Pebble goes fully open source with shipping date set
Core Devices has confirmed that the Pebble software stack is now fully open source and says the first Pebble Time 2 units will begin shipping in January 2025. This is the clearest sign yet that the platform is shifting from a company-led product to a community-backed project that can survive independently.
The announcement follows weeks of tension between Core Devices and parts of the Pebble community. By moving from 95 to 100 percent open source, the company has essentially removed itself as a bottleneck. Users can now build, run, and maintain every piece of software needed to operate a Pebble watch. That includes firmware for the watch and mobile apps for Android and iOS. This puts the entire software stack into public hands.
A mobile app for everyone
One sticking point in past open source efforts was the lack of a fully open mobile app. That’s now been resolved. Core Devices has published the source code for its Pebble mobile app on GitHub. The new version is built using Kotlin Multiplatform, which allows a single codebase to generate native apps for both platforms.
This matters more than it sounds. The Pebble watch is useless without a working companion app. Until now, iPhone users especially had no clear fallback. Even Eric Migicovsky, who originally launched Pebble, admitted he underestimated how important that last five percent of closed code was. The new approach removes that dependency. Anyone can compile the app, fix bugs, or fork it to suit specific needs.
Decentralised app distribution
The new Pebble app also introduces a different model for app discovery. The system now supports multiple Appstore feeds instead of relying on a central one. It’s a move inspired by Linux package managers. You can choose which feed you want to use or even host your own. There is no longer a single gatekeeper.
To get things started, Core Devices has launched their own feed and added a Developer Dashboard. One thoughtful addition is automatic archiving. Every app or watchface uploaded to the feed is backed up to Archive.org. This solves the problem that hit the community when Fitbit shut down the old Pebble servers. Even if the new feed disappears, the apps will live on. Developers can still monetise their creations, but the infrastructure is now far less fragile.
Repairability built in
Core Devices has also made physical repairs easier. The Pebble Time 2 features a screw-back design, which makes the battery replaceable. That’s a deliberate shift from glue-sealed cases that turn most wearables into disposable tech.
To go further, they’ve published full electrical and mechanical design files for the Pebble 2 Duo. These include KiCad project files and schematics. Anyone with the right skills can build compatible parts, repair old units, or even create new designs based on the existing hardware. This makes the watch a base for future experimentation, not just a fixed commercial product.
Deliveries expected in early 2025
Core Devices says Pebble Time 2 shipments will start in January, with most people getting their units by March or April. Delays are always possible with hardware, but this timeline lines up with where production seems to be.
A couple of parts are still closed source, like the heart rate sensor driver and the voice recognition API, but those aren’t required to get the watch up and running. The full OS can be built without them, and everything essential is now open and available.
This whole move also comes right after the public fallout with Rebble. That feud brought a lot of long-simmering tensions to the surface around control, transparency, and the future of the platform. By pushing out the full code, schematics, and a decentralised Appstore, Core Devices is making a clear effort to respond to those concerns.
They’ve taken plenty of flak over the last few months. But if the hardware shows up on schedule and works well, it might finally shift the conversation away from the drama and back to what people actually care about – wearing their Pebble again.
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