How to Install LibrePhotos on macOS

LibrePhotos is a free and open-source photo management software that can help you keep your photos organized and accessible. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps of installing LibrePhotos on macOS.

Prerequisites

Before installing LibrePhotos, you need to make sure that your system meets the following requirements:

• macOS 10.14 or later
• Python 3.7 or later
• PostgreSQL 10 or later

If you haven't installed Python and PostgreSQL, you can use Homebrew to install them. To install Homebrew, open Terminal and run the following command:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Once Homebrew is installed, use the following commands to install Python and PostgreSQL:

brew install python
brew install postgresql

Installation

Now that you have installed the necessary prerequisites, you can proceed with the installation of LibrePhotos. Follow these steps:

1. Open Terminal and navigate to the directory where you want to install LibrePhotos. Use the cd command to change directories. For example, if you want to install LibrePhotos in the Documents folder, run the following command:

cd ~/Documents

2. Use the following command to clone the LibrePhotos repository from GitHub:

git clone https://github.com/LibrePhotos/librephotos.git

3. Navigate to the librephotos directory:

cd librephotos

4. Create a virtual environment for LibrePhotos using the following command:

python3 -m venv env

5. Activate the virtual environment using the following command:

source env/bin/activate

6. Install the required packages using the following command:

pip install -r requirements.txt

7. Create a configuration file using the following command:

cp config/config.sample.env .env

8. Open the configuration file using a text editor and make the necessary changes. For example, you can set the SECRET_KEY and DATABASE_URL variables.

9. Use the following command to create the database:

createdb librephotos

10. Apply the database migrations using the following command:

python manage.py migrate

11. (Optional) Load the sample data using the following command:

python manage.py loaddata data/sample_data.json

12. Start the web server using the following command:

python manage.py runserver

13. Open a web browser and go to http://localhost:8000. You should see the LibrePhotos homepage.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed LibrePhotos on macOS. You can now use LibrePhotos to manage your photos and keep them organized. If you encounter any issues during the installation process, refer to the LibrePhotos documentation.

If you want to self-host in an easy, hands free way, need an external IP address, or simply want your data in your own hands, give IPv6.rs a try!

Alternatively, for the best virtual desktop, try Shells!