Lumen — Native Apple apps for Frigate NVR (iOS, macOS, Watch, TV, Vision Pro)

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Hi Home Assistant community,

I've built Lumen, a native Apple application for Frigate NVR that integrates seamlessly with your Home Assistant setup.

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The Problem: Frigate's web UI is powerful, but mobile browsing isn't. If you're running Frigate with Home Assistant, you need a native mobile app — not just for convenience, but for real-time notifications and quick access to live feeds.

The Solution: Lumen is a native iOS, macOS, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Vision Pro app that talks directly to your Frigate instance over your local network. No cloud, no account required. Just add your Frigate IP and credentials.

Under the Hood:

  • WebRTC streaming via go2rtc (the same stack Frigate uses)
  • Local network discovery (mDNS or manual IP)
  • Two-way audio support (if your Frigate instance has it)
  • Event timeline with motion/person/car/dog detections
  • Multi-server support (run multiple Frigate instances)
  • Apple Watch complications for quick status
  • Silent push notifications on motion detection

What nearly broke it (technical deep-dive):

  1. WebRTC + go2rtc SDP negotiation — iOS doesn't always accept ICE candidates in order. Tested extensively on real hardware (simulator mDNS lies).

  2. Local Network Privacy (iOS 14+) — Missing NSBonjourServices in Info.plist = silent crash. Took weeks to debug.

  3. Two-way Audio via AVAudioSession — Default category doesn't allow input + output simultaneously. Had to use .playAndRecord mode.

  4. Multi-server state management — Each server gets its own Keychain group and full WebRTC reconnect on switch.

  5. Push Notifications without CloudKit — Can't use CloudKit (local-only network). Ended up using silent notifications + delta fetch on wake.

Current Limitations:

  • Local network only (VLAN? Use mDNS or DNS override)
  • No event recording from Lumen (Frigate handles that)
  • No HomeKit Secure Video integration yet

App Store:

  • Free
  • Zero cloud, zero telemetry
  • Just Frigate credentials
  • Works offline (LAN only)

Download:
App Store: ‎Lumen for Frigate App - App Store
Website: Lumen for Frigate — The native Frigate NVR companion, on every Apple device

Questions for the community:

  • Are you running Frigate with Home Assistant? What's your setup (GPU, cameras, detection objects)?
  • Would you use a native app if available?
  • Any specific features you'd want (doorbell two-way audio, NFC, HomeKit integration)?
  • Network setup: local IP, mDNS, or VPN access to Frigate?

Would love feedback from anyone who's tested it or has ideas for what's missing.

Thanks for building such an amazing open-source security platform. Learn more and support indie development: Lumen for Frigate — The native Frigate NVR companion, on every Apple device

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