Webcams for Linux

For a while there was a misconception that there weren't any webcams for Linux. Webcams are now everywhere, new laptops and computer monitors now have incorporated them. Aside from the regular standalone USB webcams available in the market.

Webcams main function are for video conferencing and video streaming and/or broadcasting through the web. A low-end Webcam typically supports 15 frames per second at 320x 240 pixels. Higher quality webcams, besides being considerably pricy, they also have improved and amazing quality on any Linux webcam software.

However the main issue webcams for Linux have is the seeming lack of interest by the manufacturers of supporting their product for anything but Windows and (in some cases) Apple.

Many Linux software developers have worked hard to create Linux drivers for webcams from different manufacturers, and normally they do so with very little of NO help whatsoever. Usually the average Linux video software would have the instructions on how to install and detect the webcam and it will let the user now if the system recognizes the device. However, it is very likely that the user will require to install the device manually and install the required driver for the webcam to function (easily obtainable from the web of the majority of cases).

As explained in the other section, software designed aimed for video conferencing for Linux is the majority of uses that would require a webcam. Normally for this type of software, by just installing it, and chatting with a certain contact there shouldn't be any issue to receive the video feed from the webcam properly. No requirement to download any codecs or extra drivers since the instant messaging software should already have the necessary adjustments for the user to see the video properly on any Linux application.

Even though to installing one of these devices requires a bit of an effort the results are very satisfying since the performance of the webcam tends to be optimum. The main issue is that even a built-in webcam requires to be manually installed before use on any Linux video application. Webcams for Linux are available, and nearly all of them are, but they require manual installation.