Developing applications for the Fitbit Versa 4 involves several challenges due to the lack of official support for third-party apps. Here's a detailed overview of the development environment and requirements:
Official Support and Limitations
- Third-Party Apps: Fitbit does not currently support third-party apps on the Versa 4 or Sense 2. The company has stated that it does not plan to offer this capability for these devices, focusing instead on health and wellness features[10].- Fitbit Studio: The web-based Fitbit Studio, which allowed developers to build apps and clock faces, was shut down in April 2023. Developers are now directed to use the command-line SDK for development[10].
Unofficial Development Approaches
- Sideloading: Some developers have explored sideloading unofficial apps onto the Versa 4 using unofficial methods, such as enabling the `hosts` command via the `FITBIT_QA_COMMANDS` environment flag and using an unofficial drop-in package for `@fitbit/sdk-build-targets`. However, these methods are not officially supported and are for educational purposes only[1].- Developer Bridge: To sideload apps, developers must enable the Developer Bridge and USB debugging on the device. This involves connecting the device to a charger, navigating to settings, and toggling on USB debugging. However, there have been reports of issues with this process, such as the device not being recognized by the Fitbit CLI[7][9].
Development Environment Setup
- Node.js Version: For setting up a development environment, using Node.js version 14 is recommended, as newer versions may cause compatibility issues with the Fitbit SDK[4].- Operating System: Developers have reported success with environments like Ubuntu 22.04 in WSL 2 for Windows[4].
SDK Compatibility
- Fitbit OS SDK: The Versa 4 uses Fitbit OS SDK version greater than 5.0, which is not compatible with older SDK versions used for devices like the Versa 3[2].- Migration and Compatibility: Developers looking to create apps for the Versa 4 are advised to develop for the Versa 3 first, using the available SDK and simulator, and then adapt their work for the Versa 4 if possible[9].
In summary, while there are no official development kits for creating third-party apps on the Fitbit Versa 4, developers can explore unofficial sideloading methods or focus on developing for compatible devices like the Versa 3.
Citations:[1] https://github.com/cmengler/fitbit-app-versa4
[2] https://cozie-fitbit.app/docs/picking-a-fitbit/
[3] https://documents.4rgos.it/v1/static/1153729_R_D001
[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/fitbit/comments/151cx3p/versa_4sense_2_sideloading_via_api_anyone_done_it/
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWDxOAVBZ0w
[6] https://staticcs.fitbit.com/content/assets/help/manuals/manual_versa_en_US.pdf
[7] https://stackoverflow.com/questions/73916842/how-can-i-enable-versa-4-usb-debugging
[8] https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Product-Feedback/idb-p/features/label-name/sdk
[9] https://community.fitbit.com/t5/SDK-Development/Fitbit-Versa-4-SDK-support/td-p/5570528
[10] https://9to5google.com/2023/02/17/fitbit-studio/