snap-spectacles-build

# Snap Spectacles — Build (entry point) Spectacles is Snap's standalone AR dev-kit hardware running **Snap OS**. You build lenses in **Lens Studio** using its TypeScript-flavoured scripting model, then deploy via USB or the Lens Studio Mobile App. This skill is the on-ramp; sibling skills handle interaction, multiplayer, AI, navigation, mobile, and design. ## First, ask the user Before recommending anything, get these answers: 1. **Do you have Spectacles (5th gen) hardware for testing, or are you building blind?** - Hardware available → include device-deploy steps; flag preview-vs-device differences as they come up. - Blind → lead with [[references/preview-panel]] and the No-Simulation + Device Type Override workflow. Many things can be built without hardware; some — particularly hand-tracking nuance and real perf — cannot. 2. **What's the lens centred on?** This sets which sibling skills load next: - Hand-pinch / poke / gaze interactions → [[../snap-spectacles-sik/SKILL]] - Multiplayer / Connected Lenses → [[../snap-spectacles-sync/SKILL]] - AI features (SnapML, voice, LLM, vision) → [[../snap-spectacles-ai/SKILL]] - Outdoor / indoor navigation → [[../snap-spectacles-navigation/SKILL]] - Phone companion / BLE → [[../snap-spectacles-mobile-kit/SKILL]] - Design polish + publishing → [[../snap-spectacles-design/SKILL]] 3. **Distribution intent?** Personal device, share with collaborators, or public via My Lenses? See [[references/my-lenses-portal]]. ## When to load Triggers: - "Build a Spectacles lens" - "Lens Studio TypeScript" - "How do I deploy to Spectacles" - "Snap OS lens setup" - "My first lens tutorial" Don't load for: - Choosing between providers (Meta vs Snap) — see [[../../meta/meta-wearables/SKILL]] for Meta-side; no top-level wearables router yet (use README's capability matrix). - Deep interaction wiring — see [[../snap-spectacles-sik/SKILL]]. - Multiplayer / Sync Kit specifics — see [[../snap-spectacles-sync/SKILL]]. ## Decide first The architecture decisions before code: 1. **Lens Studio version.** The current track is 5.x; some features require specific minimums (Sync Kit needs Lens Studio 5.4+ and Snap OS 5.59+). See [[references/lens-studio-5]] and [[references/snap-os]]. 2. **Target hardware.** Spectacles (5th gen) today; consumer **Specs** ship in 2026 — see [[references/spectacles-vs-specs]] for what that does and doesn't change. 3. **Scripting language.** TypeScript is the recommended path; JavaScript also works. The runtime compiles before lens load. See [[references/typescript-programming-model]]. 4. **Scene structure.** Prefabs and SceneObjects organise your scene; the script-component pattern is how behaviour attaches. 5. **Permissions surface.** What does your lens read? Camera, mic, location, internet, BLE? Each is a permission the user must approve — see [[references/permissions-flow]]. ## Map of content ### Setup - [[references/lens-studio-5]] — installing Lens Studio 5, version requirements, project creation. - [[references/snap-os]] — Snap OS on Spectacles, version dependencies. - [[references/spectacles-vs-specs]] — current dev-kit Spectacles vs upcoming consumer Specs (2026). ### Programming model - [[references/typescript-programming-model]] — script components, TS vs JS, the compile-before-load contract. - [[references/scene-objects]] — SceneObject + Component pattern, the scene graph. - [[references/prefabs]] — Prefabs as composition units; networked instantiation hook-in. - [[references/lifecycle-hooks]] — `onAwake`, `onStart`, `onUpdate`, `bindOnEvent`. ### Assets and dependencies - [[references/asset-library]] — Asset Library, package install flow, where Spectacles-targeted packages live. ### Preview and device - [[references/preview-panel]] — Lens Studio Preview Panel, stereo modes, No-Simulation + Device Type Override. - [[references/deploy-to-device]] — USB deploy, Lens Studio Mobile App, install on Spectacles. ### Distribution - [[references/my-lenses-portal]] — My Lenses portal, share links, personal vs shared lenses. - [[references/permissions-flow]] — what permissions your lens needs and how Snap surfaces them to the user. - [[references/release-channels]] — Experimental APIs vs public APIs, what gets gated. ## Verify Before claiming a Spectacles lens is shippable: - [ ] Lens Studio version is 5.x (5.4+ if using Sync Kit). - [ ] Spectacles firmware (Snap OS) is recent — verify against the Lens Studio compatibility warning at deploy time. - [ ] Project compiles cleanly — TypeScript compile must complete before lens load. - [ ] Lens runs in the Preview Panel with Spectacles simulation enabled. - [ ] Lens deploys to device (USB or Mobile App) and runs. - [ ] Permissions are declared up front and the lens degrades gracefully when denied. - [ ] If using experimental APIs, you've explicitly opted in (see [[references/release-channels]]) and the lens is marked as such. ## Smoke test If this skill loaded correctly, the agent should answer: 1. What Lens Studio version is required for Sync Kit and which Snap OS does it need? (Expected: Lens Studio 5.4+ and Snap OS 5.59+; cites [[references/lens-studio-5]] and [[references/snap-os]] and [[../snap-spectacles-sync/SKILL]].) 2. Can I preview a Spectacles lens without hardware? (Expected: yes — Lens Studio Preview Panel with Spectacles simulation; cites [[references/preview-panel]].) 3. What happens if my TypeScript fails to compile when I instantiate a prefab? (Expected: components attach with broken script references; the Sync Kit getting-started doc explicitly warns against this — cites [[references/typescript-programming-model]] and [[references/prefabs]].) ## Sibling skills - [[../snap-spectacles-sik/SKILL]] — interactions. - [[../snap-spectacles-sync/SKILL]] — multiplayer. - [[../snap-spectacles-ai/SKILL]] — SnapML, RSG, ASR, Snap Cloud. - [[../snap-spectacles-navigation/SKILL]] — Custom Locations, Places API. - [[../snap-spectacles-mobile-kit/SKILL]] — BLE + phone companion. - [[../snap-spectacles-design/SKILL]] — performance + comfort + publishing. ## Sources - Spectacles developer hub — <https://developers.snap.com/spectacles/home> - Introduction — <https://developers.snap.com/spectacles/get-started/introduction> - Lens Studio download — <https://ar.snap.com/download> or <https://ar.snap.com/spectacles> - Sample projects — <https://github.com/specs-devs/samples>