this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2024
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Why is replacement for home device controls so complicated? (lemmy.world)
submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by gedaliyah@lemmy.world to c/selfhosted@lemmy.world
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I recently learned about Home Assistant here on Lemmy. It looks like a replacement for Google Home, etc. However, it requires an entire hardware installation. Proprietary products just use a simple app to manage and control devices, so can someone explain why a pretty robust dedicated device is necessary as a replacement? The base model has a quad core processor, 4 gigs of ram, and a 32 gig hard drive. Admittedly it's no gaming PC, but it's no arduino either.

What actually happens when I turn on a smart switch in my home? Does that command have to be sent to a server somewhere to be processed? What really has to be processed, and why can't a smartphone app do it?

Edit: I am still getting new replies to this (which are appreciated!), but I wanted to share what I've learned from those who have posted already. I fundamentally misunderstood how smart switches work. I had very wrongly assumed that when my phone is connected to the WiFi, it sends a signal over the local network to toggle the switch, which is connected to the same network, and it turns on/off. While there are technologies that work like this (zigbee, kinda?), most smart home devices rely on a cloud server to communicate the signal. This enables features like using the switches from outside the home network, automation, voice controls, etc. The remote server is what's being replaced.

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[–] lemming741@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Pretty much, yes.

I think you're underestimating the computing power of these devices. If it has WiFi, it has an operating system.

You're looking for something like ESPhome maybe. It's a project from the same people that do home assistant. There's a web server (and/or local API) available that allows you to toggle outputs locally, your browser directly to the microcontroller.

[–] lemming741@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

From the wifi wikipedia page> Hardware>Embedded Systems

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi

Increasingly in the last few years (particularly as of 2007), embedded Wi-Fi modules have become available that incorporate a real-time operating system and provide a simple means of wirelessly enabling any device that can communicate via a serial port. This allows the design of simple monitoring devices. An example is a portable ECG device monitoring a patient at home. This Wi-Fi-enabled device can communicate via the Internet.