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Introduction

Download Foxglove as a desktop app (available on Linux, Windows, or macOS), or navigate to the web app in a Chrome browser window.

Desktop-only features

Some features are only available via the desktop app.

Connecting to data

Extensions

  • Installing extensions via the marketplace
  • Installing extensions locally

Other

Interface

Connect to a data source to explore it with Foxglove's visualization and debugging tools.

top nav

componentdescription
App menuConnect to a data source, toggle the sidebars, or view resources
Add panelAdd a panel to the current layout
Layout menuSave your workspace view as a layout and share it with teammates
Left sidebarEdit panel settings (Panel), view data source's topics (Topics), and troubleshoot issues with your connection (Problems)
Right sidebarSet variables for your current layout
User menuSign in to your Foxglove account, configure preferences, manage extensions, and more

Settings

Configure Foxglove app settings, privacy preferences, and experimental features.

Click into the Preferences tab in the app sidebar to configure the following settings.

General

fielddescription
Color schemeChoose between light or dark mode, or follow your OS settings
Display timestamps inTimezone used to display timestamps
Timestamp formatFormatting used to display timestamps
Message rate (Hz)Message pipeline's frame rate; lowering frame rate will reduce CPU usage and redraw frequency for certain panels; rendering will continue at the usual 60fps for smooth playback
LanguageApp language
UpdatesToggle ability to automatically update the desktop app
ROS_PACKAGE_PATHPaths to search for ROS packages (local file paths or package:// URLs); separate paths with standard OS path separator (e.g. ':' on Unix).
Example: /path/to/workspace/src:/opt/ros/noetic/share

Privacy

Decide whether you want to send anonymized usage data or crash reports to the Foxglove team. All data will be used to improve the app.

These settings require an app relaunch to take effect.

Extensions

Select the Foxglove extensions you want to install.

Experimental features

These features are not recommended for regular use – they are either deprecated or in active development or testing.

Reach out in the Slack community, if you have any questions about any of these features.