Simplified automation flows

Oct 13, 2025 by pynkocean.com 104 views

Introduction

When it comes to automating your home or office with Shelly devices, having the right tools and features can make all the difference. One of the most significant advantages of using Shelly devices is their ability to integrate seamlessly with various automation platforms, including Home Assistant. However, even with these powerful devices, there are still some limitations that can make automation more complicated than it needs to be.

One such limitation is the way relay and input states are currently handled in Home Assistant. Instead of being able to access these states directly as variables, users are forced to rely on feedback to set trigger conditions. This can lead to more complex automation flows and make it harder to achieve the desired outcomes. In this article, we'll explore the possibility of adding relay and input states as variables, and discuss the potential benefits and implications of such a feature.

The Current State of Relay and Input States

In Home Assistant, relay and input states are currently handled through feedback. This means that when a relay or input is triggered, the device sends a feedback signal to Home Assistant, which can then be used to set trigger conditions. While this approach works, it can be cumbersome and limiting, especially when working with multiple devices and complex automation flows.

For example, let's say you want to automate a lighting system that involves multiple relays and inputs. With the current feedback-based approach, you would need to create separate trigger conditions for each relay and input, which can lead to a lot of unnecessary complexity. This can make it harder to achieve the desired outcomes and can even lead to errors and inconsistencies.

The Benefits of Relay and Input States as Variables

So, what would be the benefits of having relay and input states as variables instead of relying on feedback? Here are a few potential advantages:

Simplified automation flows: By having direct access to relay and input states as variables, users can create more straightforward and efficient automation flows. This can lead to fewer errors and inconsistencies, and make it easier to achieve the desired outcomes.
Improved flexibility: With relay and input states as variables, users can create more flexible and dynamic automation flows. This can involve using variables to control multiple relays and inputs, or to create complex conditional logic.
Enhanced user experience: By providing users with direct access to relay and input states as variables, Home Assistant can offer a more intuitive and user-friendly experience. This can lead to increased user satisfaction and a more positive overall experience.

Technical Considerations

Before we can discuss the feasibility of adding relay and input states as variables, we need to consider the technical implications. Here are a few key points to consider:

Device integration: To add relay and input states as variables, Home Assistant would need to integrate with the Shelly devices in a way that allows for direct access to these states. This would likely involve modifying the device integration code to include support for variables.
Variable management: Once relay and input states are available as variables, Home Assistant would need to manage these variables in a way that is consistent with the rest of the platform. This would involve creating a system for storing and retrieving variable values, as well as implementing any necessary logic for updating and managing these variables.
Trigger condition logic: With relay and input states as variables, users would need to update their trigger condition logic to take advantage of these new variables. This could involve modifying existing automation flows or creating new ones that incorporate the variables.

Implementation and Roadmap

So, how might we implement relay and input states as variables in Home Assistant? Here's a high-level overview of the steps involved:

Device integration: Modify the Shelly device integration code to include support for variables.
Variable management: Create a system for storing and retrieving variable values, as well as implementing any necessary logic for updating and managing these variables.
Trigger condition logic: Update trigger condition logic to take advantage of the new variables.
Testing and validation: Thoroughly test and validate the new feature to ensure it works as expected.

As for the roadmap, here are a few potential milestones:

Short-term: Focus on modifying the Shelly device integration code to include support for variables.
Mid-term: Implement variable management and trigger condition logic.
Long-term: Continue to refine and improve the feature, including adding support for additional devices and features.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adding relay and input states as variables to Home Assistant would be a significant improvement over the current feedback-based approach. By providing users with direct access to these states, Home Assistant can offer a more intuitive and user-friendly experience, and make it easier to achieve the desired outcomes. While there are technical considerations to take into account, the potential benefits of this feature make it well worth exploring further.

Future Development

As Home Assistant continues to evolve and improve, there are many potential areas for future development. Here are a few ideas to consider:

Additional device support: Expand support for additional devices, including those from other manufacturers.
Advanced automation features: Develop more advanced automation features, such as conditional logic and decision trees.
Improved user interface: Refine the user interface to make it more intuitive and user-friendly.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the possibility of adding relay and input states as variables to Home Assistant. This feature would allow users to access these states directly, rather than relying on feedback, and would simplify automation flows. In this article, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this feature, and provide more information on how it would work.

Q: What are relay and input states, and why are they important?

A: Relay and input states refer to the current state of a relay or input device, such as a light switch or a sensor. These states are important because they can be used to control and automate various devices and systems. For example, a relay state might indicate whether a light is on or off, while an input state might indicate whether a sensor has detected motion or not.

Q: How would relay and input states as variables work?

A: With relay and input states as variables, users would be able to access these states directly, rather than relying on feedback. This would allow them to create more straightforward and efficient automation flows, and would make it easier to achieve the desired outcomes.

Q: What devices would be supported by this feature?

A: This feature would be supported by Shelly devices, which are a popular choice for home automation and IoT development. However, it's possible that support could be expanded to other devices in the future.

Q: How would variable management work?

A: Variable management would involve creating a system for storing and retrieving variable values, as well as implementing any necessary logic for updating and managing these variables. This would ensure that variables are updated correctly and consistently, and would prevent errors and inconsistencies.

Q: What about trigger condition logic? How would that be updated?

A: Trigger condition logic would need to be updated to take advantage of the new variables. This might involve modifying existing automation flows or creating new ones that incorporate the variables.

Q: What are the technical considerations for implementing this feature?

A: There are several technical considerations to take into account when implementing this feature, including device integration, variable management, and trigger condition logic. These considerations would need to be carefully evaluated and addressed in order to ensure that the feature works as expected.

Q: What is the roadmap for implementing this feature?

A: The roadmap for implementing this feature would involve several stages, including modifying the Shelly device integration code, implementing variable management and trigger condition logic, and testing and validating the feature. The exact timeline for implementation would depend on a variety of factors, including the complexity of the feature and the resources available for development.

Q: What are the potential benefits of this feature?

A: The potential benefits of this feature include simplified automation flows, improved flexibility, and an enhanced user experience. By providing users with direct access to relay and input states as variables, Home Assistant can offer a more intuitive and user-friendly experience, and make it easier to achieve the desired outcomes.

Q: What are the potential challenges of implementing this feature?

A: The potential challenges of implementing this feature include technical considerations, such as device integration and variable management, as well as the need to update trigger condition logic. Additionally, there may be challenges related to testing and validation, as well as ensuring that the feature works consistently and correctly.

Q: How can users get involved in the development of this feature?

A: Users can get involved in the development of this feature by providing feedback and suggestions, as well as by participating in testing and validation. This would help to ensure that the feature meets the needs and expectations of users, and would provide valuable insights and input for the development team.

Q: What is the estimated timeline for implementing this feature?

A: The estimated timeline for implementing this feature would depend on a variety of factors, including the complexity of the feature and the resources available for development. However, it's possible that the feature could be implemented within the next several months, pending further development and testing.

Q: What are the next steps for implementing this feature?

A: The next steps for implementing this feature would involve modifying the Shelly device integration code, implementing variable management and trigger condition logic, and testing and validating the feature. This would involve a collaborative effort between the development team and users, and would require careful evaluation and consideration of the technical considerations and potential challenges.