Difference between revisions of "PineTime Custom Watchface Tutorial"

From PINE64
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m
Line 29: Line 29:
For now we will, modify the the existing watchface, change the positioning of the text labels, add an icon to an existing watchface, and later on we will do a full watchface.
For now we will, modify the the existing watchface, change the positioning of the text labels, add an icon to an existing watchface, and later on we will do a full watchface.
==Labels==
==Labels==
===What are labels?===
===Modifying label data===
===Label positioning===
===Label positioning===
==Choosing the image to be included==
==Choosing the image to be included==

Revision as of 09:17, 10 August 2020

PineTime Custom Watchface Tutorial

This is a tutorial to help new users create custom watchfaces based on the InfiniTime Firmware for Pinetime made by user JF002, thanks to him for its development...

We will explain some of the things we went through while creating some custom Watchfaces, so consider this as a log of experiments of sorts..

So stay tuned to it as it will be dynamically updated...

What you need to start

The entire building process will be done by GitHub, so all you need is a device which can give you a Github Web Client, a PC or tablet to give you enough screen space to review your code and a steady internet connection.

Since the compiling and file management is done by Github online, you have nothing else to worry about other than working with the files that display the watch face.

So with those things settled, let's start with the basics of a watchface.

Please remember that this is a wiki, so you can make an account and help us improve this page.

Please make sure not to unilaterally remove info though, but offer an alternative. If it is indeed a better way, in time your alternative will grow into the main text, and the latter info will be pruned.

Overview

The Firmware (also called InfiniTime) we will be working with is made with a programming language named C++:[1]

Basic knowledge of C/C++ is required to to understand the advanced watch faces as that requires more complex code, but you can still do a some cool things without much knowledge of C++ programming, just some small edits to existing programs.

InfiniTime uses the LVGL:[2] graphics library to provide users with a simple and clean UI without overpowering the Nordic nRF52832:[3] microcontroller which is the brain of the watch.

To get the watchface to work there are these basic steps. We will go over each step separately, so don't be daunted, all will become clear soon.

For now we will, modify the the existing watchface, change the positioning of the text labels, add an icon to an existing watchface, and later on we will do a full watchface.

Labels

What are labels?

Modifying label data

Label positioning

Choosing the image to be included

Image size considerations

Preparing the image for inclusion

RGB565 image format

Flipping the bits

RAM vs ROM

Using git to work on the firmware

Cloning the repository

Changing the code to add the image

Compiling the firmware

Testing the firmware

Installing the new firmware

Activating the firmware

How to troubleshoot

Conclusions

Next steps

More in-depth documentation

Thanks for the help