google timeline visualizer docker github: Setup Guide

The google timeline visualizer docker github keyword combines three practical questions: where to find the project, whether Docker is supported, and how to run the visualizer safely. The project is a Timeline file processor that turns exported location history into an animated travel video. It is not a conventional game or entertainment wiki subject, so this guide focuses on repository setup, file handling, rendering, and privacy.

The primary project reference is the Google Timeline Visualizer GitHub repository. Its documented workflows cover an iPhone web app, an Android release, and a desktop Python generator. The desktop path requires Python 3.9 or newer, FFmpeg, and the packages listed in requirements.txt.

Docker is most useful here when you want repeatable Python dependencies, isolated build tools, or a controlled development environment. It does not automatically add a supported interface to the visualizer. If the repository does not include a maintained Dockerfile, you should not describe Docker as an official installation method.

Start by cloning the repository and checking its top-level files:

A cautious command sequence can look like this:

git clone https://github.com/mahlernim/google-timeline-visualizer.git
cd google-timeline-visualizer
find . -maxdepth 2 \( -iname 'Dockerfile' -o -iname 'compose.yaml' -o -iname 'docker-compose.yml' \)

Only use docker build when the inspected revision actually contains a compatible Dockerfile. If no container definition is present, follow the documented Python setup instead of inventing a project-specific image.

The visualizer needs an exported Timeline file rather than direct access to your Google account. This separation is important: the application cannot restore encrypted Google Maps backups or retrieve Timeline history through Google Sign-In. Restore missing history in Google Maps first, then export a new file.

On iPhone, the documented export path is:

1. Open Google Maps and select profile picture → Settings → Personal content → Export Timeline data.
2. Save Timeline.json in the Files app.
3. Open the iPhone web app in Safari.
4. Select the file, choose a date range, set distance units, and preview the route.

On Android, the export is located in phone settings rather than directly inside Google Maps:

1. Open Phone Settings.
2. Select Location → Location services → Timeline.
3. Choose Export Timeline data, select Continue, and save the JSON file.
4. Open the file in the Android application or transfer it to a compatible desktop workflow.

Before rendering, make a working copy of the file. Keep the original export unchanged so you can retry with different dates or filtering options. A file name such as Timeline-trip-2026.json makes date selection easier, but the application’s remembered document reference does not copy the Timeline data into another location.

The workflow is designed around selecting a journey period, previewing the animation, and creating an MP4. You can choose a month range or use exact dates for a short trip. A preview helps identify an incorrect range, an unexpected route, or a camera movement setting that does not suit the journey.

The visualizer supports several useful route behaviors:

• Conservative GPS outlier filtering is enabled by default.
• Isolated, implausible out-and-back coordinates can be ignored without changing the original JSON.
• Long or sparse routes can be interpolated along a great-circle path.
• Local travel can keep the marker within a stable central area before the camera follows it.
• Older travel fades behind the moving marker to keep long Timelines readable.
• The final sequence zooms out to show the complete route before ending.

On Android 10 and later, completed videos are saved under Movies/Timeline Visualizer. Android 8 and 9 use the system Save As picker. The application can show progress, estimate remaining time after enough measurements, and remove an incomplete output if rendering is canceled.

The application’s privacy model is local-file based. The Timeline JSON is not uploaded, and Google Sign-In is not required to access the phone’s history. The basemap is the network-dependent part of the workflow: map areas shown in the preview or output can generate tile requests to the provider.

The project documentation identifies CARTO as the basemap service and OpenStreetMap as the underlying map data source. Basemap attribution is displayed in previews and exported videos. This means local Timeline privacy and map-tile privacy should be considered separately.

If the Android app shows an installation warning, verify that the APK came from the project repository’s latest release assets. The documented installation path distinguishes the APK from its .sha256 checksum file. Android may require temporary permission for the browser or file manager to install unknown apps; that permission can be disabled after installation.

The safest approach is to treat GitHub as the source for project-specific files and releases, while treating Docker as an optional environment layer. Verify support at the revision you intend to use, then test with a limited Timeline range.

For a reliable 2026 workflow, avoid copying commands from unrelated containerized projects. Clone the repository, inspect its current documentation, validate dependencies, and use a short local test before processing a full year of travel. This approach keeps the setup reproducible without claiming Docker support that the project revision may not provide.