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Garmin Express - Linux support please

Hi, very simple - please add a linux client for Garmin Express. I've been using Adreas Diesner's plugin to replicate Garmin Connect (with my Forerunner 305) for more than four years and it's painless - now you're removing my ability to sync to your site. Many users will similarly be quietly going about, using the Linux plugin - no need to post in the forum... until now.

Please either retain the Connect interface someplace (just commit to retaining a link to a 'legacy upload' page) - don't break your site for us using Garmin Connect with Linux please.

Thx.

0 The_Hunnymonster over 10 years ago

You mean like the "import" function on the activities page? (it's to the right of the page)

NPAPI plugins (like Communicator plugin and Andreas Diesner's equivalent) are deprecated (or being deprecated) in all modern browsers (see http://www.sitepoint.com/google-mozilla-begin-browser-plugin-prohibition/ as an example)

0 HIROWAT over 10 years ago

Seconded. The primary reason I have a Windows computer is to attempt to use Express.

0 RVDowning over 10 years ago

i also use Linux at home, but I use Uploader to upload to my Android phone and then transmit to Garmin from there. It it totally painless. I haven't even uploaded from my Windows machine at work in forever.

This will also allow me to upload my data from my phone while I'm waiting to board the aircraft after the Chicago Marathon this Sunday. :p

0 mcbadger over 10 years ago

You mean like the "import" function on the activities page? (it's to the right of the page)

Does that work for an FR 305, though, which doesn't mount as a USB drive?

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Same here. Garmin Express is the only reason i keep a Windows box. Tbh it's about time the good folks at Garmin put some support behind Linux, more and more people are migrating over, it's just better.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Agree, Linux is the third major OS

Better adapt, Windows may not be around long...Besides, the OSX version should be similar.

Same here. Garmin Express is the only reason i keep a Windows box. Tbh it's about time the good folks at Garmin put some support behind Linux, more and more people are migrating over, it's just better.

0 Dugiflopper over 10 years ago

Does that work for an FR 305, though, which doesn't mount as a USB drive?

If you look at the "supported devices" on the right side of the page the link takes you to, then it says it does.

0 Dugiflopper over 10 years ago

I've used linux as well as Windows and OSx pretty much ever since they've been released. But come on, get real.... linux at 2% of market share is not a major OS.

I like linux. It does many things well. But as they continue to make linux 'user friendly' I find it is getting more and more of the issues Windows has.

0 schinder over 10 years ago

I'll quibble with that. It depends on the market. Linux (Android) is dominant in mobile phones, and I believe data centers (I believe Google and amazon are both built on Linux). Not on the desktop, though. I'm using OS X 10.9 at the moment, although I routinely use Linux machines via ssh and the command line.

But when people here ask for "Linux" support, what do they mean? "Linux" comes in many different distributions, with different sets of libraries/window managers/etc. Which do they want Garmin to support? Ubuntu? Debian? Slackware? The only way for Garmin to support "Linux" is to open source Express, which would be great for everyone (even those not running Linux), but it's unlikely to happen.

0 RussH over 10 years ago

I'll quibble with that. It depends on the market. Linux (Android) is dominant in mobile phones, and I believe data centers (I believe Google and amazon are both built on Linux). Not on the desktop, though. I'm using OS X 10.9 at the moment, although I routinely use Linux machines via ssh and the command line.

But when people here ask for "Linux" support, what do they mean? "Linux" comes in many different distributions, with different sets of libraries/window managers/etc. Which do they want Garmin to support? Ubuntu? Debian? Slackware? The only way for Garmin to support "Linux" is to open source Express, which would be great for everyone (even those not running Linux), but it's unlikely to happen.

Hi Schinder,

generally it's very easy to port from one Linux Distro to another. If there was (for example) Ubuntu support announced, then we can take that and apply it to any Linux Distribution without too much effort. The fragmentation between distro's is overrated.

- Garmin supporting 'Linux' doesn't mean open-sourcing Express. There's nothing stopping Garmin supporting a commercial closed-source software package on Linux. It's just another platform.

Anyway, this wasn't a 'please support Linux because it's new and funky and great' - it's simply that I'm a long-time user of Garmin Connect, probably close on five years - and it's being taken away. So - please don't REMOVE functionality and lose users.

For any other Linux users reading the thread - there's already some effort to get Garmin Express working under wine, but it's not looking too good so far.