Garmin has officially launched Connect IQ SDK 8.1.0, marking the first widely available release of its new System 8 platform for app developers.
The update introduces a range of improvements, including enhanced smart notifications, a built-in watch face editor, and expanded development tools aimed at streamlining the creation of apps for Garmin smartwatches.
Connect IQ System 8 was initially unveiled in January for beta testing, promising a suite of new features and optimizations for developers. With the release of Version 8.1.0, Garmin is now making these improvements broadly accessible.
According to the release notes, the latest SDK includes a new Visual Studio Code extension that offers auto-completion and real-time warnings, making it easier for developers to write and debug code.
One of the standout features of this update is a new on-device watch face editor, which is currently available for the Fenix 8 and the recently introduced Tactix 8 smartwatches.
The enhanced Notifications API also allows for more detailed notifications to be displayed while the app runs in the background, such as during workouts. Additionally, support for the native pairing flow enables Connect IQ apps to directly pair with external sensors via the watch.
Garmin has also expanded code space by an additional 16 MB, providing developers with more flexibility to build complex applications.
The company recommends that developers download Connect IQ SDK 8.1.0 from its official developer site and ensure they have the latest version of the Monkey C extension for Visual Studio Code, which is available through the Visual Studio Marketplace.