Install device handler into mobile app

[earlenceferns]

Is it possible to install a device handler from the mobile app? I want to deploy a “virtual” handler that has no backing device.

[JDRoberts]

You can publish a device handler to yourself anytime without having a device associated to it. But nothing will happen until there is a device that uses that device handler. That device can be a virtual device, though, many people use virtual switches, for example.

Overview of device handlers:

[OBSOLETE] FAQ: An Overview of Using Custom Code in SmartThings (SmartThings Classic, Groovy Code)

The original FAQ information in this thread refers to the original smartthings architecture, which was in place through the end of 2022 and a little beyond. Custom code was written in the groovy programming language and ran in the smartthings cloud. As of May 2023, you can no longer add new Groovy DTH‘s or smartapps to your smartthings account. So if you came here because of a link in an old forum thread, or on another site, I’m afraid the Groovy information is no longer usable. All of this was replaced by a new architecture. Cloud to cloud integrations use the smartthings API. Hub connected devices, mostly Zigbee and zwave, now use “Edge Drivers,” written in the LUA programming language. Here’s the official announcement on those: The process for using a custom Edge Driver in the new …

Virtual Device FAQ:

FAQ: Creating a virtual Groovy Device [OBSOLETE]

Need a FAQ for the simplest version of this: a virtual on/off switch. Maybe even two FAQs, one for why you would want one with use case examples and one step by step how to for creating one in ST. Thanks! 2023 Update Since groovy will be going away soon, so will groovy virtual switches. See the new FAQ for on the replacements: FAQ: Creating Virtual Devices Without the IDE

For detailed information, see the developer documentation by clicking on Developers at the top right of this site.

[earlenceferns]

But will a virtual device appear in the ST mobile app? Otherwise, it’s pretty useless if I can’t use it from an app deployed to the ST hub. I know that virtual devices can be used with a simulator but I was looking for a virtual device that can be used with apps installed via the ST app

[JDRoberts]

Yes, the virtual device can be used just like a physical device for most purposes. It will have a “Things” tile in the mobile app, its events can be subscribed to by smartapps like The Big Switch, and it can be made visible to external services like Harmony or IFTTT.

You can’t do a Zwave associate with it (or a zigbee binding), but otherwise it will act like a physical device.

[earlenceferns]

awesome. Thank you !

[lukeswed (Luke Swedbergh)]

I use virtual switch and IFTTT to turn on/off my home entertainment center (Harmony Home Hub), in IFTTT search for SmartThings/Harmony recipe’s, works great to be honest, expected lag time but it happens immed. everytime since I set it up a couple of months ago, on/off when mode changes from home to away and vice versa.