App Minimum SDK Version

longtrousers over 4 years ago

At the moment the search function here does not work, but maybe someone knows straight away:

What do I fill in at "App Minimum SDK Version" when publishing an app?

Pre-suggested is 1.2.x, can I just leave it like that and not bother?

Thanks.

0 jim_m_58 over 4 years ago

It depends.

All my apps have a min SDK of 1.2,x, but then, when it comes to target devices, I only include those at a level at or above what the app needs. If 3.x functionality is required, I don't include CIQ 1 or CIQ 2 devices.

But even then, there are other things to consider. Lets say you have something that uses Garmin weather, and you set the min SDK to 3,2, there can be a problem, as not all devices with 3.2 have Weather (the fenix 5+ for example). So you also want to do something like

if(Toybox has :Weather) {}

And you'll run into similar things like floors, as that's only available on devices with a baro altimeter.

With 4.0 coming up you could set the min SDK to 4.0 as there is a bunch of new stuff in 4.0, but if you do, your apps will only be available for 4.x devices. You could instead set the min SDK to 3.0.x, and within your code, check the monkeyVersion to see if you are on a device with the new version or not, or do something in jungles to build differently for 4.x and 3.x devices

0 longtrousers over 4 years ago in reply to jim_m_58

Thanks Jim, I just left 1.2.x.

But as you noted, I checked all of the devices, and put only those in the list where the app seems to work, at least at first sight.

For example, fenix 5 works but XTINY text is too big such that I did not put it on the list (I developed for fenix 6).

fenix 3 does not work at all: "memory limit of 94.163 exceeded" (the app uses a total memory of 1.306.176).

To establish down-compatibility, I would have to make a light version with less functionality.

Anyway, I just filed a BETA version of the app (called Multisport Deluxe).

It should be ready, but I want to test the Garmin Connect functionalities which you cannot with a sideloaded version.

And I want to make a swimming test, which is still not possible yet here in Germany since the pools are closed and the lakes are still too cold.

If you're interested, you can have a look at it in some weeks when it is published. Thanks again for all of your useful comments during I worked on this project.