Datavyu

Spec sheet

What it does

Datavyu is a video-coding and data-visualization tool for collecting behavioral data from video.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Purpose

Datavyu is a software package for visualizing and coding behavioral observations from video data sources.Read 7 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Audience

Datavyu and its predecessor OpenSHAPA are used by behavioral scientists, especially researchers studying development.Read 7 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Platforms

The maker says the Java-based application runs on Windows and Mac operating systems and requires no specialized hardware.Read 7 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

API

Datavyu provides a Ruby-based API to automate common tasks and improve data accuracy.Read 7 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Security

The Datavyu 1.5.3 release notes say its Log4j dependency was updated and that the upgrade may be required for security purposes by institutions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com

Support

Technical support requests go to technical staff and developers, while research and coding workflow requests are directed to Datavyu super users.Read 7 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Analysis

Users can script higher-order analyses in Ruby or export data for statistical analysis.Read 7 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

API documentation

The API documentation includes tutorials, examples and detailed references for every documented class and method.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Coder reliability

Additional columns can be used to extend prior work and compare reliability between coders.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Coding

Users can navigate data streams with keyboard shortcuts and scripts, and add comments, codes, and interpretations.Read 7 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Company facts

LinkedIn lists the Databrary Project as based at NYU and Penn State, founded in 2012, with 11–50 employees and public-company status.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com

Controller

The Controller provides playback, frame-jogging, cell creation, onset and offset controls through a keyboard or external keypad.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Data export

Datavyu exports coded data in forms suitable for statistical analysis but is not itself a statistical-analysis application.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Data streams

It supports video, audio, physiology, motion tracking, and eye tracking, linked with a coding spreadsheet for time-locked coding and visualization.Read 7 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Data-loss guidance

Users are advised to copy spreadsheets to local desktop storage before coding to reduce data-loss risk.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Databrary compatibility

Datavyu file formats are immediately compatible with the Databrary research-data library.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Development requirements

The source repository says development uses Java with JRuby, and requires JDK 8u162 or later, Maven 3.0.5 and Git.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Documentation and support

The project provides a user guide, tutorials, API reference, walkthrough videos, examples, a support forum and email support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Funding

Databrary reports support from NIH, NSF, DARPA, the Sloan and McDonnell foundations, the LEGO Foundation, NYU and Penn State.Read 15 Oct 2026 · databrary.org

Hardware requirements

The installation guide lists minimum requirements of 1GB RAM, a 1.2GHz processor and 300MB disk space, with a keypad recommended for control.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Java desktop application

Datavyu is Java-based and runs on Windows and Mac operating systems.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Known reopening bug

A GitHub issue reports Windows 1.3.7 files reopening blank with a disabled controller for multiple users, including files on a server.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Latest release limitation

The GitHub releases page lists version 1.5.4 as MacOS Tahoe 26-only and says it is not compatible with MacOS 27.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Licence

Datavyu source code is released under the GNU GPL version 3 licence.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Local operation

The application runs entirely on the user's computer and only needs internet access to check for updates.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

MacSHAPA limitation

MacSHAPA files require a conversion script and MacSHAPA queries do not work with Datavyu's newer format.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Multiple data streams

It links video, audio, physiology, motion-tracking and eye-tracking streams through a time-locked coding spreadsheet.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Observation recording

Users create timestamped observations, comments and codes while navigating data with keyboard shortcuts or scripts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Open source

The maker describes Datavyu as open-source software and says its software and technical support are free.Read 7 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

OpenSHAPA compatibility

OpenSHAPA files can be opened directly, while OpenSHAPA scripts can be adapted by loading Datavyu's API.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Platform limit

The release page says Datavyu 1.5.4 runs only on macOS 26 Tahoe and that Datavyu is not yet compatible with macOS 27.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com

Project announcement

A July 2, 2013 Newswise release described Databrary as an NYU-housed, NSF- and NIH-sponsored effort led by Karen Adolph, Rick Gilmore and David Millman that enhanced Datavyu.Read 15 Oct 2026 · newswise.com

Project ownership

Databrary describes Datavyu as a free open-source tool supported by its project based at New York University.Read 15 Oct 2026 · databrary.org

Research origin

A peer-reviewed account says Databrary began private beta testing in spring 2014 and opened publicly in October 2014, alongside development of Datavyu.Read 15 Oct 2026 · pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Research use

NYU's Infant Action Lab says it developed Datavyu to annotate video and time-lock user-defined codes to video locations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · nyuactionlab.com

Ruby API

Its Ruby scripting API can manipulate spreadsheets, export data and check files for errors.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Script uses

Scripts can import, add or move data, add columns and codes, and export files for tools such as SPSS.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Sharing

Datavyu file formats are described as immediately compatible with the Databrary data library.Read 7 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Spreadsheet coding

User-defined columns contain coded cells, with onset and offset times linked automatically to the current data-source time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Support limitation

The download page says the team cannot troubleshoot or fix every playback problem because video formats, codecs and environments vary widely.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Video formats

Datavyu supports formats playable by QuickTime or VLC, including MP4, ASF, WMV, AVI, FLV, MOV, OGG and MPG.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

VLC timing limitation

The documentation warns that the VLC plugin has timing problems that can produce inconsistent coding.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Windows QuickTime issue

The project warns that Apple no longer supports QuickTime for Windows and that removing it can prevent Windows video coding.Read 15 Oct 2026 · datavyu.org

Plans and prices

Every Datavyu plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• Video Annotation Software#4 of 348.8