Install ComfyUI on Mac OS (M1, M2 or M3)

AIAnimation
12 Oct 202309:49

TLDRThis tutorial video guides viewers through the process of installing ComfyUI on Mac OS devices powered by M1, M2, or M3 chips. The host shares essential steps, including setting up a base folder, using Terminal, installing Homebrew, upgrading Python to version 3.11, and setting up dependencies like pip and PyTorch. The video also covers cloning the ComfyUI GitHub repository and running the platform locally. Aimed at users interested in AI-driven image and animation creation with Stable Diffusion.

Takeaways

  • 😀 The video provides a guide to installing ComfyUI on Mac OS devices with M1, M2, or M3 chips.
  • 🛠️ The process involves setting up a base folder for AI activities, which will also be used for future models and stable diffusion activities.
  • 💻 Terminal is used for interacting with the computer's core to run scripts and navigate folders, which is essential for AI tools like stable diffusion.
  • 📂 The script explains basic terminal commands like 'PWD', 'LS', and 'CD' for navigating and managing files and directories.
  • 🍺 Homebrew is required for installing various scripts and packages on Mac OS, and the video includes steps to install it.
  • 🐍 Python 3.11 is recommended for compatibility with ComfyUI, and the video demonstrates how to install it using Homebrew.
  • 📦 PIP is also needed and might come with Python 3.11; the video shows how to install or upgrade it.
  • 🔄 PyTorch, specifically the nightly version, is necessary for utilizing the metal graphics support in Mac's M1 and M2 chips.
  • 🌐 The video guides viewers on how to clone the GitHub repository for ComfyUI into their AI folder.
  • 📝 The script file 'requirements.txt' within the ComfyUI directory lists dependencies needed for the platform to function.
  • 🔧 To run ComfyUI, the video demonstrates using Python 3.11 to execute the 'main.py' file, which launches the interface in a browser.

Q & A

  • What is the purpose of creating an 'Ai' folder in the home directory?

    -The 'Ai' folder is created to serve as the base directory for setting up ComfyUI, Stable Diffusion, and any future models or AI-related activities.

  • Why is Terminal important for running AI tools like Stable Diffusion?

    -Terminal allows users to interact with the core of their computer, run scripts, navigate folders, and make changes, which is essential for installing and running AI tools such as Stable Diffusion.

  • What does the 'PWD' command do in Terminal?

    -The 'PWD' command in Terminal displays the current working directory, showing the user's current location within the file system.

  • How can you list the contents of a folder using Terminal?

    -You can list the contents of a folder by typing 'LS' in Terminal, which will display all the files and subfolders within the current directory.

  • What is Homebrew and why is it necessary for installing ComfyUI on a Mac?

    -Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that simplifies the installation of software. It's necessary for installing ComfyUI because it allows the user to install other required scripts and packages like Python and pip.

  • Why is Python 3.11 specifically mentioned for ComfyUI installation?

    -Python 3.11 is the latest version that is compatible with ComfyUI at the time of the video, ensuring optimal performance and functionality.

  • What is pip and why is it needed for ComfyUI?

    -pip is a package installer for Python, used to install and manage additional Python packages. It's needed for ComfyUI to install necessary dependencies listed in the 'requirements.txt' file.

  • Why is the nightly version of PyTorch recommended for ComfyUI?

    -The nightly version of PyTorch is recommended because it includes the latest features and improvements, including support for the Metal graphics in M1 and M2 Macs, which is beneficial for AI tasks like those performed in ComfyUI.

  • How do you clone the GitHub repository for ComfyUI?

    -To clone the GitHub repository for ComfyUI, you use the 'git clone' command followed by the repository's URL in Terminal, which downloads the repository files to your local machine.

  • What is the final step to start ComfyUI after setting up the environment?

    -The final step to start ComfyUI is to navigate to the 'comfyUI' directory in Terminal and run the command 'Python 3 main.py' or 'Python 3.11 main.py' to launch the application, which then provides a URL to access ComfyUI in a web browser.

  • What should you do if you encounter issues during the installation process?

    -If issues arise during installation, the video suggests using chatGPT to paste error codes or code snippets for guidance, or directly asking for help with the specific installation process of Homebrew, Python, pip, and ComfyUI on an M1 or M2 Mac.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Setting Up Comfy UI on M1/M2 Macs

The speaker introduces a tutorial video on installing Comfy UI on M1 or M2 Macs, highlighting the challenges and steps involved. They begin by creating an 'AI' folder in the home directory to house the setup for Comfy UI and Stable Diffusion. The tutorial emphasizes the use of Terminal for navigating directories and files, explaining basic commands like 'PWD', 'LS', and 'CD'. The necessity of having Homebrew installed is discussed, with a step-by-step guide on how to install it, including troubleshooting steps if Homebrew is not in the system path. The video also covers the installation of Python 3.11 and pip, with commands provided for the viewers to follow along.

05:01

🔧 Installing Python, Pip, and PyTorch for Comfy UI

Continuing the setup process, the speaker instructs on installing Python 3.11 using Homebrew and verifying its installation. They also guide viewers on installing pip, which might be included with Python 3.11, and upgrading it if necessary. The tutorial then moves on to installing PyTorch, specifically the nightly version, to leverage the metal graphics support in M1/M2 Macs. The speaker provides a method to get the installation code from the PyTorch website. The process of cloning the Comfy UI GitHub repository into the AI folder is detailed, including how to navigate to the Comfy UI directory and install dependencies listed in the 'requirements.txt' file using pip. The video concludes with the steps to run Comfy UI using the 'main.py' file, providing a URL to access the UI in a browser. The speaker also suggests using chatGPT for troubleshooting any installation issues and encourages viewers to explore AI animation workflows and engage with the community.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡ComfyUI

ComfyUI is a user interface platform designed for creating custom workflows, particularly for utilizing AI tools like stable diffusion. In the context of the video, ComfyUI is the main subject, with the creator guiding viewers through the process of installing it on Mac OS systems with M1, M2, or M3 chips. The video aims to help users harness the power of ComfyUI for tasks like generating images and animations using AI.

💡M1/M2/M3 chips

The M1, M2, and M3 chips refer to Apple's series of system on chips (SoCs) used in their Mac computers. These chips are known for their high performance and efficiency. The video specifically addresses the installation of ComfyUI on Macs equipped with these chips, indicating that the process might differ from traditional Intel-based Macs due to the unique architecture of Apple Silicon.

💡Homebrew

Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that simplifies the installation of software. In the video, the presenter uses Homebrew to install necessary dependencies for ComfyUI, such as Python and pip. Homebrew is depicted as an essential tool for managing software on a Mac, particularly for developers and users looking to run applications that require specific versions of software or libraries.

💡Python

Python is a widely used high-level programming language known for its readability and versatility. In the video, Python is required to run ComfyUI, and the presenter guides viewers to install Python 3.11, which is the version compatible with the latest features of ComfyUI. Python is central to the setup process, as many AI tools and libraries are developed in this language.

💡pip

pip is a package installer for Python that allows users to install and manage additional libraries and tools. In the video, pip is used to install Python packages required by ComfyUI, such as PyTorch. The presenter ensures that pip is up to date, highlighting its importance in managing Python dependencies for the proper functioning of AI applications like ComfyUI.

💡PyTorch

PyTorch is an open-source machine learning library based on the Torch library, used for applications such as computer vision and natural language processing. In the video, the presenter installs a nightly version of PyTorch to leverage the metal graphics support available in M1, M2, and M3 Macs. PyTorch is crucial for the AI functionalities provided by ComfyUI, particularly for tasks involving image and animation processing.

💡Stable Diffusion

Stable Diffusion is a type of AI model that can generate images from textual descriptions. It is mentioned in the video as one of the tools that can be integrated with ComfyUI to create custom workflows. The video suggests that users can utilize Stable Diffusion within ComfyUI to bring images and animations to life, indicating its role in the creative process facilitated by AI.

💡Terminal

Terminal is a command-line interface on macOS that allows users to interact with the operating system and run scripts or commands. The video uses Terminal to navigate folders, install software with Homebrew, and run ComfyUI. Terminal is presented as a fundamental tool for setting up and managing AI applications on a Mac, showcasing its utility for developers and power users.

💡GitHub

GitHub is a web-based platform for version control and collaboration, where developers can host and review code, manage projects, and build software. In the video, GitHub is used to clone the repository for ComfyUI, which contains the necessary files to run the platform. Cloning the repository is a standard practice for obtaining the latest version of open-source software like ComfyUI.

💡main.py

main.py is the primary Python script for running ComfyUI, as mentioned in the video. After setting up all the dependencies and cloning the repository, the presenter instructs viewers to run ComfyUI by executing 'python3 main.py' in the Terminal. This script is the entry point for launching the user interface in a web browser, allowing users to interact with ComfyUI and start creating AI-driven content.

Highlights

Process to install ComfyUI on M1 or M2 Macs explained

Creating a new folder 'Ai' in the home directory for setup

Using Terminal for AI tool installations and script running

Basic Terminal commands: PWD, LS, and CD for navigation

Installing Homebrew, a package manager for macOS

Adding Homebrew to the system path for command accessibility

Upgrading Python to version 3.11 for compatibility with ComfyUI

Installing pip, a package installer for Python

Installing PyTorch nightly version for metal graphics support

Cloning the GitHub repository for ComfyUI into the AI folder

Installing dependencies from the requirements.txt file

Running ComfyUI using the main.py file

Accessing ComfyUI through a URL in the browser

Restarting ComfyUI by navigating to the directory and running the main.py

Troubleshooting installation issues with chat GPT

Invitation to subscribe for more AI and animation workflow videos

Mention of AI animation platform for portfolio building and client work