libfitbit
by Kyle Machulis <kyle@nonpolynomial.com>
Nonpolynomial Labs - http://www.nonpolynomial.com
libfitbit is part of the OpenYou project for Open Source Health Hardware access - http://openyou.org
If you find libfitbit useful, please donate to the project at http://pledgie.com/campaigns/14375
Join the libfitbit group on fitbit.com: http://www.fitbit.com/group/227FRX
Credits and Thanks
Thanks to Matt Cutts for hooking me up with the hardware - http://www.twitter.com/mattcutts
Description
libfitbit is an implementation of the data retrieval protocol for the fitbit health tracking device. It also implements a synchronization client for synchronizing data with the fitbit website on platforms not supported by Fitbit currently.
The main goal of the library is to augment the services already provided by the fitbit website, allowing for developers to make interesting new applications that access the fitbit data in smaller time chunks on the local machine, as well as giving users the ability to back up their own data without having to rely on the web service.
Currently, the library only implements a proof of concept of the protocol and web interface in python. This will be turned into a C library, which can then be SWIG’d or otherwise interfaced to other languages.
The fitbit reverse engineering document in the doc directory may also be used for implementing the protocol in new languages without having to read code (not that my ability to convey the protocol in english is all that clear).
Package Information
Source repo @ http://www.github.com/qdot/libfitbit
Platform Support
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Linux - Tested on Ubuntu 10.10
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OS X - Untested, should work?
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Windows - Won’t work at the moment. May be able to create serial interface to talk to CP2012 chip? Haven’t done research yet.
Library Requirements
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Python - http://www.python.org
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libusb-1.0 - http://www.libusb.org
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pyusb 1.0+ - http://sourceforge.net/projects/pyusb/files/
Platform Cavaets
Linux
You’ll need to either run as root or set up a udev rule to switch out permissions on the base VID/PID. We’ll hopefully have a udev rule checked in shortly.
OS X
FitBit original driver is claiming the device resulting in premission errors when libusb wants to claims it.
A solution that works everytime is simply to disable the driver by renaming it:
cd /System/Library/Extensions sudo mv SiLabsUSBDriver.kext SiLabsUSBDriver.kext.disabled
And reboot.
To re-enable it, just rename it again, and reboot again.
Windows
Don’t even know if it works there yet. :D
Future Plans
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Breaking ANT access library out into its own repo
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Windows support
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Finish figuring out data types
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Implement library in C
License
Copyright (c) 2011, Kyle Machulis/Nonpolynomial Labs All rights reserved. Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. * Neither the name of the Nonpolynomial Labs nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.