Frequently Asked Questions

No. PicoPixel runs entirely in your browser — there is no desktop app, no plugin, and no SDK to install. Open the editor URL, sign in with GitHub or Google, and start designing.

PicoPixel works best in the latest versions of Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. Safari is supported but may have minor rendering differences with certain LVGL widgets.

The editor's codebase is private, but it generates code for LVGL which is open source under the MIT license.

PicoPixel generates standard LVGL C code that runs on any platform with an LVGL port — including ESP32 (all variants including ESP32-P4), STM32, Arduino, Raspberry Pi Pico, NXP, Renesas, and Linux-based systems. We have tested on boards from LILYGO, M5Stack, Waveshare, Guition, Elecrow, and Adafruit.

PicoPixel is browser-based (no installation), supports real-time team collaboration, and includes a live LVGL simulator powered by WebAssembly. SquareLine Studio is a desktop application that requires a paid license for commercial use. PicoPixel is free for commercial projects with no restrictions. For a detailed side-by-side breakdown, see our LVGL editor comparison.

We provide a detailed side-by-side comparison of PicoPixel, SquareLine Studio, and EEZ Studio covering features, pricing, collaboration, code export, and more. See the full LVGL editor comparison.

The workflow is: design your interface visually on the canvas, wire up interactions with the visual events editor, preview in the live LVGL simulator, export production-ready C code, and integrate into your firmware project. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see How PicoPixel Works.

Not yet — the editor currently supports creating projects from scratch. Importing existing LVGL source files is on our roadmap and is one of the most-requested features.

PicoPixel compiles LVGL to WebAssembly and runs it directly in your browser. What you see in the preview is the actual LVGL rendering engine — not a mock-up — so the output matches your target hardware pixel-for-pixel.

Yes. You can upload custom font files and image assets directly in the editor. The Typography workspace mode lets you create and manage an array of fonts, and the Assets Library stores reusable widgets, images, fonts, and colors. See all editor features.

Yes. PicoPixel compiles LVGL to WebAssembly and runs it directly in your browser. The simulator renders your design using the actual LVGL engine, so what you see matches your target hardware. Interaction overlays show what can be tapped and scrolled. You can also generate shareable simulator links for clients or teammates.

Yes. PicoPixel supports real-time collaborative editing — one of five workspace modes. Multiple team members can work on the same project simultaneously, leave feedback with annotations, and see each other's changes live.

PicoPixel exports a zip file containing clean, production-ready LVGL C code (.c and .h files). The output includes widget setup, styling, layout, event bindings, and asset references — all using standard LVGL API calls with no proprietary dependencies.

Yes. The Events Editor lets you wire up LVGL event handlers visually — drag actions onto widgets for screen navigation, style changes, value updates, and more — without writing C code. PicoPixel generates the LVGL event callbacks automatically on export. See all features.

Yes. PicoPixel includes built-in version control with checkpoints, granular session history (Session Actions), and the ability to revert to any previous state. No external VCS is needed for your UI design work.

PicoPixel's editor has five workspace modes: Collaborative (real-time team editing), Version Control (checkpoints and history), Assets (reusable widget and asset library), Simulator (live LVGL preview with interaction overlays), and Typography (font management). Each mode focuses the editor on a specific workflow.

PicoPixel is a web-based application that requires an internet connection. It does include auto-save, so your work is protected even if your connection drops. If fully offline workflow is a hard requirement, see our editor comparison for desktop alternatives.

PicoPixel supports the core LVGL widget set including buttons, labels, sliders, switches, dropdowns, rollers, arcs, bars, charts, images, checkboxes, text areas, tabviews, containers, and more. The widget set is growing — new widgets are being added actively.

Yes. The exported code uses standard LVGL API calls with no proprietary dependencies, so it integrates with any build system that supports LVGL — including ESP-IDF, Arduino IDE, and PlatformIO. See the ESP32 integration guide for step-by-step instructions.

You can set any display resolution in PicoPixel to match your target hardware — from small 240x240 round displays (GC9A01) to 320x240 SPI TFTs, 800x480 panels, and larger. The live simulator renders at your chosen resolution.

Yes. There will always be a generous free tier with core editing and export functionality. Generated code is commercially free with no restrictions, regardless of plan.

As the platform scales, optional paid plans will be introduced — primarily for enterprise features like expanded real-time collaboration and storage. We'll announce details on our Discord and social channels well in advance. Our goal is to keep PicoPixel accessible for hobbyists and competitive for professional teams.

Yes. The exported code uses standard LVGL API calls with no proprietary dependencies or license restrictions. You are free to use PicoPixel's generated code in commercial products at no cost.