Transform Your Windows PC Using Home Assistant!

Transform Your Windows PC Using Home Assistant!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is Hass Agent?
3. Installing Hass Agent
4. Configuring Sensors
5. Setting up Commands
6. Creating Hotkeys
7. Sending Notifications
8. The Future of Hass Agent
9. Conclusion

Introduction

Over the past year or so, I've tried various different projects that allow You to integrate Windows computers with Home Assistant. However, I always encountered challenges with these projects. Some used up too much processing power or were missing key features, while others appeared to be abandoned. Recently, I came across a new project called Hass Agent that has been meeting my requirements. In this article, we will explore what Hass Agent is, how it works, and what you can do with it.

What is Hass Agent?

Hass Agent is a relatively young project that aims to bridge the gap between Windows computers and Home Assistant. It offers a range of features such as reporting sensor information, sending notifications to the Windows notification panel, controlling devices via keyboard shortcuts, and even using your Windows PC as a media player connected to Home Assistant.

Installing Hass Agent

To install Hass Agent, you need to download the installer file from the project's GitHub page. After running the installer, you will be prompted to enter your Home Assistant URL or IP address, as well as your MQTT server credentials. Hass Agent requires MQTT to send sensor information to Home Assistant. Once the setup is complete, you will have an icon in your taskbar for Hass Agent.

Configuring Sensors

Hass Agent allows you to report various sensor information back to Home Assistant. To configure sensors, open the main configuration screen of Hass Agent and click on the "Local Sensor" button. From here, you can add new sensors and choose the update period for each sensor. Sensors can provide different types of values and can work when logged in or even in service mode.

Setting up Commands

Commands in Hass Agent allow you to issue actions from Home Assistant to your computer. These commands can perform tasks such as putting your computer to sleep, restarting it, opening a web page, or playing media. Similar to sensors, you can configure commands by selecting the "Commands" button in the main page of Hass Agent. Once configured, commands will appear in Home Assistant's entities page for you to use.

Creating Hotkeys

Hass Agent also provides the ability to Create hotkeys that can toggle entities in Home Assistant directly from your keyboard. By selecting the "Quick Actions" button and adding a new quick action, you can choose the Type of entity you want to control and assign a hotkey to it. This feature is convenient for quickly toggling lights or blinds without opening the app.

Sending Notifications

Hass Agent allows you to send text and image notifications directly to your Windows computer. This can be useful, for example, when someone rings the doorbell and you are at your desk. Currently, actionable notifications are not supported, but it is a feature that many users would like to see implemented in the future.

The Future of Hass Agent

Although Hass Agent is a relatively young project, it already offers a range of useful features. The development team has plans to add more features, including actionable notifications. The project is progressing well, and it is worth showing support for the incredible work that has been done so far.

Conclusion

Hass Agent provides a seamless integration between Windows computers and Home Assistant. With its ability to report sensor information, send notifications, control devices through shortcuts, and more, Hass Agent offers a convenient way to enhance your Home Assistant setup. While it is still under development, it shows promise for becoming a valuable tool for Windows users. Explore the possibilities and let your creativity flow with Hass Agent.

FAQ

Q: Can Hass Agent be used on macOS or Linux? A: Hass Agent is specifically designed for Windows computers. However, there are native Home Assistant companion apps available for macOS and Linux users.

Q: Can I install the media player functionality in addition to the main components of Hass Agent? A: Yes, you can install the media player functionality by following the instructions provided on the project's GitHub page.

Q: How can I send notifications to my Windows computer using Hass Agent? A: To send notifications, you need to install the Hass Agent Notifier integration and follow the example code provided on the GitHub page. After setting up the integration and configuring the notification service, you can send text and image notifications to your computer from Home Assistant.

Q: Are there any plans to add actionable notifications to Hass Agent? A: Yes, the development team has plans to add actionable notifications in the future. This feature would allow users to add buttons to notifications, enabling more advanced automations.

Q: Can I use Hass Agent to control my Windows PC as a media player connected to Home Assistant? A: Yes, Hass Agent allows you to use your Windows PC as a media player through Home Assistant. You can control media playback, volume, and more directly from your Home Assistant interface.