I first encountered the concept of a “smart home” in early childhood, long before the internet era and the widespread integration of microelectronics into every possible aspect of life. And it was none other than Ray Douglas Bradbury who introduced me to this idea through his timeless work There Will Come Soft Rains…
 
Some might think that encountering such a concept through literature of this kind is quite a peculiar gift. Maybe it is … But at the time, I was utterly captivated by the idea of automating all household processes, completely overlooking the deeper message the author had woven into the story. That message would come to me later, as I grew older. But by then, it was too late — the idea of a “smart home” had already taken deep root in my young and impressionable mind. I just had to wait a little while for real-world technology to catch up with childhood fantasies. And once that happened, there was no turning back.
 
At first, there were simple, makeshift devices built on Arduino Nano, which used a couple of sensors to control the lighting on bookshelves. These controllers operated autonomously and had no means of communication with each other. Later, WiFi modules were added, allowing for a semblance of remote control.
 
Gradually, the idea evolved. This was helped by the emergence of the so-called “Internet of Things,” which finally brought automation devices into the homes of everyday people.
 
The problem with this “consumer market,” however, was that every manufacturer of such devices tried to create their own unique “ecosystem” — almost always incompatible with all others. And none of these “ecosystems” were truly comprehensive, covering all aspects of home automation. To this day, many parts of this chaotic technological zoo have been somewhat standardized and made to work together, but compatibility issues still persist on a massive scale, with no clear resolution in sight.
 
As a result, I kept developing my own unique solutions, inevitably creating yet another incompatible “ecosystem.” Fortunately, since I had no intention of commercializing my ideas, I was free to change approaches, concepts, and implementation methods as I pleased. Embracing open-source solutions quickly freed me from the constraints of any proprietary “ecosystem” and led me into the broader, more flexible world of smart devices.
 
This section is dedicated to articles on building custom home automation systems, as well as related projects, ideas, and integrations designed to make my home more comfortable, convenient, and — most importantly — never boring.