This software is a core library that enables external programs to access digital cameras.
One of the biggest benefits of using libgphoto2 is its modularity. If you want to use a new physical layer (such as IEEE1394), all you need to do is add a new port to the library. Similarly, if you want to support a new type of camera, you can simply add a new camlib with the necessary callbacks. All of these changes will be completely transparent to the client programs that call libgphoto2.
If you're interested in learning more about how libgphoto2 works, be sure to check out the appropriate chapter in the gPhoto2 manual. However, it's important to note that libgphoto2 is not a GUI application like gphoto. While there are GUI frontends available (such as gtkam), libgphoto2 itself is a non-GUI library.
Before using libgphoto2, it's important to keep in mind that the library can only communicate with cameras that speak a language it understands. If you own a camera with an unknown or unpublished language, then libgphoto2 won't be able to communicate with it.
Finally, if you have a camera that supports the USB Mass Storage protocol, you may not need to use libgphoto2 at all. This protocol has been published and allows you to access any storage device (including cameras) connected via USB. As a result, there are already drivers available for this protocol that can be used without the need for an additional library like libgphoto2.
Version 2.4.4: N/A