I am newer to ST and so far I am loving the concept and direction that it is heading. The major hold that I have placed on making any device purchases is the fact for the v2 hub release date. I am really chomping at the bit to start getting some additional automation (I currently only have Nest products), and I am setting funds aside so that I can make my first initial jump into the Home Automation world but this delay is unexpected.
So, since ST had my attention first, and is supported by a great community, I have a few questions for the group and possibly the ST Team (if these have been answered before then I apologize):
-If a v1 hub is purchased and later a v2 hub is purchased, will the v1 hub become a repeater within the Mesh network so in case of network loss the v1 hub can still function?
I like the ease of use of the ST App with Android, and I know there have been questions of improvement for the ST webpage IDE; but there are a few things which kill the fluidity of development.
The ST web IDE appears “late to the party” with regard to development. A SmartApp has to be developed and tested, “Installed” (which is a simulated Install), Uninstalled, Published, then re-Installed from the App to get the proper Thing subscriptions for the functions to work. Why the second install? If it is all cloud based why can’t you move the simulated Install to a production install where it actually works? IFTTT, Wink, Muzzley, etc. allow development of recipes with quick action/reaction items with “bubbly” user friendly icons and verbiage… all from their phone app. This allows for quick setup and testing of devices without having to get behind a keyboard. It would be easy enough to have these easy “recipes” to be created within an app and then have a generated bit of code for that Thing’s actions. This does two things: keeps newbie’s learning curve consistent as not everyone is familiar with .groovy (where they can create an action then look at the code to see how to make it) and makes it easy for the day 1 users to begin installing with Zero programming or coding experience (this is why people like Wink so much, zero “real” programming experience needed). So, having the ability to have the “bubbly” setup of actions from the app, and web IDE, to then allow the user to access the code background to fine tuning or additional development would be very welcomed… at least to me.
I would say “just my two cents”, but I think I just took a loan out for this response. I appreciate any information back to my load of questions.