Stand alone app to directly run on watch avoiding app store

Former Member over 4 years ago

Is it possible to develop a stand alone app which I can install and run on my Vivoactive 3 watch without having to through the App store route?

jim_m_58 over 4 years ago

Yes, you can sideload it. Here's a bit in the new developer FAQ about that:

https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/w/wiki/4/new-developer-faq#testing-purposes

You'll also find it in the Connect IQ basics doc in the SDK.

Note, there are few things you can't do with sideload, like using your phone for app settings, or seeing data in Garmin Connect for fit contrib data.

Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to jim_m_58

OK Jim and 9635560, thanks for that. I did make a good search through the Connect IQ literature but as a newbie sideload was not a word that would have caught my attention.

You said:

jim_m_58 said:
Note, there are few things you can't do with sideload, like using your phone for app settings, or seeing data in Garmin Connect for fit contrib data.

My app is all about collecting data for an activity and then post processing that data from https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/.......

Does that mean that sideloading will not provide what I require?

jim_m_58 over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

You can record an activity and it will sync to Garmin Connect. See the recordSample in the SDK. Sideload it, and you'll see the process when you record and save an activity.

Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to jim_m_58

OK thanks for that confirmation, its time for me to start experimenting now that I know its possible.

Regards from another Jim

dpawlyk over 4 years ago

It might be useful to know why.

You can also have beta apps on the store that the public can't load.

Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to dpawlyk

I don't think anybody else would be interested in my app and its too early in its development to see whether its useful, maybe when its proved I will put it on the store.