One of my interests is automating daily routines, which is why I am working on home development. Not only it is cool and progressive, but it is also convenient to have your home adjust to your needs and ease your daily life. For this, I use Raspberry Pi 4 as a dedicated server with Home Assistant.
Based on Raspberry Pi 4
Raspberry Pi 4 is a small and affordable single-board computer commonly used for home automation projects. It serves as the infrastructure for the server, running Home Assistant and connecting various smart devices. Its compact size, low power consumption, and versatility in supporting the smart home ecosystem. The use of batteries allows you to extend the work for 24 hours, even in the absence of electricity.
Web Interface
Home Assistant dashboard is user-friendly interface for monitoring and controlling smart devices. The customizable nature of the dashboard, allows users to arrange widgets, display sensor data, and control devices in a visually appealing manner. Key features like real-time data updates, intuitive navigation, and the ability to create custom views or layouts.
Mobile Interface
Home Assistant dashboard accessible from a mobile devices as well. You can monitor and control your smart home from anywhere using smartphone, ensures remote accessibility and convenience. Additional features like integration with Telegram bot, enabling users to interact with smart home and execute scripts through chat commands. Integration with Voice Assistant as Yandex Alice in my case, allows to easely send commands without any dashboards.
Lots of Integrations
Wide range of integrations available, allows Home Assistant supports various protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, MQTT, Zigbee) for seamless communication with different smart devices. Integrating new devices or services is straightforward, enhancing the versatility and expandability of the smart home setup. Single server for different manufacturers helps to avoid issues with generalizing automations and scripts.
Easy Automations
Drag-and-drop interface of Home Assistant's Node-RED integration for creating scripts and automations. You create complex automations by visually connecting nodes representing triggers, conditions, and actions. The flexibility of the system, allows users to design workflows and logical sequences without the need for extensive coding knowledge.
Code for Advanced
VS Code editor interface allows to create automations using code, providing greater flexibility and control over the automation logic. Availability of code syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and error checking features within the code editor.