indi_pylibcamera Driver Setup

indi_pylibcamera is a Python-based INDI driver that interfaces with Raspberry Pi libcamera CSI sensors (IMX477 HQ Camera, IMX708 Camera Module 3, IMX296 Global Shutter Camera) via the official Python bindings (python3-picamera2 and python3-libcamera).

[!IMPORTANT] Debian Package (.deb) Installations: The pre-built .deb package installs all necessary system libraries and manages systemd units automatically. Modifying pyvenv.cfg or executing pip install inside /var/lib/indi-allsky/venv/ is unnecessary and unsupported.

The setup steps below apply specifically to Source / Git Checkout (setup.sh) installations configuring user-level INDI servers (systemctl --user).

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1. System Requirements

• Operating System: Raspberry Pi OS 12 (Bookworm) 64-bit or Raspberry Pi OS 13 (Trixie) 64-bit.
• Memory: Minimum 2 GB RAM recommended due to Python runtime memory consumption during frame acquisition and debayering.

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2. Install Host Dependencies

Install the system Python libcamera bindings:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y \
    python3-picamera2 \
    python3-libcamera \
    libgles2-mesa

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3. Virtual Environment Configuration (Source Installs Only)

Python libcamera bindings must be inherited from system site-packages.

Step 1: Enable System Site Packages

Edit the virtual environment configuration file (virtualenv/indi-allsky/pyvenv.cfg):

home = /usr/bin
include-system-site-packages = true
version = 3.11.2
executable = /usr/bin/python3.11

Step 2: Install Driver inside Virtualenv

Activate the virtual environment and install indi-pylibcamera:

source /var/lib/indi-allsky/virtualenv/bin/activate
# Or from git checkout: source virtualenv/indi-allsky/bin/activate

pip3 install indi-pylibcamera
pip3 install --upgrade simplejpeg

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4. User Systemd Unit Configuration

When executing indiserver under a user systemd service ($HOME/.config/systemd/user/indiserver.service), ensure PATH and PYTHONPATH expose the virtualenv and system libraries:

[Unit]
Description=INDI Server
After=network.target

[Service]
Environment="PATH=/home/pi/indi-allsky/virtualenv/indi-allsky/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin"
Environment="PYTHONPATH=/home/pi/indi-allsky/virtualenv/indi-allsky/lib/python3.11/site-packages:/usr/local/lib/aarch64-linux-gnu/python3.11/site-packages"
ExecStart=/usr/bin/indiserver -p 7624 indi_simulator_telescope indi_pylibcamera
ExecStop=/bin/kill -TERM $MAINPID
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=5
PrivateTmp=true
UMask=0022

[Install]
WantedBy=default.target

Reload and restart the user service:

systemctl --user daemon-reload
systemctl --user restart indiserver
systemctl --user status indiserver

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5. Driver Configuration Preset

In the web interface under Camera Settings -> INDI Custom Properties / Switches:

{
    "SWITCHES": {
        "CAMCTRL_AWBENABLE": {
            "on": [
                "INDI_ENABLED"
            ],
            "off": []
        }
    },
    "PROPERTIES": {},
    "TEXT": {}
}

Reference repository: scriptorron/indi_pylibcamera