Is there a "How To" for creating a Device Handler?

Developer Programs Writing Device Types
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There are several devices I am wanting to get to work but I know nothing about programming. I know there’s a lot of information on how this has been done with other devices but not a general “how to”. I was able to understand what was being done through the process of creating the device handler but a lot of what was being looked at was above me.

I don’t expect to learn this over night but I’m hoping this community could help people like me to further the capabilities of ST.

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Have you searched the forum to make sure that no one else has already created a DTH for those devices?

The SmartThings documentation is basically a “How To”.

http://docs.smartthings.com/en/latest/device-type-developers-guide/quick-start.html

2 Likes
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Here is a wiki for DTH’s ans apps that have already been developed. You may find this useful.

http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=ThingsThatAreSmart_Wiki

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What are some of the devices that you want to make work with Smartthings? For direct compatibility, they should be Zigbee HA1.2 or Z-Wave. WiFi devices typically need some kind of cloud to cloud integration. If the device has an IFTTT channel, then you can integrate that way.

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@krlaframboise, yes I did. They aren’t available. This might just be something too in depth for me I am still reading up on everything.

@bobbles I haven’t seen that yet, I’ll check it out - thanks!

@Jimxenus all of the devices are ZigBee. Is there a way to determine if they are HA 1.2?

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You’ll probably have to look at the specs somewhere. ZigBee can have proprietary versions that won’t work with SmartThings. For example, many version 1 Iris devices from Lowes are not compatible.

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The devices in question are:

MCT-302 SMA (not 320)
SMCSR01-Z (siren/strobe/repeater)
MCT-427 (smoke detector)
SMCCO02-Z (CO Detector)
MCT-550 SMA (flood sensor)
Clip-SMA

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Instead of creating another thread to ask, I’ll just post it here. Is there a simulator of some sort to see how the device handler preview in the mobile app? I’m editing a generic handler and would just like to preview the changes I’m making instead of going to the ST app.

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Unless I’m wrong, the app can only use device handlers and apps already created by you or others. God must have created the world via www and not iOS/android. :wink: