Is it true that Garmin Connect's API is poor quality

GC actually links to MFP and works quite well. I've used it for years.

GC also links to other popular sites.

When it comes to MS HealthVault, there could be a reason Garmin chose not to do it, or it could be the MSHV side of the connection doesn't want to take Garmin data. It's a two way street, and both side need to want it!

(To be honest, in my years here, this is the first time I've ever seen a post about exchanging GC info with MSHV, maybe they really have been no reason to do it!)

The name Garmin carries a lot of weight and it was probably one of the main reasons why I opted for this brand; they are (were) leaders in GPS and I assumed that the fitness solution would reflect this.

I was disappointed when I discovered that it does not link up to services such as Microsoft HealthVault and MyFitnessPal.

Some may claim that they managed to update a product by using a software middleware but why should this be the case when other products (Fitbit and Microsoft) can link directly with an app?

A search on the internet seems to point to a poorly designed Adobe Connect solution. If this is the case are there plans to fix this and what are the dates.

Thanks,
Alan

From what I've read Garmin provides access to their APIs (for a fee) and after paying for access a developer can write their own connection. I can't speak to the quality of the APIs. I use an open source project - https://tapiriik.com/ - that hooks into GC just fine and syncs with a host of other fitness analysis services, interestingly it doesn't seem to connect to MS HealthVault or MyFitnessPal.

I'd be interested in seeing your source on the adobe connect information, I haven't heard that before.

GC actually links to MFP and works quite well. I've used it for years.

GC also links to other popular sites.

When it comes to MS HealthVault, there could be a reason Garmin chose not to do it, or it could be the MSHV side of the connection doesn't want to take Garmin data. It's a two way street, and both side need to want it!

(To be honest, in my years here, this is the first time I've ever seen a post about exchanging GC info with MSHV, maybe they really have been no reason to do it!)

Thank you for youre email.

Can you please tell me how to link to MFP. I have been using this daily for 3 years (username: chribonn66 - if you want to link up) and it is a central tool for me.

How can I transfer Weight data from MFP to Garmin please? I record my weight daily and it would be great if I could sync between these two apps.

I keep all my health information on MS Healthvault (move to MS after Google packed up their solution about 3 years ago). All I can say is that at https://account.healthvault.co.uk/mt/en-US/Directory you see a large number of devices that link to it. I feel that it is us users who should decide whether there is a reason to connect and not the device manifacturer.

Regards,
Alan

From what I've read Garmin provides access to their APIs (for a fee) and after paying for access a developer can write their own connection. I can't speak to the quality of the APIs. I use an open source project - https://tapiriik.com/ - that hooks into GC just fine and syncs with a host of other fitness analysis services, interestingly it doesn't seem to connect to MS HealthVault or MyFitnessPal.

I'd be interested in seeing your source on the adobe connect information, I haven't heard that before.

Links

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/06/counterpoint-garmin-sync-api.html (Confirms your claim and explains why this is not good for users)
https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/322fav/boring_story_time_my_progress_at/
https://ro-z.net/blog/garmin/garmin-connect-new-policy-impact-on-connectstats-and-3rd-party-apps/

There are more.

Sadly Tapiriik does not link to either MFP and MS Healthvault and the idea of data passing to middleware apps rather than linking directly to source is highly inefficient and results in my data running all over the place.

Regards,
Alan

Garmin has instituted a new policy regarding the accessibility of our developer programs. The previous strategy of freely available APIs quickly became unsustainable due to increasingly high demand. In response, we have established a new pathway for our Connect API. Firstly, there is a vetting process. We are strategically limiting the scope of this program to specific developers that will enhance the user experience. Secondly, those who are approved for inclusion will be charged one-time $5,000 administrative fee to cover the extensive engineering and server support required for the Connect program.

This is the biggest rubbish I have ever read in terms of API access. They should have looked at big and successful players in the industry like Google. (that do offer APIs for more than a decade) Keep your APIs open and rate limit the free access. This allows open source developement to happen and if an application/product gets highly successful (and makes money with it) Garmin could start charging a fee like Google does with all its APIs. But an approach where every developer needs to apply to be allowed to write something for Garmin is just nuts.

Can you please tell me how to link to MFP. I have been using this daily for 3 years (username: chribonn66 - if you want to link up) and it is a central tool for me.

Add the "Calories in/out" widget to your dashboard. The first thing you see is connecting to MFP. There's probably a ways using GCM too, but I don't recall it off hand.

I mainly used it to get my weight data from MFP.

Sadly Tapiriik does not link to either MFP and MS Healthvault and the idea of data passing to middleware apps rather than linking directly to source is highly inefficient and results in my data running all over the place.

I personally am linked to MFP and Strava. I don't use Tapiriic although I have looked at using it from time-to-time. I'm not sure I agree with you about the inefficiency of using a middleman. The reason I say this is that I always tend to change something in a recorded activity such as the title - whatever. Because I transfer automatically to Strava, I have to edit the activity in 2 places - not just one. If I were to use Tapiriic, I could transfer after my edit.

Links

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/06/counterpoint-garmin-sync-api.html (Confirms your claim and explains why this is not good for users)
https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/322fav/boring_story_time_my_progress_at/
https://ro-z.net/blog/garmin/garmin-connect-new-policy-impact-on-connectstats-and-3rd-party-apps/

There are more.

Sadly Tapiriik does not link to either MFP and MS Healthvault and the idea of data passing to middleware apps rather than linking directly to source is highly inefficient and results in my data running all over the place.

Regards,
Alan

I had a read, couldn't find the word Adobe in those sources.
DC Rainmaker mentioned the limited functionality of the APIs and specifically noted that there weren't any controls available to easily authorise a specific application.
The Reddit user seemed to be attempting to reverse-engineer the protocol.
A third party developer wasn't happy about the introduction of a fee, I can understand that.

I didn't find any reference as to why MS HealthVault & MyFitnessPal were unable to pay for access to, or write code to interface with the APIs.

This is the biggest rubbish I have ever read in terms of API access. They should have looked at big and successful players in the industry like Google. (that do offer APIs for more than a decade) Keep your APIs open and rate limit the free access. This allows open source developement to happen and if an application/product gets highly successful (and makes money with it) Garmin could start charging a fee like Google does with all its APIs. But an approach where every developer needs to apply to be allowed to write something for Garmin is just nuts.

I feel that companies should get their priorities in order. Are they selling hardware or software? We purchase the hardware and expect the software (and those who link to it) included in the price. If people want cheap they would go for a MI band and probably not expect too much support (or be willing to pay for it).

Samsung phones come to mind here. Half the storage on their premium phones used to have hard coded apps bundled in. You couldn't uninstall them. These apps not only took up storage but consumed resources when running in the background. Samsung seem to have reversed this decision.

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I tried to reply to scottmeup in context but the forum did not allow me. I am posting here:

I very much doubt that the services you mention will make such a claim. They will simply not write for Garmin Connect and it is the users who will pick the tab.

Hope Garmin reconsider their position.

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Reply to jim_m_58

In my case Garmin Connect seems stuck on Synced 13 Mar, 2016 @ 19:39 . Pressing Sync now does nothing and does not change the date. Do you have any suggestions please?

I had a read, couldn't find the word Adobe in those sources.
DC Rainmaker mentioned the limited functionality of the APIs and specifically noted that there weren't any controls available to easily authorise a specific application.
The Reddit user seemed to be attempting to reverse-engineer the protocol.
A third party developer wasn't happy about the introduction of a fee, I can understand that.

I didn't find any reference as to why MS HealthVault & MyFitnessPal were unable to pay for access to, or write code to interface with the APIs.

The fact that they link to competitors and not to Garmin, in my opinion, says a lot. I would be amazed to read a statement from either service making such a claim. It is the users who ultimately pick the tab.