Python plugin: Slide by Innovation in Motion

[Lokonli]

Good to know. Thanks for the update!

[heggink]

Hey lokonki,

Talking to the slide people the other day, they mentioned a beta api that allows direct communications with the slides without their cloud. I have the API description. I would be very interested to have a plugin version that does not need an internet connection.

Unfortunately, the API cannot coexist with the internet one so it's either or but when they fix that, any interest to consider an alternative approach?

H

Sent from phone.

[RogerSch]

I would also be interested in using a local API.

[RogerSch]

@lokonki: I'm now building some scripts with the Slides. One of them is to control certain curtains when the TV is being used (this is the case for certain Logitech Harmony states).
Now I noticed that there is a delay of a few minutes after executing a command (like closing the curtain) and actual updating the status of the curtain in Domoticz. In order not to be limited by the device update interval, might it be an idea to set the device status in Domoticz at the same moment when the update command of that device is being sent out? Afterwards during the regular update interval the actual status will then be set (ideally thsi should be the same).
Or are there any limitations why this is not possible or advisable?

[Lokonli]

@lokonki: I'm now building some scripts with the Slides. One of them is to control certain curtains when the TV is being used (this is the case for certain Logitech Harmony states).
Now I noticed that there is a delay of a few minutes after executing a command (like closing the curtain) and actual updating the status of the curtain in Domoticz. In order not to be limited by the device update interval, might it be an idea to set the device status in Domoticz at the same moment when the update command of that device is being sent out? Afterwards during the regular update interval the actual status will then be set (ideally thsi should be the same).
Or are there any limitations why this is not possible or advisable?

After I send a command to Slide open/close, I start polling for position changes, and I keep on polling as long as the slide is moving.
Last months I noticed that the position of Slide is not always updated correctly. It seems that it's not a problem of the plugin, but a problem of the slide server, since the Slide app also reports an incorrect position.

But I'll do some checks, and think of an alternative solution. Maybe setting in Domoticz might be a solution, but at a certain moment I've to start requesting the slide position from the Slide server again.

[Lokonli]

Hey lokonki,

Talking to the slide people the other day, they mentioned a beta api that allows direct communications with the slides without their cloud. I have the API description. I would be very interested to have a plugin version that does not need an internet connection.

Unfortunately, the API cannot coexist with the internet one so it's either or but when they fix that, any interest to consider an alternative approach?

H

Sent from phone.

Can you send me the API description? I would like to get an idea of the mechanisms that are being the used, and the complexity to implement.

[RogerSch]

Last months I noticed that the position of Slide is not always updated correctly. It seems that it's not a problem of the plugin, but a problem of the slide server, since the Slide app also reports an incorrect position.

But I'll do some checks, and think of an alternative solution. Maybe setting in Domoticz might be a solution, but at a certain moment I've to start requesting the slide position from the Slide server again.

Maybe setting in Domoticz might be a solution, => That is what I also thought of. And thereafter just have the regular polling update. I have reviewed your python code and as I understand most of it I don't dare to update the onCommand procedure with the needed code for it.

Of course I'm more than happy to test it.

[Bikey]

Can you send me the API description? I would like to get an idea of the mechanisms that are being the used, and the complexity to implement.

As you probably also heard is that Slide IM have serious funding problems. So don't have your hopes up that this is coming soon, I think further development may be slowed down.

It is already worrisome that he App has not been updated in 4 months, still having a bug where the time setting is one minute before from what you have set. And then when you want to edit a set time, is shows a time that is 2 hours before the programmed time (depending on the daylight saving).

Also no more updates on e.g. Amazon Alexa support. But thanks to your plug-in (in combination with HA-Bridge) I have this working anyway

Just checked again for some news and noticed this Tweet, mentioning news "next week" (which was 16 march): https://twitter.com/Slide_by_IIM/with_replies No follow up, however. Does anybody know what that was about, Google integration?

[RogerSch]

Can you send me the API description? I would like to get an idea of the mechanisms that are being the used, and the complexity to implement.

As you probably also heard is that Slide IM have serious funding problems. So don't have your hopes up that this is coming soon, I think further development may be slowed down.

Sorry to say but hence it is even more crucial that a local API becomes available. In case Slide IM goes bankrupt, and I really hope this will not be the case, then the central servers might also be shut down. Hence the slides will not work anymore....

[heggink]

The 'beta' API is already there. It requires you to enable it on the slides itself. They told me that it has some issues whereby, sometimes, the calibration gets lost requiring recalibration. I have not tested it myself.

I tried to get an investor connected to them but he backed off (which in itself, is a concern). I'll reach out to them again asking about the API updates. It requires a firmware update on the slides...

[marcpos]

Hi, I'm using this plugin with my slides for a few months now and I'm very happy, works great!
Local API would be great for future independence.
I'm using the plugin in Domoticz version 4.10717 but I want to update to the newest verion. Is it compatible with the newest version 2020.2?

[heggink]

Yes. I run it with one of the latest beta's.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G980F met Tapatalk

[Lokonli]

Yes. I run it with one of the latest beta's.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G980F met Tapatalk

I'm not sure how stable the local API firmware is.

Did someone test it?

Can you switch back the Slide to the cloud API?

[heggink]

I did not buy probably best to just contact them. Happy to do that. They seem pretty responsive and open on the state of the api. Last three told me, it had some issues where it would lose calibration...

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G980F met Tapatalk

[Lokonli]

I did not buy probably best to just contact them. Happy to do that. They seem pretty responsive and open on the state of the api. Last three told me, it had some issues where it would lose calibration...

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G980F met Tapatalk

ok. Let's try.

I have one spare slide. I switched it to local API mode. And yes, communication is working

The API is pretty straight forward. I'll make a test Domoticz plugin.

[RogerSch]

That would be really cool!

[Lokonli]

I did not buy probably best to just contact them. Happy to do that. They seem pretty responsive and open on the state of the api. Last three told me, it had some issues where it would lose calibration...

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G980F met Tapatalk

ok. Let's try.

I have one spare slide. I switched it to local API mode. And yes, communication is working

The API is pretty straight forward. I'll make a test Domoticz plugin.

hmm.

The local API uses Digest Authorization. I'm not sure how to implement that with the Domoticz python plugin framework ...

[Lokonli]

ok. Making progress. Digest authorization is working. Now further finalize the plugin.

[Lokonli]

And there it is:
The first beta of the Slide plugin for Domoticz using the local API.

https://github.com/lokonli/slide-domoticz-local

Reminder:
The local API still is in beta. (and this plugin as well )

[heggink]

Yay, nice! What is your experience so far with the API? They mentioned the devices sometimes lose their calibration...

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G980F met Tapatalk