DIY Smart Gate or Garage Opener
Tired of guessing if your ‘smart’ gate actually closed? Learn how to turn a blind relay into a state-aware security system using Home Assistant Packages. No more phantom openings…just verified, rock-solid control.
How to Debug Home Assistant Automations and 7 Reasons They Fail
Logic looking pristine in a text editor often disintegrates in the real world. From phantom race conditions to chatty sensors, learn to debug Home Assistant automations by identifying seven invisible logic errors that turn your smart home dumb.
Home Assistant Automation and Why Randomness Beats Generative AI
We expect our toasters to have opinions, but sometimes simple is smarter. Discover how Home Assistant variables and random filters solve domestic problems better than AI, keeping your cats happy and your automation logic delightfully dumb.
Advanced Home Assistant Automations
This guide to Advanced Home Assistant Automations shows how to solve sensor timeouts. We use “wasp-in-a-box” logic, debouncing, and permissive checks to build a truly reliable and bullet-proof occupancy automation for any room.
Choosing the Best Smart Home Hub for Local Control
Finding the best smart home hub means prioritizing local control. Our analysis compares Home Assistant, Hubitat Elevation, and Homey Pro to reveal which powerful, private, and reliable platform is the right choice for the reader’s home.
Protecting Your Smart Home from Itself
A truly smart home should also be a guardian, protecting your devices from damage. Learn a core principle of smart home design with this elegant automation that prevents an expensive accident with your motorized blinds.
Weighted Confidence for Complex States
Level up your automations by building a sensor that thinks. This post details a “Weighted Confidence Sensor” that uses a scoring system to understand nuanced states, making your smart home more reliable and intelligent.
The Gatekeeper
This post teaches a cornerstone of good smart home design: separating the action from the condition. Learn the “Gatekeeper Pattern” to create a powerful Home Assistant setup that is robust, orderly, and sustainable.