
1. Make sure you have Python 3.8 or higher installed. BlobTrack opens a native desktop window (not a terminal app), so no special terminal emulator is required — any standard terminal on Windows, macOS, or Linux works fine to run the install commands and launch it.
2. Install pipx if you don't already have it:
python -m pip install --user pipx python -m pipx ensurepath
Restart your terminal after running ensurepath so the PATH change takes effect.
3. Install BlobTrack:
pipx install blobtrack
4. Run it:
blobtrack
5. This opens an empty window with a floating Load button — pick any video file to start tracking immediately. Prefer to skip the file picker and load a source straight from the command line instead? Pass it directly:
blobtrack --source path/to/video.mp4 blobtrack --source 0 # webcam
That's it, no config files, no API key, no virtualenv to manage yourself, and nothing ever leaves your machine. Every setting (shape, color, filters, playback speed, resolution) lives directly in the sidebar and takes effect live, with no session state to set up beforehand.