FAQ Request: Installing custom device type/device handler/smartapp

[JDRoberts]

I would very much like to see a FAQ on how to install a custom device type, device handler, and smart app from both github and just copy/pasted from this forum. Just the generic steps, with the understanding that the code may have to be edited by the user for a specific install.

Full instructions, including links to IDE.

So three separate parts:

To install a SmartApp that needs a custom device type, device handler, and smartapp from Github:

and then the same for copy/paste from forum.

Video is nice, but I would prefer a forum post as one of my aides is deaf.

If there’s an existing forum post that covers this, that would be great, just provide a link to that.

TIA!

[April (April Wong)]

SmartApp / DeviceType :"From Code" and "From Template"

I'm loving the new "From Code" and "From Template" options when creating a new SmartApp / DeviceType. Users don't have to be instructed to fill out bogus information and then replace the resulting code with code anymore. The new instructions are: Login at http://graph.api.smartthings.com Go to "My SmartApps" or "My DeviceTypes" and click on the "+ New SmartApp" or " + New SmartDevice" button on the right. On the "New SmartApp" or "New SmartDevice" page, Select the Tab "From Code" , Copy the xxxxx source code from GitHub and paste it into the IDE editor window. Click the "Create" button at the bottom. Click the blue "Save" button above the editor window. Click the "Publish" button next to it and select "For Me". You have now self-published your SmartApp or SmartDevice. Open SmartThin…

:] I hope I am understanding the request properly, this is a start, and one of the three you requested?

[JDRoberts]

It’s a great post.

It would be enough for someone familiar with Java or groovy. I’m not sure it would be enough for someone who hadn’t coded a Java type language. But it meets my needs.

Thanks!

[JDRoberts]

I’ve added a more general FAQ for nontechnical people to the Welcome category:

FAQ: An Overview of Using Custom Code in SmartThings

So you're new to SmartThings, you asked a question, and someone suggested "custom code" as an answer. Or you were browsing the forums, and you found something that sounded like it would be perfect for what you wanted, but again, "uses custom code." What does that mean, how hard is it to do, and what's the difference between a "SmartApp" and a "Device Type Handler"? (Note: the official terminology has changed a couple of times. "device type handler," "device handler," "DTH," and "device type" all mean the same thing, and you will find all these terms used in the forums.) SECTION I: SMARTAPPS AND DEVICE HANDLERS: WHAT THEY ARE SmartAPPS: Tiny Programs to decide what a specific device should do when, or to collect the information from a specific device SmartApps, including the var…