Howdy: Facial Recognition on Linux

Howdy is a facial recognition software for Linux that provides a convenient and secure way to log into your system, similar to Windows Hello. In this post, we’ll guide you through installing Howdy on a Linux system and troubleshooting common issues.

Installing Howdy

Follow these steps to get Howdy up and running on your Linux system.

Step 1: Add the Howdy Repository

First, you need to add the official Howdy repository. For Ubuntu-based systems, you can do this with the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:boltgolt/howdy
sudo apt update

For other Linux distributions, you may need to follow different instructions. Check the Howdy GitHub page for details.

Step 2: Install Howdy

Once the repository is added, install Howdy with:

sudo apt install howdy

For non-Ubuntu distributions, use your package manager to install Howdy or build it from source.

Configuring Howdy

After installation, configure Howdy to use your camera properly.

Step 1: Configure Howdy

Start by editing the Howdy configuration file:

sudo howdy config

In the configuration file, set the device_path to the correct camera device path. For example:

# Path to the camera device
device_path = /dev/video0

Step 2: Add a Facial Model

To add a facial model for recognition, use the command:

sudo howdy add

Follow the on-screen instructions to register your face.

Common Troubleshooting

Even after following the steps above, you might encounter some issues. Here’s how to resolve the most common problems.

Problem: "Camera path is not configured correctly"

If you get an error about the camera path, find the correct device path with:

ls /dev/video*

Update the device_path in the Howdy configuration file accordingly.

Problem: "Unsupported image type, must be 8bit gray or RGB image"

This issue might be resolved by downgrading numpy to a specific version. Use the following command:

pip install --upgrade numpy==1.26.4

Testing the Camera

To ensure your camera is working properly, you can use ffplay to test it:

sudo apt install ffmpeg
ffplay /dev/video0

Persistent Issues: Reinstall Howdy

If problems persist, try reinstalling Howdy:

sudo apt remove howdy
sudo apt autoremove
sudo apt install howdy

Required Dependencies

Ensure that all necessary libraries are installed:

sudo apt install python3-opencv
sudo apt install libopencv-dev

Conclusion

With Howdy correctly set up, you can enjoy a secure and convenient login experience on your Linux system. If you encounter other issues, refer to the Howdy documentation or seek help from the community.

We hope this guide was helpful. If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment below!