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Home Assistant automation planner

Plan a Home Assistant automation before you buy the devices

Start from an automation goal, then check the required entities, hubs, connection path, feature limits, reliability risks, and Home Assistant YAML starter. Use it before buying Matter, Thread, Zigbee, camera, lock, sensor, or lighting devices.

Open the plannerGenerate YAML

What it checks

Entities, hubs, limits, reliability, and YAML

Home Assistant can automate many devices, but only if the right entities are exposed and the setup path is reliable enough. This page focuses on the automation path, not generic product specs.

Required Home Assistant trigger and action entities
Matter Controller, Thread Border Router, Zigbee coordinator, or bridge requirements
Feature limits when a vendor app exposes more than Matter or Home Assistant
Local-control, cloud dependency, mesh, and unavailable-state risks
Manual override, debounce, cooldown, and fallback needs before YAML
Home Assistant YAML starter with editable entity placeholders

Common Home Assistant automation goals

Start with the outcome

Presence lighting

Choose a presence or motion sensor, verify light entities, add delay-off logic, and generate YAML.

Front door security

Plan door sensor, lock, camera, notification, hub needs, and safe confirmation rules.

Smart lock access

Check Matter over Thread lock paths, door-state sensors, access-code limits, and fallback notifications.

Device health report

Plan low battery, unavailable, unknown, last_seen, and maintenance notifications.

Notify, record, light the entry, and optionally unlock when someone approaches or opens the front door.

Devices you already own

Security automation

Front door security automation

Notify, record, light the entry, and optionally unlock when someone approaches or opens the front door.

Local risk

high

Security scene

Yes

Owned matches

0

Recommended setup path
  1. Use a door sensor or camera event as the trigger, not only a cloud notification.
  2. Add a light or siren action only after the trigger is reliable.
  3. Use a local camera/NVR path for privacy-sensitive recording when possible.
Missing devices and hubs
  • Aqara Door and Window Sensor P2
  • Eve Door & Window
  • Aqara Smart Lock U200
  • Nuki Smart Lock Ultra
  • Philips Hue Bridge
  • door or window sensor
  • camera or doorbell path
  • notification target
  • optional smart lock
  • optional local NVR
Feature and reliability limits
  • Cloud doorbells can delay events or require subscriptions.
  • Matter camera support is emerging, but Home Assistant users still commonly rely on RTSP, ONVIF, vendor integrations, or Frigate.
  • Security-critical unlock automations should require extra confirmation.
Automation reliability checklist

These checks come before copying YAML. They reduce false triggers, stale states, manual-control conflicts, and unsafe security or power actions.

  • Use at least one local trigger such as a door sensor, lock state, camera event, or NVR event.
  • Avoid auto-unlock from a single presence or camera trigger; require confirmation for risky actions.
  • Add notification fallback when the camera, cloud service, or NVR is unavailable.
  • Check whether person, package, or doorbell events are exposed to Home Assistant before buying.

Recommended devices

Aqara Door and Window Sensor P2Eve Door & WindowAqara Smart Lock U200Nuki Smart Lock UltraPhilips Hue Bridge
Home Assistant YAML starter
Customize this YAML
alias: Notify when front door opens
trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.front_door
    to: "on"
action:
  - service: notify.mobile_app_phone
    data:
      title: Front door opened
      message: The front door sensor changed to open.
mode: single

Need a final setup and reliability path?

$1.99 setup + reliability report

Send your scene, devices, hubs, and target ecosystem. We will return what to connect, what hub is missing, which features may not work, reliability risks, fallback checks, and what to buy or avoid.

Manual reviewBefore you buy
Request setup + reliability report

Share or save this result

Copy the current setup URL or a concise diagnosis summary.

FAQ

What is the Home Assistant Automation Planner?

It is a scene-first planning tool for Home Assistant automations. It maps an automation goal to required devices, exposed entities, hubs, compatibility paths, reliability checks, and YAML starters.

Can it tell me which entities I need?

Yes. The planner highlights the trigger and action entities a Home Assistant automation needs, such as motion, presence, contact, lock, light, power, camera event, or notification entities.

Does it check Matter, Thread, Zigbee, and hub requirements?

Yes. It flags missing Matter Controllers, Thread Border Routers, Zigbee coordinators, vendor bridges, Home Assistant controllers, and local or cloud path risks.

Does it generate YAML?

Yes. It links each supported scene to a Home Assistant-compatible YAML starter that uses editable entity placeholders.