'Dromotica' app for controlling Domoticz from Android

[sebas]

Hi,

I've installed Domoticz on Monday and have a Youless monitor and two switches with an RFXCOM up and running now so I'm a new user of Domoticz and new to domotica in general. I really like to have an open source domotica server that can run on a Raspberry Pi instead of the closed source and expensive systems. That Domoticz is controlled using a website is really useful as that can run on any device with a web browser. I did find it "slow" to work with, especially on my phone and tablet. Loading the pages takes a couple of settings and it's quicker to get of the coach and get the old remote of the switches I use. I had the idea that a native app would be quicker to work with and as that website talks to the server using a JSON API it would be possible to develop such an app.

So I got to work and decided that the first app I was going to develop would be a Domoticz app. I've got an early version ready and I want to share that with you. Maybe you'll find it useful as well. Currently the only thing it does is display the current and daily use on the utility screen but I’m planning on supporting the switches, scenes etc. First focus will be on display and switches. The graphs and maybe setup will come later. Also for the design and layout I’ve focused on smartphones first. It will work on tablets but the layout will be a bit messy. The overall design will need a upgrade anyway .

The app can be found in the Play Store and is available for download for free.



You’ll need Android 4.0 or later installed on your device.

Below are some screenshots of the app.







Dou you think this would be useful to develop? What features would you like to see supported in the app.

Update 18-9-2013 | 15:26
- Added support for on/off switches.

Update 12-10-2013
- New navigation menu
- Improved error handling
- Settings menu
- Start screen selection

Update 13-10-2013
- Support for scenes added

Update 14-10-2013
- Added support for all switch types
- Fixed a bug causing switches to by shown double and some not at all

Download

[oopee]

There is atleast one Android app already - Andromoticz.

[sebas]

There is atleast one Android app already - Andromoticz.

Haha, ok. I did find that in the Play store when searching for domotica but didn't see it was for Domoticz. Did notice that the interface wasn't in English, that put me off as well but could be a setting in the app.
Didn't find any apps while searching this forum.

I'll keep developing this app. It's also a nice way for me to develop my Android programming skills

I've put the file online for download and updated the opening post.
The app is available for downloade here.

[oopee]

Cool. Don't get me wrong - more the merrier. I'll try both when I get my Nexus 7. Please make it look nice on tablets and horizontal too.

[remb0]

nice work.

most important things for me:
-android notification bar notifications,
-widget to control switches very fast.

[remb0]

I move this topic... to third party.

[Skippiemanz]

Looks prommissing!

[BigDog]

looks very nice

i try the andromoticz but it dasnt work At all.. try alot of different things but i cant get the app to work
hope to see more of this app

Good luck!

[sebas]

Cool. Don't get me wrong - more the merrier. I'll try both when I get my Nexus 7. Please make it look nice on tablets and horizontal too.

Tablet support is on the to do list. I've got an old Motorola Xoom that I want to use as a remote and to test with.

nice work.

most important things for me:
-android notification bar notifications,
-widget to control switches very fast.

Thanks. Widgets is a nice idea.

Domoticz supports NMA for notifications. I can connect my app to NMA but that requires the NMA client app to be installed as well to pass the notification from NMA to the app as far as I saw.
If Domoticz could connect to Google Cloud Messaging we could bypass the need for the NMA client app.

I just updated the app with support for on/off switches. To update just download the app from the link above and install. You'll keep your settings.

[gertjuhh]

Would love it if this app would not need a selection screen (screenshot 3), but rather switch between screens using swipe actions (swipe left / right).
Also a setting to determine which screen to open with by default would be a nice addition.

[geho]

Cool app, please keep it simple and fast.

When do expect do implement dimmers?

/Gerard

[SweetPants]

Just installed it on a Nexus 7 32Gb, but keeps crashing as soon as i hit 'switches or Utility".
Other buttons don't do anything.

Harry

[sebas]

Just installed it on a Nexus 7 32Gb, but keeps crashing as soon as i hit 'switches or Utility".
Other buttons don't do anything.

Harry

Bummer. I'll see if I can figure out why it's crashing and I'll add more feedback if something produces an error.
The other buttons haven't been build yet, that's why they don't do anything.

I'm working on the settings screen at the moment so it's possible to change the username, host etc. Only way to do that now is by removing the app and reinstalling it. Next is scenes and then I'll start with all the other types of switches including dimmers.

[Scoobydoo]

Looking forward to seeing the development of this app. The swipe left and right to select different options instead of having to choose it on one screen is a good idea. Clean and simple look is the main thing, looking forward to seeing the dimmers implemented. Keep up the good work

[gibbiem]

This looks spot on. Visually pleasing. I use the HTC One running Android 4.3 and get 'Unfortunately, Domoticz has stopped' when selecting 'switches' and 'utilities'.

[D3LTA]

Great work this!! really! with all due respect the andromoticz app works, but i all but nice.

I hope you keep developing this app!

thanks alot!

[sebas]

Update

I've just uploaded a new version of the app. Download is available here or with the link in the start post or scanning this QR code.


New and improved
Navigation
The dashboard screen with the buttons has been removed and replaced with a menu that is accesable from all screens. This brings the Domoticz app in line with standard navigation standard in Android apps and makes switching screens easier.
The menu is access by swiping from the left side of the screen to the right or by clicking the Domoticz logo at the top of the screen. Only available screens are shown in the menu. The dashboard also had buttons for screens not yet implemented.


Settings
Previous versions didn't have some way to change the settings for the server without re-installing the app. This version now supports a settings screen on which server settings and app preferences can be changed.
The settings menu is available trough the new menu.


Start screen setting
As the dashboard screen has been removed there is no default starting screen. It is now possible to select one of the screens to be the default screen that is opened on starting the app. This setting is available trough the new settings menu.
When no start screen is set the settings menu will be displayed upon start to select one.


Error handling
When the previous versions of the app could not connect to the Domoticz server the app would crash. It will now display an error message instead of crashing.


I had to move the server settings to a new way of storing them in the app to make them available in the settings screen. Because of this after installing this update you will need to re-enter the server settings.
The update can be installed by opening the download link on your Android phone. No need to uninstall first.

[alfred_j_kwak]

"There is problem when parsing the package" Or something like that when I try to install apk.

-Jussi-

[sebas]

"There is problem when parsing the package" Or something like that when I try to install apk.

-Jussi-

Please try again. Maybe the download failed somehow. Just to be sure I've made a new package and uploaded that.
Tested downloading with my own phone and installs without any errors.

[Skippiemanz]

Hmmm, It looks prommising but keeps saying cannot connect. All my settings where right. Any ideas?