Holoscan Install Source
NVIDIAOfficialCreated by Holoscan TeamDistributed by NVIDIA
- Skill
- Workflow
- Software development
- Apache-2.0
- Medium risk
AutoGineer summary
Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author
This skill provides a structured procedure for compiling and validating the Holoscan SDK 5.x from specific source references. It is designed for developers working with Early Access features, custom components, or debug builds. The workflow covers environment verification, source repository management, build configuration using the SDK's internal run wrapper, and post-build verification through targeted testing.
What it does
- Verifies system prerequisites including CUDA, Docker, and build tools.
- Manages source code checkouts for specific tags, commits, or branches.
- Executes build processes using the repository's native run wrapper.
- Supports custom build configurations, including debug modes and architecture targeting.
- Validates the build through automated C++ and Python test execution.
- Provides guidance on integrating the built SDK into consumer projects.
When to use it
- When you need to build unpublished Early Access features of the Holoscan SDK.
- When developing custom components or modifications for the SDK.
- When a debug build is required for troubleshooting.
- When working with specific SDK versions or branches not available in pre-built packages.
Advantages
- Ensures build consistency by utilizing the repository's integrated run wrapper.
- Provides clear steps for verifying system dependencies before starting the build.
- Supports flexible build configurations for different architectures and requirements.
- Includes verification steps to confirm successful compilation and functionality.
Usage examples
- “Build the Holoscan SDK 5.x from the main branch.”
- The agent will clone the repository, verify system dependencies, and execute the build command using the default configuration.
- “Perform a debug build of the Holoscan SDK for ARM64.”
- The agent will configure the build process with the debug flag and target the ARM64 architecture, followed by the compilation step.
Install
Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/nvidia/holoscan-install-source/downloadUnzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:
mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip holoscan-install-source.zip -d .agents/skills
Documentation by Holoscan Team
Build Holoscan 5.x from Source
Choose the source and prerequisites
Use source for unpublished Early Access features, SDK changes, custom components, or debug builds. This workflow uses the checkout's build container with Ubuntu 24.04 and CUDA 13, targeting x86_64 or arm64 dGPU. Check Linux, disk capacity, GPU/driver, Git, Docker, buildx, and NVIDIA Container Toolkit availability. Explain the container download and build cost before starting.
Select the explicit 5.x source ref from the release notes or the user's requested development branch. Inspect an existing checkout before reusing it; keep its branch and local changes intact. Resolve the requested ref to its full commit, using the intended remote's ref for a remote branch and fetching that ref if necessary. From the existing repository root, compare its HEAD with the resolved ref before building:
git status --short
git rev-parse HEAD
git rev-parse --verify "${SDK_REF}^{commit}"SDK_REF must identify the selected tag, commit, or remote-qualified branch.
If the ref cannot be resolved or the commits differ, stop and report the
mismatch. Preserve the existing branch and working tree; offer a separate
checkout at the requested ref. Report any local changes even when HEAD matches,
and preserve them when the user requested building their modified checkout.
For a new public checkout:
# SDK_REF is a confirmed published 5.x tag or development branch.
git ls-remote --heads --tags https://github.com/nvidia-holoscan/holoscan-sdk.git
mkdir -p ~/holoscan
git clone --branch "$SDK_REF" https://github.com/nvidia-holoscan/holoscan-sdk.git ~/holoscan/holoscan-sdk-5x
cd ~/holoscan/holoscan-sdk-5x
cat VERSION
./run --help
./run build --helpVerify VERSION is 5.x. Read this checkout's AGENTS.md, DEVELOP.md, and
docs/sdk_installation.mdx; these govern an unreleased branch. In an internal
checkout the exported source root is the directory containing VERSION and
run; run the commands from that directory. Never assume the repository's
default branch or a 4.x example is the requested 5.x source.
Build
./run check_system_deps
./run build --dryrun
./run buildThe wrapper builds, configures, compiles, and installs. It enables Python, examples, operator testing, and optional modules by default. Useful choices:
| Option | Meaning |
|---|---|
--type debug / --type rel-debug | Debug / release with debug information |
--arch arm64 | ARM64 target; consult the checkout's cross-compilation prerequisites |
--buildpath build-custom | Explicit build directory |
--installprefix install-custom | Explicit install prefix |
--build-python false | C++-only build |
--config "-DHOLOSCAN_BUILD_VISION=OFF" | Disable an optional component when supported by the checkout |
Use the same target selection for build, directory queries, and launch. The
standard trees are build-<arch> and install-<arch>; use ./run get_build_dir
and ./run get_install_dir rather than the 4.x build-cu<N>-<arch> naming.
Custom paths must be passed explicitly. Start with --reconfigure for stale
configuration; inspect what a cleanup command removes before using it.
Verify
For the default build directory:
./run test --name 'EXAMPLE_CPP_HELLO_WORLD_TEST|EXAMPLE_CPP_HELLO_CORE_TEST|EXAMPLE_PYTHON_FIRST_PIPELINE_TEST'Confirm the selected tests were found and executed, rather than treating zero tests as success. A C++-only build omits the Python case. For a custom directory:
./run launch build-custom --run-cmd "ctest -N"
./run launch build-custom --run-cmd "ctest -R 'EXAMPLE_CPP_HELLO_WORLD_TEST|EXAMPLE_CPP_HELLO_CORE_TEST|EXAMPLE_PYTHON_FIRST_PIPELINE_TEST' --output-on-failure"These cover greeting, bounded C++ Core execution, and the 5.x Python pipeline. Run additional module/GPU tests appropriate to the selected components; state what remains untested. Cross-compilation does not qualify execution on the target architecture.
Use the absolute install prefix as CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH for consumer projects
using find_package(holoscan) and holoscan::core. Report the source commit,
build options, build/install directories, and test results. For GPU passthrough
or buildx failures, report the failing command and diagnostic output, then
resolve the prerequisite identified by the checkout's checks. If the cause
remains unknown, stop before building and request the missing host information
instead of retrying indefinitely or changing unrelated system settings.
Files
- ATTRIBUTION.mdAdded by AutoGineer934 B
- BENCHMARK.md8.2 KiB
- LICENSELicence file added by AutoGineer11.2 KiB
- SKILL.md4.8 KiB
- evals/evals.json7.0 KiB
- skill-card.md4.7 KiB
- skill.oms.sig4.5 KiB
LICENSE
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Requirements and compatibility
Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta
“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.
Needs: Needs a command-line tool, Needs Python
Security
What our scanner noticed· Medium risk
- Large base64-encoded blobs
A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.
Attribution and licence
- Created by
- Holoscan Team
- Publisher
- NVIDIA (Official)
- Distributed by
- NVIDIA
- Source
- NVIDIA/skills · skills/holoscan-install-source · commit fce3cca
- Licence
- Apache License 2.0 (redistribution allowed)
- LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE-APACHE)
- ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
- Synced
AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by Holoscan Team or NVIDIA.
Download ZIP
The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download holoscan-install-source.zip