FoodSense

FoodSense is a Java desktop application that scans barcodes to display nutrition data, ingredients, and Nutri-Score ratings via the Open Food Facts API.

Features

• Live webcam scanning for real-time barcode detection
• Manual barcode entry for quick lookups
• Auto-generated nutrition facts grid
• Nutri-Score and product image display
• Full ingredient breakdown

Tech Stack

• Java 25 / Swing: Core application and GUI
• JavaCV (OpenCV): Webcam capture and computer vision
• ZXing: Barcode decoding
• Gson: JSON parsing

Deployment & Execution

You can run FoodSense directly without building from source. Download the .jar file for your operating system from the Releases page.

Requires Java 25+ installed on your system.

java -jar FoodSense-macOS-ARM64.jar
# or FoodSense-Windows-X64.jar / FoodSense-Linux-X64.jar

Note for macOS users: The latest releases are built for Apple Silicon (ARM64). When launching via terminal, ensure your terminal application (Terminal.app, iTerm) has Camera permissions granted in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera for live barcode scanning to function.

Building from Source

If you want to build the project yourself, clone the repository and use Maven.

git clone https://github.com/SamuelIVX/FoodSense.git
cd FoodSense
mvn clean package

The Maven build uses the maven-shade-plugin and javacpp.platform.host to pull native dependencies for your specific operating system.

Running locally

Interactive GUI:

mvn compile exec:java -Dexec.mainClass="com.foodsense.FoodSense"

Headless CLI search:

mvn compile exec:java -Dexec.mainClass="com.foodsense.FoodSense" -Dexec.args="-b 0049000006346"

Override the default API host (world.openfoodfacts.org):

mvn compile exec:java -Dexec.mainClass="com.foodsense.FoodSense" -Dfoodsense.host="staging.openfoodfacts.org" -Dexec.args="-b 0049000006346"

Project Structure

src/main/java/com/foodsense/
├── FoodSense.java          # Main entry point (CLI springboard + GUI launcher)
├── ProductApiClient.java   # API client and host resolver
├── FoodSenseGUI.java       # Swing desktop renderer
├── VideoProcessor.java     # Webcam capture and barcode detection
├── Product.java            # Product data model
├── Nutriments.java         # Nutrition data model
└── ApiResponse.java        # API response wrapper

Troubleshooting

Camera Issues: Ensure no other applications are using the camera and check system permissions. Verify JavaCV native libraries match your OS.

Barcode Not Detected: Check lighting, ensure the barcode is in focus, and make sure it is fully visible in the frame.

Product Not Found: The product may not exist in the Open Food Facts database.

Build Errors: Confirm JDK 25 is installed (java -version). Run mvn clean and rebuild.