snap2

Snap2 is a cross-platform, open-source framework for real-time multimedia and sensor data processing. It provides a node-based graph model that lets users build pipelines by connecting data sources—such as cameras and microphones—to processing blocks and outputs.

The core concept is a directed graph of modular components called nodes. Nodes expose input and output ports and can be extended with plugins that implement new data types and operations. Pipelines can be authored in JSON or created visually in a graphical editor, and the engine handles data synchronization and timing.

Key features include real-time video and audio processing, support for multiple cameras, image processing and computer-vision blocks, encoding and streaming, and network transmission. The framework supports GPU acceleration through CUDA or OpenCL for compute-heavy tasks, and provides bindings for Python and C++ for scripting and integration.

Snap2 is released under a permissive license and has an active community. The project distributes prebuilt binaries, developer documentation, and example pipelines via a public repository. A plugin API and extensive tests help ensure compatibility across platforms.

Typical applications include robotics, security and surveillance systems, scientific research, education, augmented and virtual reality pipelines, and media production workflows that require rapid prototyping of dataflows.

Originating as a successor to an earlier project named Snap, Snap2 emphasizes modularity, portability, and performance. It has seen adoption in academic labs and hobbyist communities for learning and prototyping real-time multimedia tasks.

Related projects include Snap, Node-RED, LabVIEW, and GStreamer.