The easiest way to start building a Pebble watchface or app is with CloudPebble - no installation required. It runs entirely in your browser!
Otherwise, if you are somewhat command-line knowledgeable, you can follow the instructions below to install the SDK locally on your computer.
You will need to install Node.js and libpng. The easiest way is with Homebrew:
brew install node libpng
You will need to install a few dependencies to make the SDK run:
sudo apt install nodejs npm libsdl2-2.0-0 libglib2.0-0 libpixman-1-0 zlib1g libsndio7.0
Note: if you already have
nodeinstalled, you can install only:
sudo apt install libsdl2-2.0-0 libglib2.0-0 libpixman-1-0 zlib1g libsndio7.0
sudo dnf install nodejs SDL2 glib2 pixman zlib sndio
The Pebble SDK does not run on Windows, but you can use WSL. Install Ubuntu in WSL, and then use the instructions above to install dependencies.
Install uv, a fast package manager for Python.
Then, run:
uv tool install pebble-tool
Note: The
pebbletool requires Python 3.10 to 3.13. Python 3.14 is not supported yet.
Not every language and feature is available on every watch. See the platform support table in Hardware Information.
The sdkVersion field in package.json stays "3" for every app, including
apps built with SDK 4.x. The version of the pebble tool (5.x) is not the
version of the SDK (4.x); run pebble sdk list to see which SDKs are
installed.
Now that you have the Pebble SDK downloaded and installed on your computer, it is time to create your first app!
Install the latest SDK:
pebble sdk install latest
Create a project (for example, called myproject):
pebble new-project myproject
Compile the project (after cding to your project directory):
pebble build
Install the app on an emulator for the Pebble Time:
pebble install --emulator basalt
Or, install the app on the watch through the Pebble mobile app (install it from repebble.com/app). In the Pebble mobile app, sign in with your Pebble account, open the Devices tab, tap the three dot icon on your watch and enable the Dev Connection toggle. Then, on your computer, sign in to the same Pebble account and install:
pebble login
pebble install --cloudpebble
See Developer Connection for details and for the LAN connection, which works without signing in.
The best way to learn is by checking out our examples apps: weather, simple game, concentricity watchface, and many more! Or try tutorials for a step-by-step guide on how to write a simple C Pebble application.
pebble new-project --ai myproject also writes instruction files for Claude
Code and Cursor, and every page of this site has a Markdown version for
agents to read. See
Building with AI Agents for the files,
the documentation index at /llms.txt and the emulator commands an agent can
use to check its work.
On Linux, check the following first:
build-essential before installing the SDK:
sudo apt install build-essential.libsndio: sudo dnf install sndio.If the emulator gets into a strange state, for example it will not boot, keeps
an app you have removed, or an install times out, run pebble kill to stop it
and pebble wipe to reset its stored data, then install again.
Check the FAQ next - common install, emulator, and pebble tool errors are answered there.
If you're still stuck, ask on the Pebble Developer Forum. Please provide as many details as you can about the issues you may have encountered.
Tip: Copying and pasting commands from your Terminal output will help a great deal.