Motion is a video monitoring application that detects changes in images captured from webcams, network cameras and other video devices. It is particularly suited to unattended surveillance and recording tasks.
The software analyses incoming video frames to identify movement within the camera’s field of view. When movement is detected, Motion can record footage, capture still images or execute commands that integrate the event with other applications.
Typical uses include home security, monitoring pets, observing wildlife and recording activity around buildings. Motion does not require a conventional desktop environment, making it useful on dedicated Linux systems and small servers.
Configuration is primarily managed through text files, while an integrated web interface provides monitoring and selected control functions.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Supports Video4Linux webcams, capture cards and network cameras using protocols including HTTP and RTSP.
- Monitors multiple cameras simultaneously, with individual configuration settings.
- Motion detection based on changes between successive video frames.
- Configurable detection thresholds and noise handling to reduce false alarms.
- Privacy masks and motion detection masks exclude selected parts of the camera image.
- Records video sequences and captures JPEG still images when activity is detected.
- Supports continuous and interval-based snapshots independently of detected movement.
- Integrated streaming server provides access to camera feeds through a web browser.
- Web control interface allows monitoring and modification of supported settings.
- Custom text overlays can display timestamps and other camera information.
- External commands can be executed when events begin, end or produce recorded files.
- Supports event information storage in compatible SQL databases.
- Configurable recording directories, filenames and retention behaviour.
- Provides options for adjusting frame rates, image resolution and recording quality.
Website: motion-project.github.io
Support:
Developer: Motion Project contributors
License: GNU General Public License v3.0
Motion is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
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| DroidCam | Turn a mobile device into a network-attached IP camera |
| Kerberos.io | Video surveillance solution |
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| Cheese | Take pictures and videos from your webcam |
| Kamoso | Qt-based webcam utility |
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| camera-streamer | Low-latency camera streaming project for Raspberry Pi systems |
| WebCamControl | GUI app for controlling properties of a webcam |
| Photobooth | Photobooth software for the Raspberry Pi and PC |
| HasciiCam | Live ascii video on the web for the masses |
| camorama | View, alter and save images from a webcam |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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