Install the kernal module required for the facetimehd camera to work on Linux

99-install-facetime-camera.sh

#!/bin/bash
set -e

export CONFIG_MODULE_SIG=n
export CONFIG_MODULE_SIG_ALL=n
# For current kernel
export KERNELRELEASE=$(cat /proc/version | awk '{print $3}')

temp_dir=$(mktemp -d)
echo "Installing FacetimeHD camera for $KERNELRELEASE"
cd $temp_dir
git clone https://github.com/patjak/facetimehd-firmware.git
git clone https://github.com/patjak/bcwc_pcie.git

cd $temp_dir/facetimehd-firmware
pwd
make
make install
cd $temp_dir/bcwc_pcie
pwd
make
make install
rm -rf $temp_dir

if [ ! -d "/etc/modules-load.d" ]; then
  mkdir -p "/etc/modules-load.d"
fi

cat > "/etc/modules-load.d/facetimehd.conf" << EOL
videobuf2-core
videobuf2_v4l2
videobuf2-dma-sg
facetimehd
EOL


# Workaround for depmod being skipped above with error:
# Warning: modules_install: missing 'System.map' file. Skipping depmod
echo "Generate modules.dep and map files"
sudo depmod

echo "Adding kernel modules"
sudo modprobe -r bdc_pci
sudo modprobe facetimehd

echo "Install complete"

Hello, when I try to install it, I got the error message ./99-install-facetime-camera.sh: line 12: git: command not found

Could someone please help.

Thx

@giggit75 looks like you don't have git installed.
Use your favorite search engine to find how to install it on your OS
If it's Ubuntu/Debian it'll be apt update && apt install git

@ukn
Hello,

thank you very much, worked finally. ;-*

hi i need help
Installing FacetimeHD camera for 5.7.11-200.fc32.x86_64
Clonando en 'facetimehd-firmware'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 1, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (1/1), done.
remote: Total 886 (delta 0), reused 1 (delta 0), pack-reused 885
Recibiendo objetos: 100% (886/886), 290.76 KiB | 167.00 KiB/s, listo.
Resolviendo deltas: 100% (585/585), listo.
Clonando en 'bcwc_pcie'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 18, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (18/18), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (14/14), done.
remote: Total 1101 (delta 11), reused 10 (delta 4), pack-reused 1083
Recibiendo objetos: 100% (1101/1101), 377.88 KiB | 658.00 KiB/s, listo.
Resolviendo deltas: 100% (738/738), listo.
/tmp/tmp.4btMwpOpIy/facetimehd-firmware
Checking dependencies for driver download...
/usr/bin/curl
/usr/bin/xzcat
/usr/bin/cpio
Downloading the driver, please wait...
Found matching hash from OS X, El Capitan 10.11.5
==> Extracting firmware...
--> Decompressing the firmware using gzip...
--> Deleting temporary files...
--> Extracted firmware version 1.43.0
Copying firmware into '//usr/lib/firmware/facetimehd'
install: no se pueden cambiar los permisos de «//usr/lib/firmware/facetimehd»: No existe el fichero o el directorio
make: *** [Makefile:46: install] Error 1

I'm not sure if you are still having the problem but I hit the same error and completed the below steps to make it work.

1. I created a facetimehd folder in the firmware directory.
2. I ran sudo chmod +x on the .sh file.
3. I ran the .sh file via terminal with sudo ./
4. I restarted my machine.

*There was still an error in the output but at the very end and everything else ran fine. I had to do the restart for the changes to take effect and it works.

Machine: Macbook Pro Retina, Early 2015, MX Linux 19.3

Hope this helps!

This has saved my life.

It works perfectly on my MacBook Pro Retina 13″, Mid 2014, MX Linux 21.2

I updated the script to install kernel modules as root user and also added the color calibration files. You might want to check it out here:

• https://gist.github.com/xyb/879f3bdf93cb5e8fc3d9d9675ae272cb

on entering the bcwc-pcie directory the make command:
make -C /lib/modules/5.10.161-1-MANJARO/build M=/home/partha/Downloads/bcwc_pcie modules
returns the error:
make[1]: *** /lib/modules/5.10.161-1-MANJARO/build: No such file or directory. Stop. make: *** [Makefile:12: all] Error 2

Please help...

further, when the directory /lib/modules/5.10.161-1-MANJARO/build was created and make run from bcwc_pcie directory there is a further error message:
make -C /lib/modules/5.10.161-1-MANJARO/build M=/home/partha/Downloads/bcwc_pcie modules
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/lib/modules/5.10.161-1-MANJARO/build'
make[1]: *** No rule to make target 'modules'. Stop.
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/lib/modules/5.10.161-1-MANJARO/build'
make: *** [Makefile:12: all] Error 2

So there is some problem here with the files in the directory; please help....

No rule to make target 'modules'.

I don't use this setup any more but have you tried searching the web for this error?
Check if you have kernel headers installed that match the current kernel version.

I have sort of gathered all I could find on this topic and the gist itself into another repo with some more info. I hope this can be useful to someone struggling with this.
I had a particular rough time making this work on Debian 12, and then this script helped.
Hope this helps!

P.S. sometimes Cheese is picky with the drivers - test on google meet to see if the fix the worked, then tackle Cheese separately.

I had 'make' error because i didnt have curl installed,
now i thought it installed correctly but cheese wont load the camera and neither will google meet, here is the termina:

sudo ./99-install-facetime-camera.sh
Installing FacetimeHD camera for 6.1.0-22-amd64
Cloning into 'facetimehd-firmware'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 902, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (17/17), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (12/12), done.
remote: Total 902 (delta 6), reused 14 (delta 5), pack-reused 885
Receiving objects: 100% (902/902), 301.25 KiB | 1.19 MiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (591/591), done.
Cloning into 'bcwc_pcie'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 1169, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (86/86), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (44/44), done.
remote: Total 1169 (delta 52), reused 63 (delta 42), pack-reused 1083
Receiving objects: 100% (1169/1169), 421.23 KiB | 1.21 MiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (779/779), done.
/tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/facetimehd-firmware

Checking dependencies for driver download...
/usr/bin/curl
/usr/bin/xzcat
/usr/bin/cpio

Downloading the driver, please wait...

Found matching hash from OS X, El Capitan 10.11.5
==> Extracting firmware...
--> Decompressing the firmware using gzip...
--> Deleting temporary files...
--> Extracted firmware version 1.43.0

Copying firmware into '//usr/lib/firmware/facetimehd'
/tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie
make -C /lib/modules/6.1.0-22-amd64/build M=/tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie modules
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-22-amd64'
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/fthd_ddr.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/fthd_hw.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/fthd_drv.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/fthd_ringbuf.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/fthd_isp.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/fthd_v4l2.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/fthd_buffer.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/fthd_debugfs.o
LD [M] /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/facetimehd.o
MODPOST /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/Module.symvers
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/facetimehd.mod.o
LD [M] /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/facetimehd.ko
BTF [M] /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/facetimehd.ko
Skipping BTF generation for /tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie/facetimehd.ko due to unavailability of vmlinux
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-22-amd64'
make -C /lib/modules/6.1.0-22-amd64/build M=/tmp/tmp.4UWrdtSMYi/bcwc_pcie modules_install
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-22-amd64'
INSTALL /lib/modules/6.1.0-22-amd64/extra/facetimehd.ko
DEPMOD /lib/modules/6.1.0-22-amd64
Warning: modules_install: missing 'System.map' file. Skipping depmod.
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-22-amd64'
Generate modules.dep and map files
Adding kernel modules
modprobe: FATAL: Module bdc_pci not found.

You guys are perfect. Works on my MacBook Pro Retina Early 2015, Debian 12 KDE Plasma.

for some reason im getting this error

Installing FacetimeHD camera for 6.1.0-23-amd64
Clonando en 'facetimehd-firmware'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 902, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (17/17), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (12/12), done.
remote: Total 902 (delta 6), reused 14 (delta 5), pack-reused 885 (from 1)
Recibiendo objetos: 100% (902/902), 301.25 KiB | 1.53 MiB/s, listo.
Resolviendo deltas: 100% (591/591), listo.
Clonando en 'bcwc_pcie'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 1169, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (86/86), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (44/44), done.
remote: Total 1169 (delta 52), reused 63 (delta 42), pack-reused 1083 (from 1)
Recibiendo objetos: 100% (1169/1169), 421.23 KiB | 1.66 MiB/s, listo.
Resolviendo deltas: 100% (779/779), listo.
/tmp/tmp.gVcNmYfViw/facetimehd-firmware

Checking dependencies for driver download...
/usr/bin/curl
/usr/bin/xzcat
/usr/bin/cpio

Downloading the driver, please wait...

Found matching hash from OS X, El Capitan 10.11.5
==> Extracting firmware...
--> Decompressing the firmware using gzip...
--> Deleting temporary files...
--> Extracted firmware version 1.43.0

Copying firmware into '//usr/lib/firmware/facetimehd'
/tmp/tmp.gVcNmYfViw/bcwc_pcie
make -C /lib/modules/6.1.0-23-amd64/build M=/tmp/tmp.gVcNmYfViw/bcwc_pcie modules
make[1]: *** /lib/modules/6.1.0-23-amd64/build: No existe el fichero o el directorio. Alto.
make: *** [Makefile:12: all] Error 2

if anybody asks, i am using debian 12 with kde plasma

Hello, I have latest Ubuntu 24.04.1 and when script runs I get this error. Can you help, please:

Copying firmware into '//usr/lib/firmware/facetimehd'
/tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie
make -C /lib/modules/6.8.0-41-generic/build M=/tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie modules
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.8.0-41-generic'
warning: the compiler differs from the one used to build the kernel
The kernel was built by: x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-13 (Ubuntu 13.2.0-23ubuntu4) 13.2.0
You are using: gcc-13 (Ubuntu 13.2.0-23ubuntu4) 13.2.0
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/fthd_ddr.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/fthd_hw.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/fthd_drv.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/fthd_ringbuf.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/fthd_isp.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/fthd_v4l2.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/fthd_buffer.o
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/fthd_debugfs.o
LD [M] /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/facetimehd.o
MODPOST /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/Module.symvers
CC [M] /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/facetimehd.mod.o
LD [M] /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/facetimehd.ko
BTF [M] /tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie/facetimehd.ko
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.8.0-41-generic'
make -C /lib/modules/6.8.0-41-generic/build M=/tmp/tmp.UFC9QVUmI1/bcwc_pcie modules_install
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.8.0-41-generic'
INSTALL /lib/modules/6.8.0-41-generic/updates/facetimehd.ko
SIGN /lib/modules/6.8.0-41-generic/updates/facetimehd.ko
DEPMOD /lib/modules/6.8.0-41-generic
Warning: modules_install: missing 'System.map' file. Skipping depmod.
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.8.0-41-generic'
Generate modules.dep and map files
Adding kernel modules
modprobe: FATAL: Module bdc_pci not found.
lovrenco@MacBuntu:~/Documents$

lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 24.10
Release: 24.10
Codename: oracular

apt-get install pahole

ln -sf /boot/System.map-$(uname -r) /usr/src/linux-headers-$(uname -r)/System.map

ln -sf /usr/lib/modules/$(uname -r)/vmlinux.xz /boot/

install this version : https://gist.github.com/petrstepanov/73e1eeaeca8b56bf4bca2a367f18fe95

git clone https://github.com/patjak/bcwc_pcie.git
cd bcwc_pcie

mkdir /usr/src/facetimehd-0.1
cp -Rf ./* /usr/src/facetimehd-0.1
dkms add -m facetimehd -v 0.1
dkms build -m facetimehd -v 0.1
dkms install -m facetimehd -v 0.1 --force
modprobe facetimehd