Help with PixInsight and StarNet++ Install on Mac M2

2 replies88 views
deleted avatar
Hello Folks,

I'm not quite at ends-wit yet, but close... I'm trying to install StarNet2 into PixInsight, I'm using a trial version of PixInsight, which should be the same as a regular purchased copy for the 45 day trial... The program seems to have installed fine, and I was following a beginners tutorial on PixInsight that has me using the StarNet star removal routine.... 

Specifics:
Computer: Mac mini M2
PixInsight Version: 1.8.9-3
StarNet++ download from: starnetastro.com
StarNet Version: StarNet2_MacOS_2.1.0_tf_x64_install.zip (Fresh install)
API Version: 180

1) I unzipped the the download and followed the instructions as follows per the Readme file:
2) Check API version
2) Copied the StarNet2_weights.pb, StarNet2-pxm.dll and tensorflow.dll to the Applications/PixInsight/bin folder
3) Fired up PixInsight, Went to Process/Modulles/Install module
4) The Search directory is pointing to the Applications/PixInsight/bin folder
5) I click on Search, PixInsight comes back with 0 additional modules found

I review the install Notes for Mac OS install on the website, I do:
1) I copy the  libtensorflow.2.dylib and libtensorflow_framework.2.dylib into /Applications/PixInsight/PixInsight.app/Contents/Frameworks/
2) I fire up PI and try the Moduele install again, and PI still finds no new modules

I close the program and read the README.txt Troubleshooting portion:
Note 1 - Search PI doesn't find StarNet, checked that StarNet2-pxm.dll is in the bin folder, I have the latest version of PI, and all of the files were copied into the correct folder
Note 2 - Note seeing any error, So I'll assume this doesn't apply to me... yet??
Note 3 - And again I'll assume this note doesn't apply to me

So what am I missing, I'm assuming I'm following the latest install procedure. When I Browse the bin folder in the Install Modules Pop-up, I can see the files I copied into the folder, but they are all Grayed out, When I look at the Managed Modules Pop-up window StarNet even isn't listed..... Thoughts??? Suggestions???

Thanks
Helpful Engaging
deleted avatar
Update:

I did a clean install of PI, and a new down load of the StarNet files....
copied the libtensorflow_framework, and ibtensorflow.2.dylib to the /Contents/Frameworks/ folder,
and the StarNet2-pxm.dylib and StarNet2_weights.pb files to the /bin folder...

Now at least the Modules Install sees the StarNet2-pxm.dylib application. I click on the app to select it, and click install.. Now the PI terminal window throws up the following error:

Installing 1 module(s):
/Applications/PixInsight/bin/StarNet2-pxm.dylib
<* failed *>
*** PixInsight API Error: Module: /Applications/PixInsight/bin/StarNet2-pxm.dylib: Module initialization error: Exit code: 1
** Warning: No modules were installed.

Again Thoughts?? I'll keep searching Google and hopefully I can find an answer in the mean time
deleted avatar
Update….. I got it installed

And just incase for posterity's sake… here what I did, which isn't much different from what I found on the web…. after I sorted thru it all…..

For computer Mac M1/M2
OS ver: Sonoma 14.6.1
PixInsight ver: 1.8.9-3
API ver: 180
StarNet Download: Fresh install: StarNet2_linux_2.1.1-0126_TF_x64_install.zip
1) Unzip the download
2) Copy or Move the following files: libtensorflow_framework.2.dylib and libtensorflow.2.dylib to the Applications/PixInsight/Resources/Framework folder
Note: Google on how to get to the Resource folder
3) Copy or Move the StarNet2_weights.pb and StarNet2-pxm.dylib files to Applications/PixInsight/bin folder
4) Fire up PI
5) Goto Process / Modules / Install Modules
6) Click on Search, at this point the StarNet should show up in the search window if it doesn't show up, something isn't correct… Google is your friend
7) DO NOT click on the StarNet app In the search window, Just click on the Install Button, the Process Console window should come back with something like One application installed if not note the error and..  Google is your friend

My head hurts
Helpful
Related discussions
BlurX, StarX, NoiseX and ROCM 7.x
UPDATED: I uninstalled ROCm 7.0.1 and re-installed ROCm 6.4.3. Everything working again. Using ROCm 6x libraries bundled with other software caused other errors with ROCm 7x installed, so ... I went back to 6.4.3. The ROCm Github site indicates that ...
ROCm version compatibility issues may affect StarNet++ installation on Mac systems.
Sep 22, 2025