libfitbit

by Kyle Machulis <[email protected]>

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

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

• Linux - Tested on Ubuntu 10.10

• OS X - Untested, should work?

• 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

• Python - http://www.python.org

• libusb-1.0 - http://www.libusb.org

• 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

None known yet. Shouldn’t require anything out of the ordinary since it’s not an HID device.

Windows

Don’t even know if it works there yet. :D

Future Plans

• Breaking ANT access library out into its own repo

• Windows support

• Finish figuring out data types

• 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.