A modern, production-ready template for developing Flipper Zero applications using the Zig programming language. This project provides a streamlined build system that integrates Zig with the Flipper Zero SDK, enabling developers to write type-safe, memory-safe applications for the Flipper Zero platform.
This template bridges Zig's powerful build system and language features with the Flipper Zero firmware development kit. It handles the complex integration between Zig's ARM Cortex-M4 cross-compilation and the Flipper SDK, providing a clean starting point for custom applications.
- Native Zig Support: Write Flipper applications entirely in Zig, leveraging its compile-time safety guarantees and C interoperability
- Automated Build Pipeline: Seamless integration with
ufbt(unofficial build tool) for packaging FAP files - Cross-Platform Development: Works on macOS, Linux, and other platforms supported by Zig
- SDK Integration: Pre-configured include paths and compiler flags for the complete Flipper SDK (F7 target)
- Interactive Setup: Guided initialization script to customize app metadata
- Quick Launch: Built-in commands to build, package, and deploy to Flipper devices
The template uses a two-stage build process:
-
Zig Build Stage: Compiles Zig source to ARM Cortex-M4 object files (
app.o)- Target:
thumbarchitecture withcortex-m4CPU model - ABI:
eabihf(Embedded Application Binary Interface, Hard Float) - Optimization:
ReleaseSmallfor minimal binary size
- Target:
-
UFBT Package Stage: Links object files with SDK and packages into
.fapformat- Handled by the official Flipper build toolchain
- Produces deployable application packages
- Zig: Version 0.15.1 or later (download)
- UFBT: Unofficial Flipper Build Tool (installation guide)
- Python 3: Required for running
ufbtcommands - Flipper Zero SDK: Automatically managed by
ufbt(installed to~/.ufbt)
The template is pre-configured for ARM64 macOS with the ARM toolchain path:
~/.ufbt/toolchain/arm64-darwin/arm-none-eabi/include
If you're on a different platform, you may need to adjust the arm_libc_include path in build.zig:31 to match your toolchain location.
-
Install UFBT:
python3 -m pip install --upgrade ufbt ufbt update
-
Clone or Download This Template:
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/flipper-template.git cd flipper-template -
Initialize Your Project:
This interactive script will prompt you for:
- App ID (e.g.,
my_custom_app) - Display name (shown in Flipper menu)
- Description
- Author name
- GitHub repository URL
- App ID (e.g.,
Compile the Zig source to an object file:
This creates zig-out/bin/app.o with all the compiled application code.
Build and package the complete application:
This runs the full pipeline:
- Compiles Zig source to object file
- Invokes
ufbtto link with SDK - Generates
.fapfile indist/directory
Launch the application directly on a connected Flipper Zero:
This builds, packages, and transfers the app via USB, then starts it automatically.
flipper-template/
├── application.fam # Flipper app manifest (metadata, entry points)
├── build.zig # Zig build system configuration
├── build.zig.zon # Zig package manifest
├── icon.png # App icon (10x10px recommended)
├── setup.sh # Interactive project initialization script
├── src/
│ └── root.zig # Main application source code
└── zig-out/ # Build artifacts (generated)
└── bin/
└── app.o # Compiled object file
src/root.zig: Entry point containing thestart()function and application logicapplication.fam: Flipper-specific configuration (app ID, category, dependencies, stack size)build.zig: Defines compilation targets, SDK paths, and build commands
The template includes a "Hello World" example demonstrating core Flipper APIs:
// Import Flipper SDK functions
const flipper = @cImport({
@cInclude("furi.h");
@cInclude("gui/gui.h");
@cInclude("gui/canvas.h");
@cInclude("gui/view_port.h");
});
// Application entry point (must be named "start")
export fn start(_: ?*anyopaque) callconv(.{ .arm_aapcs = .{} }) i32 {
// Initialize GUI viewport
const gui = flipper.furi_record_open("gui");
const view_port = flipper.view_port_alloc();
// Set up callbacks and UI
// ... (see src/root.zig for complete implementation)
// Event loop
_ = flipper.furi_thread_flags_wait(1, flipper.FuriFlagWaitAny, flipper.FuriWaitForever);
return 0;
}The build system automatically configures include paths for:
- Core SDK: FURI (Flipper Universal Runtime Interface)
- HAL: Hardware abstraction layer for STM32WB55
- Standard Libraries: mbedTLS, nanopb, mlib
- Protocol Libraries: Sub-GHz, NFC, RFID, Infrared
- Peripheral APIs: GPIO, SPI, I2C, UART
All headers are available via @cImport() in your Zig code.
Flipper SDK uses ARM AAPCS calling conventions:
- AAPCS: Standard ARM procedure call (e.g.,
start()entry point) - AAPCS-VFP: With floating-point/vector support (e.g., callbacks)
Ensure exported functions match the expected calling convention:
export fn start(_: ?*anyopaque) callconv(.{ .arm_aapcs = .{} }) i32
export fn draw_callback(canvas: ?*Canvas, ctx: ?*anyopaque) callconv(.{ .arm_aapcs_vfp = .{} }) voidSome SDK headers contain constructs that Zig's C translator cannot process (e.g., unions with opaque types in input/input.h). For these cases, manually declare external functions:
extern fn view_port_input_callback_set(
view_port: ?*flipper.ViewPort,
callback: ?*const fn (?*anyopaque, ?*anyopaque) callconv(.{ .arm_aapcs_vfp = .{} }) void,
context: ?*anyopaque
) callconv(.{ .arm_aapcs = .{} }) void;Issue: unable to find header 'furi.h'
- Cause: UFBT SDK not installed or
~/.ufbtpath incorrect - Fix: Run
ufbt updateto install SDK headers
Issue: undefined reference to 'view_port_alloc'
- Cause: Object file not properly linked with SDK
- Fix: Use
zig build fapinstead ofzig buildto complete linking
Issue: No Flipper device found
- Cause: Device not connected or in DFU mode
- Fix: Connect via USB and ensure device is unlocked at main menu
Issue: App crashes on launch
- Cause: Stack overflow or incorrect calling convention
- Fix: Increase
stack_sizeinapplication.famor verify function signatures
Modify addFlipperDefines() in build.zig to adjust preprocessor macros:
obj.root_module.addCMacro("FAP_VERSION", "\\\"1.0\\\"");
obj.root_module.addCMacro("CUSTOM_DEFINE", "value");Change optimization level in build.zig:11:
const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{
.preferred_optimize_mode = .ReleaseFast, // or .ReleaseSmall, .Debug
});The template targets Flipper Zero's STM32WB55 (ARM Cortex-M4F). To port to other ARM devices, adjust build.zig:4-9:
const target = b.resolveTargetQuery(.{
.cpu_arch = .thumb,
.cpu_model = .{ .explicit = &std.Target.arm.cpu.cortex_m4 },
.os_tag = .freestanding,
.abi = .eabihf,
});Contributions are welcome! This template aims to simplify Zig development for Flipper Zero. If you encounter SDK compatibility issues or have suggestions for improving the build process, please open an issue or pull request.
- Support for Windows toolchain paths
- Automated SDK version detection
- Integration with Flipper application catalog
- Additional SDK wrapper abstractions
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
- Flipper Devices team for the UFBT toolchain
- Zig community for ARM cross-compilation support
- Contributors to the Flipper Zero SDK
Note: This is an unofficial template and is not affiliated with Flipper Devices Inc. Always test applications thoroughly before deploying to production devices.