Java

Quote: "The GDSC ImageJ plugins are a collection of analysis programs for microscopy images including colocalisation analysis and peak finding (FindFoci)."

Many types of analysis besides simply finding foci detection (spot detection) is bundled in this plugin. One prominent function is "FindFoci Optimizer". This allows feeding images with spot annotation by the user (multi-point selection tool) and scans through various parameter combinations to find the best parameter set that gives the results similar to the annotation. This is almost like machine learning... but with well-established parameter types that allows you to fully understand what is going on.

JFilament is an ImageJ plugin for segmentation and tracking of 2D and 3D filaments in fluorescenece microscopy images. The main algorithm used in Jfilament is "Stretching Open Active Contours" (SOAC). In order to use this method, the user must define seed points in the image where the SOAC method will begin.

JFilament also includes 2D "closed" active contours which can be used for tasks such as segmentation and tracking of cell boundaries.

The invention comprises a software tool, NeuronMetrics, which functions as a set of modules that run in the open-source program ImageJ. NeuronMetrics features a novel method for estimating neural “branch number” (a measure of the axonal complexity) from two-dimensional images. In addition, the tool features a novel method for modeling neural structure in large “gaps” that result from image artifacts.

Computes image Hessian
Based on the algorithm described in the paper below. 

Splines: A Perfect Fit for Signal and Image Processing
M. Unser
IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, vol. 16, no. 6, pp. 22-38, November 1999.
 DOI: 10.1109/79.799930
 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/799930/

Computes image Laplacian

Based on the algorithm described in the paper below. 

Splines: A Perfect Fit for Signal and Image Processing
M. Unser
IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, vol. 16, no. 6, pp. 22-38, November 1999.
 DOI: 10.1109/79.799930
 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/799930/