(How) Can I get data from a HTTP API in a Watch Face?

4462336 1 day ago

Hello,

I have developed my own watch face and would now like to include data from a HTTP API in a field on the watch face.

However, watch faces don't have access to the Communication module required for making HTTP requests.

Is there a way to get data from an API using HTTP and display the result in a field on the watch face?

If yes, how can I do this?

Thanks in advance

Aaron

0 jim_m_58 1 day ago

You need to have a background service for the watch face that does the makeWebRequest. And unless the server is running on your phone, you need to use https and not http

0 4462336 1 day ago in reply to jim_m_58

How would I do that?

The API is using HTTPS, I successfully used it in an app but not in a watchface...

0 jim_m_58 1 day ago in reply to 4462336

In a watch face, you need a background service with a temporal event that runs every X minutes that does the makeWebRequest

Here's a WF with a very simple background that simply returns a string with the time when the background runs:

Simple Example WF that shows a bunch of things

Here's a more general thread about background services.

VERY Simple sample of a watch face with a background process.