Google favors code-free watchface designing with Wear OS Watch Face Format

Google is encouraging developers to move to the Watch Face Format (WFF) to create watch faces for Wear OS devices. WFF is a declarative XML format that offers several benefits over existing Jetpack watch face libraries, such as less maintenance, better performance, and improved battery life.

The WFF was introduced with Wear OS 4, which was developed in collaboration with Samsung. The Wear OS platform handles the logic needed to render the watch face, allowing developers to focus on their creative ideas rather than the code optimizations or battery performance.

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Moreover, the WFF allows the watch faces to be rendered on the co-processor (MCU), which Google says helps future-proof certain watch faces to take advantage of emerging optimizations in future devices.

Google has advised developers that continued access to most complication types will require the WFF on upcoming releases of Wear OS. This means that watch faces built with the older Jetpack Watch Face Library or Wearable Support Library will only support showing more basic complication types.

Not all developers are happy with the Watch Face format for watch face widgets on Wear OS. They also point out that the WFF is still relatively new and may have bugs or limitations.

VIA