ST's Hue (Connect) app doesn't follow ST's Device Handler Guidelines

[infofiend]

Continuing the discussion from Updated Device Handler Documentation:

@Jim

Today we updated our Device Handler Guide in our developer documentation. It includes a reorganization of existing content, as well as expanded content. Like most things, it’s not “done” - there’s more work to do to better build out the documentation around device handlers (and other areas of the documentation, obviously). But we believe in not letting perfect be the enemy of good, and incremental progress.

@Jim -

In the last 6 weeks, I’ve had a number of problems with “ghost” Hue bridges (service managers) and / or “ghost” Hue lights (child devices) – “ghost” meaning that the service manager / device doesn’t appear in the SmartThings app and often not in the IDE. These “ghosts” prevent addition or removal of new, working service managers and devices. I was therefore very interested in the “Implicit Removal of Child Devices” section of the updated documentation that states a Service Manager needs to remove child devices from SmartThings when (1) the Service Manager removes those devices or (2) the Service Manager itself is uninstalled.

I have 3 comments/questions related to this section:

1. It appears that the Guide describes “Explicit” (not “Implicit”) removal of child devices (and provides code showing “explicit” removal).

2. I don’t understand why ST’s own Hue (Connect) app in the IDE doesn’t follow ST’s own guideline of explicitly removing the child devices? (Especially considering the problems that I - and many others - have had with “ghost” devices). ST’s Sonos (Connect) service manager does this.

3. Will there be any documentation on how one can remove a “ghost” device (or “ghost” service manager) that wasn’t properly removed from SmartThings?

Thanks!

[Jim (Jim Anderson)]

@infofiend,

The device handler documentation updates yesterday were only for the device handler guide, which is specific to hub-connected devices (we should probably consider renaming this guide to be clearer. That may be part of a larger, overall restructuring). I haven’t had a chance yet to update any of the LAN or Cloud-Connected device developer documentation that I believe you are referring to.

Regarding the Hue Connect app, perhaps @juano2310 can provide some insight.

@infofiend

3. Will there be any documentation on how one can remove a “ghost” device (or “ghost” service manager) that wasn’t properly removed from SmartThings?

I think that this type of documentation is probably something that should live in our support documentation, not developer documentation, since it impacts end-users.