Feature Request: Show Live Entity Status in Automation Editor
Image above is a mock up of sensor data alongside the automation configuration.
Summary
Add a contextual entity status panel to the automation editor that displays live values, availability, and update timestamps for all entities used in the automation’s triggers, conditions, and actions.
Why it’s useful
When editing or debugging automations—especially those that rely on live sensor data—it’s common to ask:
- “Is this sensor even updating right now?”
- “What’s the current value of the battery SoC?”
- “Why didn’t this automation fire?”
To answer these, users have to switch between the automation UI and Developer Tools, search entities manually, and try to mentally piece together the state snapshot.
A live sensor context panel would solve this by bringing the entity data into the automation screen, reducing context-switching and improving clarity.
Proposed features
For every entity referenced in the automation:
- Show current state/value (e.g.
2.1 kW
) - Show last updated time (e.g.
5 sec ago
) - Show availability (e.g.
or
unavailable
) - Optional: click to view history graph
- Optional: highlight stale data (> 2 min old) or
unknown/unavailable
states
This info could appear:
- Inline under each trigger/condition that references an entity, or
- As a collapsible sidebar panel listing all entities used in the automation
Real-world example
For a solar diverter automation that:
- Reads grid export (
sensor.modbus_grid_ct
) - Monitors battery SoC (
sensor.modbus_battery_soc
) - Uses a PV forecast (
sensor.energy_production_today_remaining
) - Adjusts a Mixergy cylinder charge level
… you often need to verify that:
- The grid CT is exporting more than 200 W
- The battery is already > 60%
- Forecast is still positive
- The current charge is below the target
Right now, this requires switching tabs multiple times. A live summary would make diagnosing why an automation didn’t fire much easier—without ever leaving the screen.
Bonus points (future enhancements)
- Automatically flag sensors that are
unavailable
,unknown
, or stale - Add a quick “Test with current state” button
- Show expected outcome if automation were triggered right now