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holoscan-install-wheel

Installs the Holoscan SDK Python wheel into a virtual environment and verifies it with examples.

3.2k|370|Updated Feb 25, 2026
Search Tags:#Python#venv#install#CUDA#NVIDIA#PIP#holoscan
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/NVIDIA/skills --skill holoscan-install-wheel
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: holoscan-install-wheel
Source: https://github.com/NVIDIA/skills/tree/main/skills/holoscan-install-wheel
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/NVIDIA/skills --skill holoscan-install-wheel

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Installing the Holoscan SDK Python bindings requires matching the correct pip wheel (holoscan-cu12 or holoscan-cu13) to the host CUDA version, setting up a virtual environment, and verifying the install — a process with several failure points such as CUDA mismatches, externally-managed-environment errors, and stack-size segfaults.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • CUDA-aware wheel selection: Detects the host CUDA version via nvidia-smi and picks the matching holoscan-cu12 or holoscan-cu13 package.
  • Guided venv setup and install: Creates and activates a Python virtual environment at ~/holoscan/venv and installs the wheel via pip, avoiding Ubuntu 24.04 system-pip restrictions.
  • Verification and troubleshooting: Validates the install with a version check plus hello_world and headless video_replayer examples, and provides fixes for common errors like ImportError, stack-size warnings, and missing racerx data.
  • Use Case: A developer building a medical imaging pipeline on an RTX 4090 workstation with CUDA 12.4 asks the agent to set up the Holoscan Python SDK; the agent installs holoscan-cu12 into a venv and confirms it works by running the examples.

Quick Start

Ask your agent to install the Holoscan SDK Python bindings with pip into a virtual environment and verify the installation works.

Frequently Asked Questions about holoscan-install-wheel

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I install the Holoscan SDK Python package with pip?▼

Create and activate a Python virtual environment, then run pip install holoscan-cu12 or holoscan-cu13 depending on your host CUDA version. Verify by importing holoscan in Python and printing its version, then run the hello_world example.

Which Holoscan pip package should I use for my CUDA version?▼

Check your CUDA version with nvidia-smi. Use holoscan-cu13 for CUDA 13.x and holoscan-cu12 for any CUDA 12.x driver. The two wheels are mutually exclusive and must match the host CUDA major version.

Can I use the Holoscan pip wheel for C++ development?▼

No, the pip wheel provides Python bindings only. For C++ headers and libraries, install the Holoscan Debian package via apt instead, which is a separate installation path.

Why does pip install holoscan fail with externally-managed-environment?▼

Ubuntu 24.04 blocks system-wide pip installs, causing this error. Create a virtual environment with python3 -m venv, activate it, and then run pip install inside the venv.

Why does a Holoscan example segfault or warn about stack size?▼

Holoscan applications need a larger stack size than the default. Run ulimit -s 32768 in the shell before executing any Holoscan Python application to suppress the warning and prevent rare segmentation faults.

Why can't video_replayer find the racerx data files?▼

The racerx sample data ships only with the Debian package at /opt/nvidia/holoscan/data, not the pip wheel. Set HOLOSCAN_INPUT_PATH to a directory containing racerx/, or install the Debian package to get the data.

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