by Sonam Mishra
Nov 01, 2021
Blog
Getting Started with Tizen Studio: Free Tools to Install & Update Apps on Samsung Smart TV
If you plan to develop or build apps on Samsung Tizen Smart TVs, you will need to know how to install Samsung’s development IDE: Tizen Studio. And believe me, it is not a piece of cake to get it working!
I work as a Frontend Software Engineer at Norigin Media, where we develop Smart TV apps across devices like Samsung, LG, Philips, and many more. After several years working with Samsung Tizen and launching multiple OTT and streaming apps, we’ve created our own tools to help navigate this complex setup process.
This Tizen Studio installation guide explains how to install, update, and configure Samsung’s development tools for Smart TV app development. We’ll walk you through every step needed to install, update, and maintain the IDE. Please check out our GitHub to get access to the scripts and for other open-source tools and modules from Norigin Media.
Let’s begin this Tizen Studio installation guide with a step-by-step walkthrough of the setup process, including installation, updates, and troubleshooting for Samsung Smart TV development.
What is Tizen Studio?
Before installing or configuring Tizen Studio, it’s useful to understand why you need it. According to Samsung, Tizen Studio is “a comprehensive set of tools for developing Tizen native and Web applications,” and that’s exactly what it provides.
Tizen Studio includes:
- An IDE (similar to Eclipse) for native development
- A Tizen emulator
- Tools and extensions for connecting to Samsung Smart TVs
- The ability to run, debug, and package your apps
- Tools for generating Tizen widgets
In other words, it’s a one-stop shop for building and deploying Samsung Tizen applications.
For further reference, you can explore the official Samsung Smart TV Quick-Start Guide.
Why You Need This Tizen Studio Installation Guide
Setting up Tizen Studio correctly is essential for building and deploying Samsung Smart TV applications. This installation guide helps developers avoid common configuration problems, choose between GUI and CLI setup, and use automation scripts that make Tizen development faster and more reliable.Challenges when installing or updating the IDE?
After using the IDE for several years, one thing is clear: developers often struggle to complete the setup on their first attempt. It’s easy to miss a required component during installation, and the issues often surface later when the IDE behaves inconsistently or fails to recognize devices.
To make things more confusing, there’s rarely an obvious way to determine whether problems come from:
- A missing package
- A device-specific hiccup
- A network/connection issue
More on this shortly!
When do you need the IDE?
As with all other development environments, you’ll need the Tizen Studio setup before you begin developing your Smart TV app. Samsung releases new versions of the IDE from time to time, and you must update your installation whenever a new release becomes available. Alongside this, Samsung also launches new TV models every year with updated SDKs. Using the latest tools ensures compatibility with all devices on the market and unlocks access to new features.Let’s install Tizen Studio!
When installing Tizen Studio you have two options: you can either use the GUI or the CLI version of the installer.
In my experience, the problem with the GUI installer is that it’s quite a time-consuming process. You would easily end up missing a couple of steps or selecting the wrong options that ends up with a lot of troubleshooting. Sometimes you won’t even find the options that you are looking for, even though you’ve followed all the steps.
Believe me, you don’t want to experience that but if you are still interested in the GUI installer we have made an extensive Guide for Tizen development that includes this and more.
On the other hand, CLI is quite fast and helps you with automating the installation process for your team.
Further to making your life easier, I have made scripts for both macOS and Windows. The script will set up a Tizen studio IDE ready for native development.
Tizen Studio Installation Guide: What the Script Can Do
1. Install the Latest Version of Tizen Studio
Selecting this option will install the newest version of Tizen Studio on your machine. The script will:- Download the correct installer for your operating system
- Run the installer and prompt you for installation paths
- Automatically install additional packages required for native development, including:
- Samsung Certificate Extension
- TV Extension Tools
- TV Extensions- (for all relevant versions)
2. Update an Existing Installation
If you already have Tizen Studio installed but you’re not on the latest version, choose this option to upgrade. Older versions may not be compatible with the latest Samsung TV models, so staying updated is important.3. Create a Widget for Your Tizen App
If you only need to generate a widget file (.wgt), this option allows you to do so in seconds after installing Tizen Studio. Download the script here. You’ll find two scripts, one for macOS and one for Windows. Use the one that your OS needs. All the details on the usage of the script can be found in the README file. Also, do you want help with connecting Tizen studio to your TV? Follow this Tizen guide. It’s a complete guide on how to set up an IDE, connect Tizen studio to the TV, install or debug apps and make a widget for an app. Once you are done with the setup, you’ll have all the necessary tools for building Tizen applications according to the established rules.Conclusion: Setting Up Tizen Studio the Right Way
Following this Tizen Studio installation guide ensures your development environment is correctly configured and ready for Samsung Smart TV app development. Whether you’re installing the IDE for the first time, updating to the latest version, or generating widgets, using the CLI scripts can dramatically simplify the process. With the right setup in place, you’ll be fully equipped to build, debug, and deploy high-quality Tizen applications. Good luck and happy coding!CONTACT US
Let’s Build Your Next Smart TV App Together. From Samsung Tizen to LG webOS and Android TV, our team builds and maintains premium Multiscreen Apps for leading broadcasters and streaming services. If you need expert developers, certification support, or a complete Smart TV product team, you’re in the right place.
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