Datavyu
Datavyu is a free, open-source package for visualizing and coding behavioral observations from video and other data streams.
What Datavyu is
Datavyu is a free, open-source package for visualizing and coding behavioral observations from video and other data streams. It links a coding spreadsheet with video, audio, physiology, motion tracking, and eye tracking for time-locked coding and visualization. Users can move through streams with keyboard shortcuts or scripts, then add comments, codes, and interpretations. For further analysis, they can write higher-order analyses in Ruby or export data for statistical analysis. A Ruby-based API can automate common tasks and improve data accuracy, and Datavyu file formats are described as compatible with the Databrary data library. Behavioral scientists, especially researchers studying development, use Datavyu and its predecessor OpenSHAPA. The software and technical support are free. It is listed for Linux, macOS, Windows, and API use, though release information sets limits on newer macOS versions: Datavyu 1.5.4 runs only on macOS 26 Tahoe and is not yet compatible with macOS 27. The 1.5.3 release notes also report an updated Log4j dependency that institutions may require for security purposes.
Good
- Free software and technical support
- Links five types of data streams
- Supports Ruby analysis and automation
- Exports data for statistical analysis
- Formats are compatible with Databrary
Watch out
- Version 1.5.4 runs only on macOS 26 Tahoe
- Not yet compatible with macOS 27
Who it suits
Datavyu suits behavioral scientists who need to code observations across linked video, audio, or other data streams. It is also relevant to researchers studying development who want Ruby scripting or data export for analysis.
Verdict
Datavyu brings time-linked coding, stream navigation, scripting, and export into one research workflow. Check the stated macOS release limit before choosing it for a Mac system.
Plans and prices
From Datavyu's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Datavyu | Free | Free software and technical support · Windows and Mac |
| Free academic software | Free | Windows and Mac builds · video playback depends on codecs/plugins · support capacity limited |
The facts
Each one read from Datavyu's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Analysis
- Users can script higher-order analyses in Ruby or export data for statistical analysis.checked 7 Oct 2026
- API
- Datavyu provides a Ruby-based API to automate common tasks and improve data accuracy.checked 7 Oct 2026
- API documentation
- The API documentation includes tutorials, examples and detailed references for every documented class and method.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Audience
- Datavyu and its predecessor OpenSHAPA are used by behavioral scientists, especially researchers studying development.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Coder reliability
- Additional columns can be used to extend prior work and compare reliability between coders.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Coding
- Users can navigate data streams with keyboard shortcuts and scripts, and add comments, codes, and interpretations.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Controller
- The Controller provides playback, frame-jogging, cell creation, onset and offset controls through a keyboard or external keypad.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Databrary compatibility
- Datavyu file formats are immediately compatible with the Databrary research-data library.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Data export
- Datavyu exports coded data in forms suitable for statistical analysis but is not itself a statistical-analysis application.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Data-loss guidance
- Users are advised to copy spreadsheets to local desktop storage before coding to reduce data-loss risk.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Data streams
- It supports video, audio, physiology, motion tracking, and eye tracking, linked with a coding spreadsheet for time-locked coding and visualization.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Development requirements
- The source repository says development uses Java with JRuby, and requires JDK 8u162 or later, Maven 3.0.5 and Git.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation and support
- The project provides a user guide, tutorials, API reference, walkthrough videos, examples, a support forum and email support.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Funding
- Databrary reports support from NIH, NSF, DARPA, the Sloan and McDonnell foundations, the LEGO Foundation, NYU and Penn State.checked 15 Oct 2026
- 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- Datavyu source code is released under the GNU GPL version 3 licence.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Local operation
- The application runs entirely on the user's computer and only needs internet access to check for updates.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Multiple data streams
- It links video, audio, physiology, motion-tracking and eye-tracking streams through a time-locked coding spreadsheet.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Observation recording
- Users create timestamped observations, comments and codes while navigating data with keyboard shortcuts or scripts.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Java desktop application
- Datavyu is Java-based and runs on Windows and Mac operating systems.checked 15 Oct 2026
- MacSHAPA limitation
- MacSHAPA files require a conversion script and MacSHAPA queries do not work with Datavyu's newer format.checked 15 Oct 2026
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