Skip to main content

​
Requirements

Before installing MovieLite, ensure your system meets these requirements:

Python Version

Python 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, or 3.13

FFmpeg

FFmpeg must be installed and available in PATH

​
Install MovieLite

1

Install via pip

Install MovieLite using pip:
pip install movielite
This will automatically install all required Python dependencies:
  • NumPy (numerical operations)
  • Numba (JIT compilation for performance)
  • OpenCV (opencv-python for video processing)
  • multiprocess (parallel rendering)
  • tqdm (progress bars)
  • pictex (text rendering)
2

Install FFmpeg

FFmpeg is required for video encoding and decoding. Follow the installation instructions for your operating system below.
3

Verify installation

Verify that MovieLite is installed correctly:
import movielite
print(movielite.__version__)
You should see the version number (e.g., 0.2.2) printed.

​
Installing FFmpeg

FFmpeg is a critical dependency for MovieLite. It handles video and audio encoding/decoding.

​
Windows

1

Download FFmpeg

Download FFmpeg from the official website:https://ffmpeg.org/download.htmlChoose the Windows build (e.g., from gyan.dev or BtbN).
2

Extract the archive

Extract the downloaded archive to a permanent location, such as:
C:\ffmpeg
3

Add to PATH

Add the bin directory to your system PATH:
  1. Open System Properties → Advanced → Environment Variables
  2. Under System Variables, find and select Path, then click Edit
  3. Click New and add the path to FFmpeg’s bin directory: 
    C:\ffmpeg\bin
  4. Click OK to save
4

Verify installation

Open a new Command Prompt and verify FFmpeg is accessible:
ffmpeg -version
You should see FFmpeg version information.

​
macOS

1

Install Homebrew (if not installed)

If you don’t have Homebrew, install it first:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
2

Install FFmpeg

Use Homebrew to install FFmpeg:
brew install ffmpeg
Homebrew will automatically add FFmpeg to your PATH.
3

Verify installation

Verify FFmpeg is installed:
ffmpeg -version
You should see FFmpeg version information.

​
Linux

​
Debian/Ubuntu

1

Update package list

sudo apt-get update
2

Install FFmpeg

sudo apt-get install ffmpeg
3

Verify installation

ffmpeg -version

​
CentOS/RHEL/Fedora

1

Enable EPEL repository (CentOS/RHEL)

For CentOS/RHEL, enable the EPEL repository:
sudo yum install epel-release
Fedora users can skip this step.
2

Install FFmpeg

sudo yum install ffmpeg
Or for newer versions:
sudo dnf install ffmpeg
3

Verify installation

ffmpeg -version

​
Arch Linux

1

Install FFmpeg

sudo pacman -S ffmpeg
2

Verify installation

ffmpeg -version

​
Troubleshooting

​
FFmpeg Not Found

If you get an error that FFmpeg cannot be found:
1

Check PATH

Verify FFmpeg is in your system PATH:
# Windows (Command Prompt)
where ffmpeg

# macOS/Linux
which ffmpeg
If this doesn’t return a path, FFmpeg is not in your PATH.
2

Restart terminal/IDE

After adding FFmpeg to PATH, restart your terminal or IDE to reload environment variables.
3

Manual PATH configuration

If FFmpeg is still not found, you can specify the FFmpeg path in your code (not recommended for production):
import os
os.environ["FFMPEG_BINARY"] = "/path/to/ffmpeg"

​
Import Errors

If you encounter import errors:
1

Check Python version

Ensure you’re using Python 3.10 or higher:
python --version
2

Reinstall dependencies

Try reinstalling MovieLite and its dependencies:
pip uninstall movielite
pip install movielite
3

Use virtual environment

Create a fresh virtual environment:
python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
pip install movielite

​
Performance Issues

For optimal performance, ensure:
  • Numba is properly installed (it provides JIT compilation)
  • You’re using multiprocessing for large projects: writer.write(processes=8)
  • Your system has sufficient RAM for video processing

​
Optional Dependencies

For development and testing: 
pip install movielite[test]
This installs:
  • pytest (testing framework)
  • pytest-cov (code coverage)

​
Next Steps

Now that MovieLite is installed, you’re ready to create your first video!

Quick Start Guide

Learn how to create your first video with MovieLite

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get started for freeTalk to us