Write your first app

Everything on your child’s home screen is an app, and an app is just two text files: one says what it is, the other tells the buddy how to help. In this tutorial you’ll write a quick-fire Times Tables app, try it, and turn it on for your child.

You’ll need a household that’s already set up. If you haven’t done that yet, follow Set up OpenBuddies for your family first.

Make the folder

Apps you add live in the apps folder inside your household folder. The folder’s name is the app’s id.

1. Make a folder for the app:

   mkdir -p ~/openbuddies/apps/times-tables

2. You’ll end up with this:

   • Directoryopenbuddies/

     • Directoryapps/

       • Directorytimes-tables/

         • app.yaml what it is and what it uses
         • SKILL.md how the buddy helps

Say what the app is

Create ~/openbuddies/apps/times-tables/app.yaml:

name: Times Tables
description: Quick-fire times tables.
art: chart
icon: brain
version: 1.0.0
author: Your name
kind: tutor
needs: [reminders]

That gives the app a name and a line under it on the home screen, picks a drawing for its card, and makes it a chat with the buddy (kind: tutor). needs: [reminders] lets your child ask for a reminder to practise.

Tell the buddy how to help

Create ~/openbuddies/apps/times-tables/SKILL.md:

# Times Tables

## Role
You help the child practise their times tables. Ask which table they want to practise, or offer to mix them up.

## How to practise
- One question at a time, like "What's 7 × 8?".
- If they're right, cheer briefly and ask the next one.
- If not, give a tip (7 × 8 is 7 × 4, doubled) and let them try again before showing the answer.
- After ten questions, tell them their score and offer to practise the tricky ones.

## Keep it short
One or two short sentences each time. Make it feel like a game.

You don’t need to repeat OpenBuddies’ safety rules here: they always sit above your instructions.

Turn it on and try it

1. OpenBuddies spots the new folder straight away. Turn the app on for your child:

   openbuddies apps on <child> times-tables

   Or open your parent page, go to Apps, and switch it on for them there.

2. On your child’s phone, the Times Tables card is now on the home screen. Open it and say “let’s do the 7s”.

3. Back on your parent page, open Sessions to read how it went.

Well done: you’ve written an app. To give it to other families, see Share an app, and for every field and option, see the app format reference.