🖼️ Computer Vision with OpenCV (cv2) Interview Preparation

Your comprehensive guide to mastering OpenCV (cv2) for AI/ML and computer vision interviews

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📖 Introduction

Welcome to my Computer Vision prep with OpenCV (cv2) for AI/ML interviews! 🚀 This repository is your essential guide for mastering OpenCV, the leading library for computer vision, with hands-on coding and interview-focused practice. From core image processing to advanced object detection and deep learning integration, it’s crafted to help you excel in technical interviews and computer vision projects with clarity and confidence. Building on your prior roadmaps—Python (e.g., neural_networks.py), TensorFlow.js (e.g., ai_ml_javascript.js), GenAI (e.g., rag.py), JavaScript, Keras, Matplotlib (e.g., basic_plotting.py), Pandas (e.g., basic_operations.py), and NumPy (e.g., array_creation_properties.py)—this section prepares you for roles in AI/ML, retail (aligned with April 26, 2025 projects), and computer vision.

🌟 What’s Inside?

• Core OpenCV Mastery: Dive into image processing, filtering, and transformations.
• Advanced Techniques: Explore feature detection, object tracking, and deep learning integration.
• Hands-on Practice: Solve curated coding problems with detailed solutions.
• Interview Question Bank: Tackle common computer vision questions with clear answers.
• Performance Optimization: Learn tips for efficient, interview-ready OpenCV code.

🔍 Who Is This For?

• Computer Vision Engineers prepping for technical interviews.
• Machine Learning Engineers strengthening vision skills.
• AI Researchers enhancing image processing expertise.
• Software Engineers transitioning to computer vision roles.
• Anyone mastering OpenCV for AI/ML and retail applications.

🗺️ Comprehensive Learning Roadmap

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🖌️ Core Image Processing

📷 Image Basics

• Reading/Writing Images
• Color Spaces (RGB, HSV, Grayscale)
• Pixel Manipulation
• Image Properties (Shape, Size, Channels)

🖼️ Image Transformations

• Resizing
• Cropping
• Rotation
• Flipping
• Translation
• Affine Transformations
• Perspective Transformations

🎨 Image Filtering

• Blurring (Gaussian, Median, Bilateral)
• Sharpening
• Edge Detection (Sobel, Canny)
• Thresholding (Binary, Adaptive)
• Morphological Operations (Dilation, Erosion)

🌈 Color Processing

• Color Space Conversion
• Color Filtering
• Histogram Equalization
• Color Quantization

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🔍 Advanced Image Processing

🕵️ Feature Detection

• Corner Detection (Harris, Shi-Tomasi)
• Keypoint Detection (SIFT, SURF, ORB)
• Feature Matching (FLANN, Brute-Force)
• Homography Estimation

🖲️ Image Segmentation

• Contour Detection
• Watershed Algorithm
• GrabCut
• Clustering (K-Means)

🛤️ Optical Flow

• Dense Optical Flow (Farneback)
• Sparse Optical Flow (Lucas-Kanade)
• Motion Tracking

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🎥 Video Processing

📹 Video Basics

• Reading/Writing Videos
• Frame Extraction
• Video Properties (FPS, Resolution)

🕒 Video Analysis

• Frame Differencing
• Background Subtraction (MOG2, KNN)
• Motion Detection
• Video Stabilization

🏃 Object Tracking

• MeanShift
• CamShift
• KCF Tracker
• CSRT Tracker

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🕵️‍♂️ Object Detection and Recognition

🔲 Template Matching

• Single Object Matching
• Multi-Object Matching

🧠 Haar Cascades

• Face Detection
• Eye Detection
• Custom Cascade Training

🤖 Deep Learning-Based Detection

• YOLO (You Only Look Once)
• SSD (Single Shot MultiBox Detector)
• Faster R-CNN
• Model Integration (TensorFlow, PyTorch)

🏷️ Image Classification

• Pretrained Models (ResNet, VGG, MobileNet)
• Transfer Learning
• Custom Classification

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🛠️ Optimization and Deployment

⚡ Performance Optimization

• Parallel Processing
• GPU Acceleration (CUDA)
• Memory Management
• Algorithm Efficiency

📦 Deployment

• Flask for Web Apps
• Docker Containers
• Cloud Deployment (AWS, GCP)
• Real-Time Inference

🔗 Integration

• OpenCV with TensorFlow/PyTorch
• OpenCV with ROS (Robot Operating System)
• OpenCV in Embedded Systems (Raspberry Pi)

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💡 Why Master OpenCV for Computer Vision?

OpenCV (cv2) is the cornerstone of computer vision, and here’s why:

1. Versatility: Supports the full vision pipeline—from preprocessing to deployment.
2. Rich Functionality: Packed with tools for image processing, detection, and tracking.
3. Performance: Optimized for real-time applications with C++ backend.
4. Industry Demand: A must-have skill for 6 LPA+ computer vision roles.
5. Community Support: Tap into a vast network of experts and resources.

This repo is my roadmap to mastering OpenCV for technical interviews and computer vision careers—let’s build that skill set together!

📆 Study Plan

• Week 1-2: Core Image Processing
• Week 3-4: Advanced Image Processing and Feature Detection
• Week 5-6: Video Processing and Object Tracking
• Week 7-8: Object Detection and Deep Learning Integration
• Week 9-10: Practical Applications and Deployment

🤝 Contributions

Love to collaborate? Here’s how! 🌟

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-addition).
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some amazing content').
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-addition).
5. Open a Pull Request.

📚 Resources

• OpenCV Official Documentation
• OpenCV-Python Tutorials
• “Learning OpenCV” by Gary Bradski and Adrian Kaehler
• “Deep Learning for Computer Vision with Python” by Adrian Rosebrock
• PyImageSearch Blog
• NumPy Documentation
• Matplotlib Documentation
• TensorFlow Documentation
• PyTorch Documentation

🛠️ Setup Instructions

1. Python Environment:
   • Install Python 3.8+ and pip.
   • Create a virtual environment: python -m venv cv_env; source cv_env/bin/activate.
   • Install dependencies: pip install opencv-python opencv-contrib-python numpy matplotlib tensorflow torch.
2. Datasets:
   • Use synthetic images (e.g., generated patterns) or public datasets (e.g., MNIST, COCO-like).
   • Download sample images/videos from OpenCV Samples.
3. Running Code:
   • Run .py files in a Python environment (e.g., python image_basics.py).
   • Use Google Colab for GPU access if needed (e.g., deep learning models).
   • Check terminal for logs and errors; view images with Matplotlib or OpenCV windows.
4. Web Deployment (Optional):
   • Use Flask for web-based demos (e.g., pip install flask).
   • Deploy with Docker for production (e.g., docker build -t cv-app .).
5. Hardware (Optional):
   • Use a webcam for video processing demos.
   • Test on Raspberry Pi for embedded applications.

🏆 Practical Tasks

1. Core Image Processing:
   • Apply Gaussian blur and Canny edge detection to a synthetic image.
   • Convert an RGB image to HSV and filter a specific color.
2. Advanced Image Processing:
   • Detect keypoints with ORB and match features across two images.
   • Segment an object using GrabCut on a toy image.
3. Video Processing:
   • Extract frames from a sample video and detect motion.
   • Track an object with CSRT tracker in a webcam feed.
4. Object Detection:
   • Implement face detection with Haar cascades.
   • Use YOLO for real-time object detection on a toy dataset.
5. Practical Applications:
   • Build a retail product recognition system with template matching.
   • Detect lanes in a synthetic driving video.
6. Optimization and Deployment:
   • Optimize an edge detection pipeline for real-time performance.
   • Deploy a Flask app for webcam-based face detection.

💡 Interview Tips

• Common Questions:
  • How does Canny edge detection work, and what are its parameters?
  • What’s the difference between Haar cascades and deep learning-based detection?
  • How would you optimize OpenCV for real-time video processing?
• Tips:
  • Explain image processing pipelines with code snippets (e.g., Gaussian blur → Canny).
  • Demonstrate deep learning integration (e.g., YOLO with OpenCV).
  • Be ready to code tasks like contour detection or object tracking.
  • Discuss trade-offs between accuracy and speed in vision systems.
• Coding Tasks:
  • Implement Sobel edge detection on a synthetic image.
  • Build a face detection system with Haar cascades.
  • Track an object in a video using KCF tracker.
• System Design:
  • Design a real-time object detection pipeline with YOLO and Flask.
  • Explain GPU acceleration with OpenCV’s CUDA module.

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Happy Learning and Good Luck with Your Interviews! ✨