Developer guide

Quick start

Quick Start

Build a "raise your arms to score" game in ten minutes.

Prerequisites

  • Android Studio Hedgehog (2023.1.1) or newer
  • JDK 17
  • A TezeractOS device (Orange Pi 5 Plus with the system image flashed) or the local emulator+EmulatorMode setup if you don't have hardware

1. Create a new Android app module

File → New → New Project → Empty Compose Activity (or build a plain View-based app — the SDK is UI-framework-agnostic).

In app/build.gradle.kts:

android {
    compileSdk = 34
    defaultConfig {
        targetSdk = 31              // Android 12 — the TezeractOS image
        minSdk = 31
    }
}
 
dependencies {
    implementation("com.tezeract:sdk-motion:1.0.0")  // see Packaging for actual coordinate
}

2. Declare yourself as a Tezeract game

Add the MOTION_GAME intent filter so the launcher discovers you:

<!-- AndroidManifest.xml -->
<activity
    android:name=".MainActivity"
    android:exported="true"
    android:screenOrientation="landscape">
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="com.tezeract.intent.action.MOTION_GAME" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    </intent-filter>
 
    <meta-data android:name="com.tezeract.category" android:value="party" />
    <meta-data android:name="com.tezeract.min_players" android:value="1" />
    <meta-data android:name="com.tezeract.max_players" android:value="1" />
    <meta-data android:name="com.tezeract.description"
        android:value="Raise your arms to score points!" />
</activity>

See Game Manifest for every metadata field.

3. Subscribe to motion

class MainActivity : ComponentActivity() {
 
    private var score by mutableStateOf(0)
 
    private val inputListener = InputListener { event ->
        if (event.action == InputAction.PRESS && event.input == TezeractInput.BUTTON_Y) {
            // BUTTON_Y maps to ARMS_UP by default — both arms above the head.
            score += 10
        }
    }
 
    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
 
        TezeractMotion.initialize(this)
        TezeractMotion.addInputListener(inputListener)
 
        setContent {
            Text("Score: $score", fontSize = 48.sp)
        }
    }
 
    override fun onDestroy() {
        TezeractMotion.removeInputListener(inputListener)
        TezeractMotion.release()
        super.onDestroy()
    }
}

That's the whole game. Three lines of motion code:

  1. TezeractMotion.initialize(this) — bind to the system motion service
  2. TezeractMotion.addInputListener { ... } — register your callback
  3. TezeractMotion.release() in onDestroy

4. Run it

Build, install, launch. Stand in front of the camera, raise both arms above your head — score increments.

To exit, make a triangle above your head (arms peaked together). The SDK fires Intent.CATEGORY_HOME automatically — your game closes, the Tezeract launcher appears. You did not have to write exit code.

What's next

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