[Hack Session] Home Automation

Join us for a hands-on, practical meetup where we’ll explore how modern home automation systems are built, customized, and controlled. This event is focused on learning by doing: flashing devices, wiring software together, and understanding how different tools interact to create a flexible, self-hosted smart home setup. Whether you’re just curious or already deep into tinkering, you’ll leave with real hands-on experience and a clearer understanding of how it all fits together.

Sessions
The agenda outlines our intended sessions, with flexibility to adjust topics and depth based on participants!

• Flashing and configuring smart devices using Tasmota and ESPHome
• Setting up Home Assistant as a dedicated operating system (or as a container)
• Onboarding and controlling smart devices from Home Assistant
• Writing a custom library to communicate with a smart switch
• Sending commands to smart devices through Discord
• Securely accessing a self-hosted Home Assistant instance from outside the home
• Exploring automations, entities, and dashboards in Home Assistant

Facilitators
This session will be guided by facilitators who enjoy building, experimenting, and sharing practical knowledge around home automation and self-hosted systems:

• George Kelantonakis
• Michail Raptakis
• Foivos Zakkak
• Michalis Zampetakis

CommonsLab will kindly offer some equipment for use during the event; however, we recommend bringing your own laptop, along with any hardware you’d like to experiment with. This can include (but isn’t limited to) a Raspberry Pi with an SD card and reader, Tasmota-compatible devices, smart plugs, sensors, relays, or switches - whatever you think might be useful. And of course, bring your experience, curiosity, and your most burning questions!

Pizzas, beers and... socialising!
At the end of the meetup we will have the opportunity to discuss and socialise with some pizzas and beers! 🍕 🍺

Sponsors
As a final note - big thanks to our sponsors!

1. CommonsLab (venue)
2. Fairlo (Gold Sponsor)
3. Epignosis (Gold Sponsor)

Sponsors keep the meetup free to attend, accessible and provide us with snacks and drinks that keep people around for discussions.
More information about our sponsorships and expenses can be found on DevStaff's Open Collective page.

Thank you! 👏 👏 👏

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