Is it safe to test apps on the device while developing?

Former Member over 8 years ago

I'm starting to develop apps/widget/watchfaces, and I just found myself with a useless, bricked Fenix Chronos. Now, it may have been a defective unit, but I wanted to know if, in your experience, it was safe to test apps on the device.

The term you find in the documentation is "Side Loading an App". For example, if I compile with Eclipse a new app, and copy/paste the executable into the GARMIN/APPS directory, is it safe? will this cause any issues?

Bottom line, if it's dangerous I may get a less costly device (not the 1.500$ chronos) for development.

Thanks.

Former Member over 8 years ago

So, out of curiosity, if I connected the watch via USB and deleted all the files, would it still work?

Definitely. The most "system-y" thing you'll find on the file system is language files, so you would lose all the languages except English, but the device update tools would restore them. You also lose things like activity history, ConnectIQ apps, and possibly some device settings (but I think those might be stored internally too).

There are no firmware or critical system files on the mass storage drive in Garmin Wearables.

Former Member over 8 years ago

Definitely. The most "system-y" thing you'll find on the file system is language files, so you would lose all the languages except English, but the device update tools would restore them. You also lose things like activity history, ConnectIQ apps, and possibly some device settings (but I think those might be stored internally too).

There are no firmware or critical system files on the mass storage drive in Garmin Wearables.

Perfect, thanks. The fact that I plugged in the watch, saw a bunch of folders and actually brick the thing after deploying one app made me think it was an unstable system. I'm convinced at this point that this was an issue with the device itself and feel way more comfortable to meddle with it.

I'll start again as soon as the new chronos arrives. Amazing watch, by the way.