Garmin International
Garmin Connect iOS
Shipped features used by 3M+ daily active users on Garmin's flagship health and fitness app.
The Problem
Garmin Connect is the companion iOS app for Garmin's wearable ecosystem. With millions of daily users depending on real-time health data sync, the app needed rock-solid BLE communication, responsive UI, and zero tolerance for data loss, all while maintaining backward compatibility across a wide device matrix.
Approach
I worked on a vertical team alongside UX, API, QA, and product. My focus was building new features end-to-end: from BLE device communication via Protobuf, to programmatic Auto Layout UI, to networking layers consuming RESTful APIs. I leveraged Firebase Crashlytics to monitor production stability and used Charles Proxy for network debugging.
Key Contributions
Device Communication
Built and maintained the BLE + Protobuf layer for syncing health and fitness data between Garmin wearables and the iOS app. Ensured reliable data transfer across varying connection conditions and device types.
Programmatic UI
Developed complex, fully responsive layouts without Interface Builder, all programmatic Auto Layout. This approach improved code review velocity, reduced merge conflicts, and enabled precise per-pixel control.
Production Monitoring
Integrated Firebase Crashlytics workflows into the development cycle, enabling the team to catch and fix regressions before they impacted large user segments. Drove a culture of crash-free releases.
Localization
Supported app localization across 20+ languages following Garmin’s internal i18n protocols, ensuring date formats, measurement units, and string resources adapted correctly per locale.
Impact
- Features shipped to 3M+ daily active users worldwide
- Reduced crash rate through Crashlytics-driven debugging and proactive monitoring
- Delivered fully responsive, programmatic UI layouts across all iPhone models
- Supported full localization and internationalization for global user base