SMPL python2.7 with Ubuntu22.04.1 and Anaconda

After some effort in trying to run SMPL python on macOS and failing, I decided to use Ubuntu. Install Ubuntu dual system with Windows on my PC in my lab is another story. Here I wrote down the process for future usage. I referenced a lot from this post in Chinese is very detailed, however, need some updates on some detail. Reference

Environment:

Ubuntu22.04.1 Anaconda python2.7

Step1

Create a new environment through anaconda with python 2 and activate

conda create -n smpl python=2
conda activate smpl

Step2

Install required dependencies

pip install numpy
pip install scipy
pip install chumpy

The trick for installing the correct version of opencv is using the following command. After running render_smpl.py found out the opencv I installed is not correct. It has to be 4.2.0.32, the last version supporting python2.7. I also tried pip, but not correct.

pip2 install opencv-python==4.2.0.32

For the installation of opendr, is much easier than the thing on macOS.

sudo apt install libosmesa6-dev
sudo apt-get install build-essential
sudo apt-get install libgl1-meas-dev
sudo apt-get install libglu1-meas-dev
sudo apt-get install freeglut3-dev
pip install opendr

Step3

Set the python package path for smpl.

1. Go to the python installed path, mine is anaconda3/envs/smpl/lib/python2.7/site-packages
2. Create .pth file

   touch xxx.pth
   

3. Add the absolute path of smpl folder and smpl_websuer folder which contain init.py file.

   /home/jiechang/Documents/SMPL/SMPL/smpl
   /home/jiechang/Documents/SMPL/SMPL/smpl/smpl_webuser
   

Step4

Test hello_smpl.py need to change the model’s name in the script If successful there will be a hello_smpl.obj model in the path. line 48

m = load_model( '../../models/basicmodel_f_lbs_10_207_0_v1.1.0.pkl' )

Step5

Test render_smpl.py. Still need to change the name of the model accordingly.

Here, another things need to fix is, if encounter ImportError: /home/jiechang/anaconda3/envs/smpl/lib/python2.7/site-packages/../../libstdc++.so.6: version ‘GLIBCXX_3.4.30’ not found (required by /lib/x84_64-linux-gnu/libLLVM-13.so.1)

Solution:

strings /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libstdc++.so.6 | grep GLIBCXX

The version of 3.4.30 should be shown, the lib is exist in our system, but the anaconda don’t know, we need to create a shortcut to let anaconda find the lib.

ln -sf /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libstdc++.so.6 /home/jiechang/anaconda3/envs/smpl/bin/../lib/libstdc++.so.6

Finally get hello smpl to work. So I can go and learn Smplify.