Using a Raspberry Pi for Home Automation

If you’ve ever attempted to automate some of your home electronics, you’ll probably know just how messy the whole scene is. Between all the different protocols, the dozens of different interfaces and apps, and the often shaky integration between software and hardware it can be an exercise in frustration.

Professional installers tend to use very expensive bespoke solutions, built from the ground up in an integrated package. For DIYers, however, there’s a maze of different tools, products and protocols to manage.

We’ve talked before in the column about IFTTT (If This Then That), a software tool for scripting automation, as well as using home assistants like Amazon Alexa for basic controls. But for many home improvers