Today, we announced the new Fire TV Stick 4K Select, our most affordable 4K streaming stick and first to run Vega OS. Vega is a new operating system built specifically for our devices. It’s highly responsive with an efficient footprint, enabling fast app launches and smooth navigation. Our new Echo devices also run on Vega.

We adopted Linux components as our foundation. We built Vega to be scalable across a variety of devices, from small footprint devices, like a Fire TV Stick, to our most advanced devices with on-device AI processing, like our Echo Show.

To support this launch, we're excited to introduce Vega Developer Tools. The toolkit is designed to help app developers establish foundational app architecture - the key to creating scalable and maintainable Vega apps, across devices. We also included multiple technology paths for you to build, including React Native for Vega and web technologies (Vega WebView).

Here’s what you need to know:

1. How do I get started?
   You can start with our comprehensive Get started guides and Hello World tutorial. Get started by installing the Vega Developer Tools, exploring our Virtual Studio Code extension, and discovering powerful CLI tools.
   
   
2. How do I bring my Fire OS app to a Vega-powered device?
   If you’ve been building for Fire OS, our extensive toolkit and guides make it easy to build for Vega. We chose the React Native and web application frameworks so you can reuse your existing code when building Vega apps.
   
   
3. I am a React Native developer. How do I get started?
   React Native developers will build with React Native for Vega. You can set up a monorepo with a new target for Vega Developer Tools, use our @amazon-devices namespace for key libraries/frameworks (including version numbers, like our initial release candidate React Native 0.72), reuse your business logic/select UI component, implement TV UI controls/functionality/focus management.
   
   Our Vega Developer Tools also maximize development resources by enabling significant code reuse of existing skills, business logic, and tooling as you expand to TV.
   
   
4. I am a web app developer. How do I get started?
   Web developers will be able to build with Vega WebView. Start by installing the Vega WebView library and linking your existing web app. Then, enable the correct properties, such as javaScriptEnabled and domStorageEnabled. We’ve added special properties to allow Vega Developer Tools Media Controls to run automatically.
   
   
5. I am a native developer. How do I get started?
   We optimized React Native and web app development in the Vega Developer Tools to deliver native-quality performance on Vega, including support for native code (C++) via React Native turbo modules. If you have additional questions on native support, please contact us here.
   
   
6. Beyond the above guides, where else can I find help while I build my app?
   Beyond comprehensive documentation within the tech docs and API references, you’ll find an active Developer Community where you can connect with experts and peers. This is a forum to ask questions, share knowledge, and discuss solutions with our technical experts. You can also follow us on YouTube for video tutorials, walkthroughs and on-demand content.
   
   
7. What version of React Native are your Vega Developer Tools using?
   We’re using React Native 0.72. We also integrated and pre-loaded common app components, including React Native and web app libraries, directly into the OS instead of bundling them with individual apps. This means smaller app sizes and more consistent performance across applications, offering your customers a premium app experience.
   
   
8. Is Vega going to replace Fire OS?
   We’ve always been a multi-OS company. We have launched and will continue to launch new devices on Fire OS.
   
   
9. Are Fire OS apps going away?
   No. We continue to launch new features and devices on Fire OS and support existing experiences.
   
   
10. What if I haven’t built an app for TV before?
    If you're new to TV apps, we recommend following our best practices for Fire TV app development. These include Memoization, wrapping your app in StrictMode, and improving startup times with Suspense and Lazy loading of components.
    
    
11. What devices can I use Vega Developer tools to build for?
    We're starting with the Fire TV Stick 4K Select.
    
    
12. Can I build apps for Echo devices?
    No. You can visit the Alexa developer portal to learn how to build for Alexa. 
    
    
13. What is Open Beta?
    It is a public beta open to all developers that will let us capture feedback to improve these tools before we launch a full version in the coming months.