Request for better way to test app on Watch (SideLoad)

The current dance of plugging into charger, plugging into USB, copy the app, unmount the USB, unplug the charger, test the app, replug....

is really getting old.

I'm just ranting / saying that it would be super nice to be able to get to a point where i have the watch on hand, code in PC, click a button (or couple buttons) and get the app on the watch.

Since GCM uses the BTLE connection to download and install the app, I wish something like this can also be done.

There are quite a time when I almost want to upload the app to the Garmin App store just to be able to download it wirelessly. (esp true for apps which are <10 downloads - hence lesser chance statistically for users downloading it for their usage when I'm BETA testing)

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lfanchi over 10 years ago

Seconded.

I would even be fine with the leaving the device attached to the charger, if only it could be operated at that time without disconnecting it..

rconradharris over 10 years ago

Seconded.

I would even be fine with the leaving the device attached to the charger, if only it could be operated at that time without disconnecting it..

Yeah I agree the experience is pretty awful right now.

I'm sure we all have our own little scripts that try to improve it, but I'll just share mine here:

This works for a Mac, but I'm sure you could tweak it easily to work on Linux or Windows:

$ cat tools/side-load 

#!/bin/bash
VOL=/Volumes/GARMIN/
if [[ -z $1 ]]; then
    echo "usage: side-load <prg-file>"
    exit 1
fi
PRG_FILE=$1
while [ ! -d $VOL/GARMIN/APPS ]; do
    sleep 1
    echo Waiting for Garmin device to appear...
done
echo Clearing app log...
rm $VOL/GARMIN/APPS/LOGS/CIQ_LOG.TXT
touch $VOL/GARMIN/APPS/LOGS/CIQ_LOG.TXT
echo Copying file...
cp $PRG_FILE $VOL/GARMIN/APPS/
echo Waiting for Garmin Connect Sync...
sleep 20
echo Unmounting Garmin device...
diskutil unmount $VOL
echo Done.

jim_m_58 over 10 years ago

The only complaint I have with the current method is I think I'm wearing out the contacts on the base for the vivoactive. The springs seem to be losing their "spring"! I wonder if this is covered by the Garmin warranty :)

In windows, I just select the .prg I want and then copy, click on the device, go to "apps, and click paste. For .str files, I just have a cmd window open, with the proper dirs on both drives and do a simple "copy c:app.str myapp.str" when on the drive for the device

Shinatesu over 3 years ago

It's 7 years already and we still have the same issue...

jim_m_58 over 3 years ago in reply to Shinatesu

Actually, a few years back, "beta apps" were added to the store, where you can upload to the store, test things like app settings and fitcontrib. Only you can download your beta app. See https://developer.garmin.com/connect-iq/core-topics/beta-apps/

li2niu over 3 years ago

Remote test looks in-stable. I am doing sth on an apple watch, which is using the mode.

Shinatesu over 3 years ago in reply to jim_m_58

What if my app is too personal, or has "secret" that I don't want to publish anywhere, even for Garmin guys?

Anyway, thanks for the information, I just want to rise this up for Garmin to notice/remember there's this kind of request :)

jim_m_58 over 3 years ago in reply to Shinatesu

A beta app is private. When you sens something to the store, be it a beta app or a public app no source is sent. Only the compiled .prg. If you concerned about that, just do a sideload.