Home Assistant OS 18.0 has been released as a major update to the Linux-based appliance platform used to run Home Assistant, a free, open-source smart home platform, on devices such as Raspberry Pi boards, Home Assistant Green and Yellow, generic x86-64 systems, and virtual machines.
To be clear, this is not a new release of the application itself. Home Assistant OS is the all-in-one operating system image that provides the Linux base, Supervisor, container runtime, update handling, add-on support, backups, and hardware integration needed to run a managed Home Assistant installation.
The main change in this release is a platform-wide move from Linux kernel 6.12 to Linux kernel 6.18 LTS. The update also ships Docker 29.5.3, containerd 2.2.4, and Buildroot 2025.02.14, refreshing several core components underneath Home Assistant installations.
This makes me wonder how many here have automated their homes? I have not, and never will, for a lot of reasons. Technical skill. Security. Expense. Power failures.
I was a painting contractor for 35 years before calling it quits for good last year. I’ve watched electricians roughing in and the bundles of wires are bigger than my leg and the there’s literally thousands of miles of it. Then toward the end of jobs watching the audio/visual guys set up the automation end of it,the CPUs,monitors,WiFi.
I can understand why many homeowners want automation particularly in large houses but I look at it as the more you complicate something the more opportunity there is for something to go wrong.
When it comes to the roof over your head I personally want simplicity. Don’t get me wrong I completely understand the use of a programmable thermostats and timers for lighting but these are simplistic manually operated devices.
In the end if it’s something I can’t deal with or fix I know people who can. Even if you’re not in the same situation as my myself,when you get someone in your house to remedy an issue it’s going to be a lot less expensive and much less time spent when you have deal with a more traditional home when compared to a “smart” home.
I really like your perspective on home automation, thank you for sharing. I very much feel the sentiment of “the more you complicate something, the more opportunity there is for something to go wrong”. Furthermore, as I’m not well-versed in network security, I don’t want to risk any mistakes in that sense.
(Also, generally, I don’t mind the process of opening my curtains, turning my lights on/off, making coffee, etc.)
Home Assistant just keeps getting better and better, but I’ve only toyed with it. I really want to start a project to automate (optimise) my solar generation, hot water heating and charging my wife’s EV. The last one is already covered with a non-HA app, so I’d have to work out how my system would co-exist with that.
What’s stopping me is the problem of changing the immersion heater controller with some power electronics that I could interface with. Choosing the right kit to do all that is critical. Also, I’m scared that when I remove the immersion heater something will break and I’ll need a new hot water tank. Wife says: “If it ain’t broke why fix it?” – so I’m hoping for a burst hot water tank, ASAP, so that I can get started! (C’mon hot water tank, why don’t you just blow up already?)
@DeLinuxCo@rogerp this is really nice hearing. Have not tried it yet. I’ve never been a big fan of smart fans not gonna do it… smart lighting, etc. That said, I have seen real savings in having smart split aircondition units!
What are the best saving uses for Home Assistant? I don’t mean saving 1% a month but something worth the bother like smart AC’s which have lowered our bills by ~ 20%.
@hydn I’ll let you know if I save money when I get this energy saving thing set up. But I think the hardware costs are going to be somewhat high. When I last looked only a few power electronics vendors supported HA. I charge myself at least $1000 per day + expenses, so we’ll see. Also, as a confirmed idiot, I would want to re-write all the Python stuff into pure Julia. But then I probably might host a git hub and then I’d have to support it.
I always hated the idea of a "smart home”, Everything about the idea screamed online access to my home.
When I found Home Assistant, I found out that it all runs local. Using Zigbee protocol devices, I control everything from light switches, to window shades, to controlling TV’s, monitor Printer ink of printers on the network etc.
I recommend running the full version in a VM, in a mini PC.
saving uses for Home Assistant? I don’t mean saving 1% a month but something worth the bother like smart AC’s which have lowered our bills by ~ 20%.
My wife asked me why we don’t get a smart lock for the front door so we don’t have to be giving out spare keys.