So… wow… this is great! Having just installed HA yesterday what I now realize is… I think I know just enough to really grind myself into the dirt. 
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When I started I thought it had something to do with self-hosting and privacy. NOPE!
Where are the discussions on privacy? Should I give someone access to my github and go to sketchville to D/L files to crack my NSpanel ?. I did. I have a NABU subscription, I use duckduck for my searches. should I put a Google ai device in my home server? Feels like I am turning my chicken coup into a B&B for foxes.
Well I think a self hosted solution like HA is a good starting point.
Also, as highlighted in the post, use cyphered protocols, focus on FOSS, no Cloud dependencies as much as possible, no Alexa and other connected mics. Secure your remote accesses, segregate your networks. etc.
But there is indeed more to write on that front.
Could somebody please explain what the author meant with " proxy variables"? I spent an hour trying to figure that out and only this thread comes up. There seems to be no such thing in HA.
Is the author simply referring to putting any entity in its own group so the config or automation does not depend on the exact name of an entity/device?
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I think the author is describing a concept, rather than a specific HA feature.
Here’s an attempt a definition…
Proxy Variable (noun)
The concept of not using the name of an entity (that might be replaced) directly, but creating a reference to them so that if the entity changes, you only need to alter the proxy variable once, and not multiple automations, dashboard entries, etc that use them.
.
The concept of a proxy variable can be created using:
* A Group entity - add household phones to a Group to track presence. Mobile handsets may be replaced regularly, giving additional work to change entity names in automations.
* A Template Function - an Helper entity based on a template function (e.g. Templating)
Any others community? 
(If there are many, a new thread may be needed)
(My related favourite is using a Toggle Helper as a binary ON/OFF used with a condition in automations to simply TURN OFF multiple actions - e.g. disable an alarm clock, enable motion lights when dark, etc.)
If this helps, 
this post!
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Thanks, it’s exactly what I had in mind, following the question and your answer, I updated the original post.
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An example: Say you don’t track people’s location, e.g. to know when they’re home, then a proxy variable would be to use your alarm panel’s state (e.g. armed means nobody is home). It’s anything that acts on behalf of or as a substitute for something else.
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I agree that knowing templates is very, very important.
brace { }, double brace {{ }}, brace percent {% %}, bracket , dot ., single quote ’ ', double quote " ", numeric/string (0 is not the same as “off” … note the upside down double quote here), back slash , comparators > < >= <= = (or is it ==?) and the schaefer sign (sorry, really, really old school) |, which is not really a pipe but used as a cast … sometimes.
Seems to me the most important thing you learned is where to find how to construct templates.
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Wow! Thanks for the wonderful post!!!
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It has been a blessing for my wallet that I know nothing about 3D printers, so I don’t know what to buy
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ehhh this post is #2 at the “get started with home assistant” and without explenation … API of a device? whut??
I see scripts - where i have no idea that that is even possible , leave alone where in the menu’s, pages, integrations, are they used?
this is pretty typical - to assume a huge enormeous knowledge forehand and babble about as if everybody should understand that.
this is no beginners post at all. this is hackatron level 60. Or is the whole home assistant like this? In that case, I’ll sell it on ebay again tomorrow.
Maybe you should read #1 first, which explains core concepts.
Did you just come here to rant?
The cookbook is a community initiative. You can contribute to it.
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Hi @janneman64,
I didn’t use the title “Get started with HA” and I wouldn’t consider this article a beginner guide, but Google makes its own classification when scrolling the content. Youtube may be a good place too for great “get started” guides. HA is totally going toward simplification, but still, starting with easy victories is a key component of the journey. Nevertheless, you’re right: Home assistant often feels overwhelming.
There are a few reasons for that. HA can interact with tens of thousands of devices and services in innovative and versatile ways. This implies a learning curve and the discovery of some concepts. Absolute freedom comes at a price. Also, no two automation projects are alike. Some will prioritize privacy, some voice interactions, some begin with security systems, other with garage or portal automation, lightning, or reporting dashboards. The project is the key. HA is just a tool. Going down this road, you’ll find HA is capable of everything. And there are bridges to build anything that’s not yet included. I never met something I couldn’t do with HA, and trust me, I’ve imagination in this department.
6 years in, I’m still fighting to create some of my projects, but the difference is that I’m no longer trying to trigger an alert when someone passes by a detector, which takes 3 clicks in the interface. I’m factoring code to have one notification system capable of adapting to the context and sending TTS cues, audio, and photos through various notification platforms, etc. <TL/DR> complex, but no other platform would let me quickly turn my wildest ideas into functional, dependable automation. Think IFTTT on steroids and private.
Creating a ring-like doorbell took me an hour by interacting between 4 different components (ESP/MQTT/Camera/Zwave siren). Creating an AI-powered assistant (ChatGPT) that briefs me about the weather, cryptocurrencies, news, and the content of my calendar on my Sonos, but only if I’m in my office, took me 30 minutes. This complex project would have taken my days without all HA integration, this forum, and the fundamental versatility of the software.
So, in a nutshell, you are right. There is a lot of knowledge to grasp. However, simplified automation systems like the one from Samsung won’t provide you with a tenth of the possibilities HA is offering. Whether you’ve got time, need and taste for it is entirely up to you. Those are personal questions, but those “packaged” systems can be a good starting point. You may want to switch to a more versatile system like HA when you touch its limits.
If you decide to stick to HA, though, know you’re joining a community of hundreds of thousands of helpful users and that, as far as experience serves, I never had an unanswered question, and when they get tricky, trust the gurus will be around to help too.
bests,
Philippe.
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April 2025 - big update of the original post. Same structure, but updated synthaxes, hints, hardware list, typo fixed, comment merged, etc.
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are you replying to this post,
are you replying to this post,
I realize this is an old post but none the less, I totally agree with you feelings about cloud storage. I would never put my data into some companies hands. Keep it LOCAL…
Cheers.
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This is a great posting. Certainly some food for thought. My first home automation was with the BSR X10. Yes, I am that old. A couple of years back I implemented my automations using Hubitat but have given up on it in favour of HA which I think is far superior and has a great future. To be honest the migration has been anything but smooth. I have a WIFI network of devices, a ZigBee network of devices, which also includes XBee, and a Z-Wave of devices. Squeezing them into HA with their individual dongles dangling off my Intel Nuc has been a most interesting journey.
Back to your post. I wish I had come across it when I first start into migrating to HA. It has some very useful hints and tips.
One area however, lacks more depth and could probably be its own posting is your implementation of packages. There is a tendency with developers to explain things like the are addressing it to other developers. This is not a slam but merely a statement of fact. I run into this everyday at work…
I really like the idea of packages but I need the explanation dummed down for non developer soles like me.
Thanks again for this great post, keep the work coming. It is truly appreciated.
Thanks for this thorough breakdown of your experiences with HA!
In regards to remote access, do you stay connected to your Tailscale network on your mobile device whenever you are not connected to your home network, or only when you are needing to access HA remotely?
Do not encourage me to go down that rabbit hole…me neither…which I refuse to research them.