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