with some older or non-standard cameras via V4L2, full functionality and access to all controls are best assured with UVC-compliant hardware. Users might encounter limitations with certain devices regarding available resolutions, formats, or specific hardware controls if the device firmware or underlying V4L2 driver does not fully expose them. Permissions to access /dev/video* and /dev/snd/* devices are essential for its operation.

guvcview allows users to save and load complete sets of camera settings (like brightness, contrast, resolution, and effects) as profiles. This is particularly useful for quickly switching between different usage scenarios or camera setups without manually reconfiguring each parameter.

Beyond basic camera controls, guvcview includes a variety of built-in video effects, such as mirror, invert, grayscale, and edge detection. It also supports adding text and image overlays, making it versatile for basic streaming, demonstrations, or creative use.

guvcview was initially developed by Lucas de Stefanis, with early versions appearing around 2009-2010. Its creation addressed a need for a robust and user-friendly graphical interface to access the extensive controls offered by UVC-compliant webcams on Linux, which were often not fully exposed by simpler webcam applications or required command-line tools like v4l2-ctl. Over the years, it has seen continuous development, adding support for more video formats, resolutions, effects, and improving its overall stability and feature set, establishing itself as a go-to tool for advanced webcam control in the Linux ecosystem.

cheese(1), v4l2-ctl(1), ffmpeg(1), fswebcam(1)