Make Fitbit Flex Sync / How to get upto date data

[brian4342]

After finding out that the only apps I can make has to relate to the data the Fitbit records, I would now like to know if it is possable to make the Fitbit Sync on command?

Or perhaps an alternative way to get the most accurate data?

I am looking at making an app that can perform a countdown of steps for a user. For example lets say a user would like to walk 100 steps to burn off something they have just eaten. I would like to then find out how many steps they have currently done (at that time - so may need to get it to sync) then perhaps check every minute until they have reached there goal. From what I have gathered I may need it to sync every minute (assuming there is new data to sync).

Any help would be appreciated 🙂

Brian

[SunsetRunner]

A user can manually initiate a sync on either the Desktop or Mobile Fitbit apps. There is not a way to programatically force your Fitbit to sync. Generally they sync automatically every 15-20 and that isn't customizable. http://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/How-often-does-my-Fitbit-tracker-sync-with-my-com...

[brian4342]

I did read that article, i just hoped that there would be a way to get the most current information and not 20min old data.

Thanks for your quick response though 🙂

[ibahdanau · Accepted solution]

The best you can do in this case is use Fitbit Subscriptions API. This way you'll be notified instantly everytime user syncs his tracker or enters data manuallly on website.

You still will have delays between times when user syncing his trackers, but at least you don't need to ask Fitbit API periodically, since Fitbit API will notify you when it has new data.

[Bonxy]

This is the best solution for you.

Once the user syncs, you can then use this data with your logic to recommend that amount of steps they have left to take.

[jmitchell38488]

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@ibahdanau wrote:

The best you can do in this case is use Fitbit Subscriptions API. This way you'll be notified instantly everytime user syncs his tracker or enters data manuallly on website.

You still will have delays between times when user syncing his trackers, but at least you don't need to ask Fitbit API periodically, since Fitbit API will notify you when it has new data.

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There's also the query count limit of 150 per hour per user. Subscriptions API is definitely the way to go to get near-live data. But it is only triggered when the user updates the data on their phone.