ha-mqtt-discoverable

A Python 3 module that takes advantage of Home Assistant's MQTT discovery protocol to create sensors without having to define anything on the HA side.

Using MQTT discoverable devices lets us add new sensors and devices to HA without having to restart HA. The ha-mqtt-discoverable-cli module includes scripts to make it easy to create discoverable devices from the command line if you don't want to bother writing Python.

Table of Contents

• Installing
  • Python
• Supported entities
  • Binary sensor
    • Usage
  • Button
  • Camera
    • Usage
  • Covers
    • Usage
  • Device
    • Usage
  • Device trigger
    • Usage
  • Image
    • Usage
  • Light
    • Usage
  • Number
    • Usage
  • Sensor
    • Usage
  • Select
    • Usage
  • Switch
    • Usage
  • Text
    • Usage
• FAQ
  • Using an existing MQTT client
  • I'm having problems on 32 bit ARM
• Contributing
• Users of ha-mqtt-discoverable
• Contributors

Installing

Python

ha-mqtt-discoverable runs on Python 3.10 or later.

pip install ha-mqtt-discoverable if you want to use it in your own python scripts. pip install ha-mqtt-discoverable-cli to install the hmd utility scripts.

Supported entities

The following Home Assistant entities are currently implemented:

• Binary sensor
• Button
• Camera
• Cover
• Device
• Device trigger
• Image
• Light
• Number
• Sensor
• Select
• Switch
• Text

Each entity can associated to a device. See below for details.

Binary sensor

Usage

The following example creates a binary sensor and sets its state:

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import BinarySensor, BinarySensorInfo


# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Information about the sensor
sensor_info = BinarySensorInfo(name="MySensor", device_class="motion")

settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=sensor_info)

# Instantiate the sensor
mysensor = BinarySensor(settings)

# Change the state of the sensor, publishing an MQTT message that gets picked up by HA
mysensor.on()
mysensor.off()

# Or, change the state using a boolean
mysensor.update_state(True)
mysensor.update_state(False)

# You can also set custom attributes on the sensor via a Python dict
mysensor.set_attributes({"my attribute": "awesome"})

Button

The button publishes no state, it simply receives a command from HA.

You must call write_config on a Button after creating it to make it discoverable.

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import Button, ButtonInfo
from paho.mqtt.client import Client, MQTTMessage

# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Information about the button
button_info = ButtonInfo(name="test")

settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=button_info)

# To receive button commands from HA, define a callback function:
def my_callback(client: Client, user_data, message: MQTTMessage):
    perform_my_custom_action()

# Define an optional object to be passed back to the callback
user_data = "Some custom data"

# Instantiate the button
my_button = Button(settings, my_callback, user_data)

# Publish the button's discoverability message to let HA automatically notice it
my_button.write_config()

Camera

The following example creates an camera entity with a topic to an image.

Usage

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import Camera, CameraInfo
from paho.mqtt.client import Client, MQTTMessage

# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Information about the cover
camera_info = CameraInfo(name="test", topic="zanzito/shared_locations/my-device")

settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=camera_info)

# To receive state commands from HA, define a callback function:
def my_callback(client: Client, user_data, message: MQTTMessage):
    payload = message.payload.decode()
    perform_my_custom_action()

# Define an optional object to be passed back to the callback
user_data = "Some custom data"

# Instantiate the cover
my_camera = Camera(settings, my_callback, user_data)

# Set the initial state of the cover, which also makes it discoverable
my_camera.set_topic("zanzito/shared_locations/my-device")	# not needed if already defined

Covers

A cover has five possible states open, closed, opening, closing and stopped. Most other entities use the states as command payload, but covers differentiate on this. The HA user can either open, close or stop it in the covers current position.

Covers do not currently support tilt.

A callback function is needed in order to parse the commands sent from HA, as the following example shows:

Usage

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import Cover, CoverInfo
from paho.mqtt.client import Client, MQTTMessage

# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Information about the cover
cover_info = CoverInfo(name="test")

settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=cover_info)

# To receive state commands from HA, define a callback function:
def my_callback(client: Client, user_data, message: MQTTMessage):
    payload = message.payload.decode()
    if payload == "OPEN":
    # let HA know that the cover is opening
    my_cover.opening()
    # call function to open cover
        open_my_custom_cover()
        # Let HA know that the cover was opened
    my_cover.open()
    if payload == "CLOSE":
    # let HA know that the cover is closing
    my_cover.closing()
    # call function to close the cover
        close_my_custom_cover()
        # Let HA know that the cover was closed
    my_cover.closed()
    if payload == "STOP":
    # call function to stop the cover
        stop_my_custom_cover()
        # Let HA know that the cover was stopped
    my_cover.stopped()

# Define an optional object to be passed back to the callback
user_data = "Some custom data"

# Instantiate the cover
my_cover = Cover(settings, my_callback, user_data)

# Set the initial state of the cover, which also makes it discoverable
my_cover.closed()

Device

From the Home Assistant documentation:

A device is a special entity in Home Assistant that is represented by one or more entities. A device is automatically created when an entity defines its device property. A device will be matched up with an existing device via supplied identifiers or connections, like serial numbers or MAC addresses.

Usage

The following example create a device, by associating multiple sensors to the same DeviceInfo instance.

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings, DeviceInfo
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import BinarySensor, BinarySensorInfo

# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Define the device. At least one of `identifiers` or `connections` must be supplied
device_info = DeviceInfo(name="My device", identifiers="device_id")

# Associate the sensor with the device via the `device` parameter
# `unique_id` must also be set, otherwise Home Assistant will not display the device in the UI
motion_sensor_info = BinarySensorInfo(name="My motion sensor", device_class="motion", unique_id="my_motion_sensor", device=device_info)

motion_settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=motion_sensor_info)

# Instantiate the sensor
motion_sensor = BinarySensor(motion_settings)

# Change the state of the sensor, publishing an MQTT message that gets picked up by HA
motion_sensor.on()

# An additional sensor can be added to the same device, by re-using the DeviceInfo instance previously defined
door_sensor_info = BinarySensorInfo(name="My door sensor", device_class="door", unique_id="my_door_sensor", device=device_info)
door_settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=door_sensor_info)

# Instantiate the sensor
door_sensor = BinarySensor(settings)

# Change the state of the sensor, publishing an MQTT message that gets picked up by HA
door_sensor.on()

# The two sensors should be visible inside Home Assistant under the device `My device`

Device trigger

The following example creates a device trigger and generates a trigger event:

Usage

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import DeviceInfo, DeviceTriggerInfo, DeviceTrigger

# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Define the device. At least one of `identifiers` or `connections` must be supplied
device_info = DeviceInfo(name="My device", identifiers="device_id")

# Associate the sensor with the device via the `device` parameter
trigger_info = DeviceTriggerInfo(name="MyTrigger", type="button_press", subtype="button_1", unique_id="my_device_trigger", device=device_info)

settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=trigger_info)

# Instantiate the device trigger
mytrigger = DeviceTrigger(settings)

# Generate a device trigger event, publishing an MQTT message that gets picked up by HA
# Optionally include a payload as part of the event
mytrigger.trigger("My custom payload")

Image

The following example creates an entity to an image url.

Usage

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import Image, ImageInfo
from paho.mqtt.client import Client, MQTTMessage

# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Information about the cover
image_info = ImageInfo(name="test", url_topic ="http://camera.local/latest.jpg")

settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=image_info)

# To receive state commands from HA, define a callback function:
def my_callback(client: Client, user_data, message: MQTTMessage):
    payload = message.payload.decode()
    perform_my_custom_action()

# Define an optional object to be passed back to the callback
user_data = "Some custom data"

# Instantiate the cover
my_image = Image(settings, my_callback, user_data)

# Set the initial state of the cover, which also makes it discoverable
my_image.set_url("http://camera.local/latest.jpg")	# not needed if already defined

Light

The light is different from other current sensor as it needs its payload encoded/decoded as json. It is possible to set brightness, effects and the color of the light. Similar to a switch it can also receive 'commands' from HA that request a state change. It is possible to act upon reception of this 'command', by defining a callback function, as the following example shows:

Usage

import json
from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import Light, LightInfo
from paho.mqtt.client import Client, MQTTMessage

# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Information about the light
light_info = LightInfo(
    name="test_light",
    brightness=True,
    color_mode=True,
    supported_color_modes=["rgb"],
    effect=True,
    effect_list=["blink", "my_cusom_effect"])

settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=light_info)

# To receive state commands from HA, define a callback function:
def my_callback(client: Client, user_data, message: MQTTMessage):

    # Make sure received payload is json
    try:
        payload = json.loads(message.payload.decode())
    except ValueError as error:
        print("Ony JSON schema is supported for light entities!")
        return

    # Parse received dictionary
    if "color" in payload:
        set_color_of_my_light()
        my_light.color("rgb", payload["color"])
    elif "brightness" in payload:
        set_brightness_of_my_light()
        my_light.brightness(payload["brightness"])
    elif "effect" in payload:
        set_effect_of_my_light()
        my_light.effect(payload["effect"])
    elif "state" in payload:
        if payload["state"] == light_info.payload_on:
            turn_on_my_light()
            my_light.on()
        else:
            turn_off_my_light()
            my_light.off()
    else:
        print("Unknown payload")

# Define an optional object to be passed back to the callback
user_data = "Some custom data"

# Instantiate the switch
my_light = Light(settings, my_callback, user_data)

# Set the initial state of the light, which also makes it discoverable
my_light.off()

Number

The number entity is similar to the text entity, but for a numeric value instead of a string. It is possible to act upon receiving changes in HA by defining a callback function, as the following example shows:

Usage

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import Number, NumberInfo
from paho.mqtt.client import Client, MQTTMessage

# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Information about the `number` entity.
number_info = NumberInfo(name="test", min=0, max=50, mode="slider", step=5)

settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=number_info)

# To receive number updates from HA, define a callback function:
def my_callback(client: Client, user_data, message: MQTTMessage):
    number = int(message.payload.decode())
    logging.info(f"Received {number} from HA")
    do_some_custom_thing(number)
    # Send an MQTT message to confirm to HA that the number was changed
    my_number.set_value(number)

# Define an optional object to be passed back to the callback
user_data = "Some custom data"

# Instantiate the number
my_number = Number(settings, my_callback, user_data)

# Set the initial number displayed in HA UI, publishing an MQTT message that gets picked up by HA
my_number.set_value(42.0)

Sensor

Usage

The following example creates a sensor and sets its state:

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import Sensor, SensorInfo


# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Information about the sensor
sensor_info = SensorInfo(
    name="MyTemperatureSensor",
    device_class="temperature",
    unit_of_measurement="°C",
)

settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=sensor_info)

# Instantiate the sensor
mysensor = Sensor(settings)

# Change the state of the sensor, publishing an MQTT message that gets picked up by HA
mysensor.set_state(20.5)

Select

The selection entity is a list of selectable options in homeassistant. It is possible to act upon reception of this 'command', by defining a callback function, as the following example shows:

Usage

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import Select, SelectInfo
from paho.mqtt.client import Client, MQTTMessage

# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Information about the switch
select_info = SelectInfo(name="test", options=["option1", "option2", "option3"])

settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=select_info)

# To receive state commands from HA, define a callback function:
def my_callback(client: Client, user_data, message: MQTTMessage):
    payload = message.payload.decode()
    do_something()

# Define an optional object to be passed back to the callback
user_data = "Some custom data"

# Instantiate the selection
my_selection = Select(settings, my_callback, user_data)

# Set the initial state of the selection, which also makes it discoverable
opt = ["option3", "option4", "option5"]
my_selection.set_options()

Switch

The switch is similar to a binary sensor, but in addition to publishing state changes toward HA it can also receive 'commands' from HA that request a state change. It is possible to act upon reception of this 'command', by defining a callback function, as the following example shows:

Usage

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import Switch, SwitchInfo
from paho.mqtt.client import Client, MQTTMessage

# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Information about the switch
switch_info = SwitchInfo(name="test")

settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=switch_info)

# To receive state commands from HA, define a callback function:
def my_callback(client: Client, user_data, message: MQTTMessage):
    payload = message.payload.decode()
    if payload == "ON":
        turn_my_custom_thing_on()
        # Let HA know that the switch was successfully activated
	my_switch.on()
    elif payload == "OFF":
        turn_my_custom_thing_off()
        # Let HA know that the switch was successfully deactivated
	my_switch.off()

# Define an optional object to be passed back to the callback
user_data = "Some custom data"

# Instantiate the switch
my_switch = Switch(settings, my_callback, user_data)

# Set the initial state of the switch, which also makes it discoverable
my_switch.off()

Text

The text is an helper entity, showing an input field in the HA UI that the user can interact with. It is possible to act upon reception of the inputted text by defining a callback function, as the following example shows:

Usage

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from ha_mqtt_discoverable.sensors import Text, TextInfo
from paho.mqtt.client import Client, MQTTMessage

# Configure the required parameters for the MQTT broker
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(host="localhost")

# Information about the `text` entity
text_info = TextInfo(name="test")

settings = Settings(mqtt=mqtt_settings, entity=text_info)

# To receive text updates from HA, define a callback function:
def my_callback(client: Client, user_data, message: MQTTMessage):
    text = message.payload.decode()
    logging.info(f"Received {text} from HA")
    do_some_custom_thing(text)
    # Send an MQTT message to confirm to HA that the text was changed
    my_text.set_text(text)

# Define an optional object to be passed back to the callback
user_data = "Some custom data"

# Instantiate the text
my_text = Text(settings, my_callback, user_data)

# Set the initial text displayed in HA UI, publishing an MQTT message that gets picked up by HA
my_text.set_text("Some awesome text")

FAQ

Using an existing MQTT client

If you want to use an existing MQTT client for the connection, you can pass it to the Settings object:

from ha_mqtt_discoverable import Settings
from paho.mqtt.client import Client

# Creating the MQTT client
client = Client()
# Doing other stuff with the client, like connecting to the broker
# ...

# Providing the client to the Settings object
# In this case, no other MQTT settings are needed
mqtt_settings = Settings.MQTT(client=client)

# Continue with the rest of the code as usual

I'm having problems on 32 bit ARM

Pydantic 2 has issues on 32 bit ARM. More details are on ha-mqtt-discoverable/pull/191. TL;DR: If you're on an ARM32 machine you're going to have to pin to the 0.13.1 version.

Contributing

Please run black on your code before submitting. There are git hooks already configured to run black and other checks before every commit, please run pre-commit install to enable them.

Users of ha-mqtt-discoverable

If you use this module for your own project, please add a link here.

• ha-mqtt-discoverable-cli - Command line tools that allow using this module from shell scripts

• plejd-mqtt-ha - A containerized Python application that bridges Plejd devices to Home Assistant

• homeassistant-zodiac-tri-expert - A Zodiac Tri Expert salt water generator integration

Contributors

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