Re: [mh] Where next with MisterHouse

Just my two cents worth.

I agree strongly with the comments in support of maintaining MH on the 
current Perl based platform.  I've probably been running MH for more 
than 20 years and have a considerable volume of customised code, with an 
array of technologies that have evolved over time.

I don't agree with the implication that Perl is an obsolete language.   
There are indeed newer cross platform languages, like Python, which 
might have been a choice for MH back when, but it wasn't.

One of MH's key strengths is the breadth of its support for Home 
Automation 'stuff'.  I still use X10 RF for motion sensors in 
combination with RFXCom receivers and XPL.  You can still get 
replacements and they are still cheap by comparison to (say) Zwave 
alternatives.

Over the years X10 mains control has moved to Zwave through integration 
with Razberry and Vera - far more reliable than X10 ever was.

Our core house server is Linux based and it provides MH, Asterisk IPT, 
Mail, Security, CCTV and other integrated services.  MH is a core 
component of our 'intelligent' house and one of the key reasons for its 
adoption was and remains Perl.

I had Audery, then Joggler and now Raspberry Pi's as consoles about the 
house.  We have some Echo devices with Alexa for voice control and they 
are integrated too.

MH reminds me to take my blood pressure mediaction and Alexa gets told 
that I have done it. The thought of having to tear all of this down and 
start again has an entirely negative effect on said blood pressure.

Tony..




On 05/01/2021 05:52, Rick Steeves wrote:
> I've heard this argument before (including in MH history). I would 
> argue that moving MH to a completely different language will made it 
> harder for more people than it will make it easier. Heck, for the past 
> 6 years there've been >=30 posts / month on the mailing list. The 
> community isn't big enough to casually suggest a userbase split is a 
> good thing. A userbase where the entry fee is high.
>
> "MisterHouse is an open source home automation program. It's fun, it's 
> free, and it's entirely geeky." Many of the things that used to make 
> me geeky and cool, non tech people today just plug in, install and 
> app, and have work.
>
> The world is very different than the origin of MH. X10 didn't provide 
> a software platform. Many people today, if they want to automate their 
> home, are going to buy amazon (or google) widgets, load them on their 
> phone, and call it good. There are commercial home automation packages 
> that didn't exist back then. The widgets you buy come with a software 
> platform. There are solid media management platforms. There's an app 
> for that. Chasing a non-existent new user base for MH isn't 
> productive. To your point, people aren't moving to MH because there 
> are many other options.
>
> MH is open source. Instead of arguing to change the entirely of MH to 
> a completely different framework in a different language (making it 
> not useful for years to those currently using it), why not create a 
> separate project and rewrite everything that you wish? That needs to 
> happen if you're switching the language anyway.
>
> Or spend that vast amount of effort by picking out individual 
> components and improving them. Start with making a rock-solid install 
> that's easy to use and documentation that works cross-platform. Build 
> a new web UI if that's your thing. Those things would be awesome.
>
> Rick
>
> On 1/4/2021 9:41 PM, Spencer Ryan wrote:
>> Maybe a userbase split isn't a bad thing. I think more people are 
>> turned off of the legacy aspect of MH than are drawn to it. How many 
>> new users move to the platform vs the X10 users who have been here 20 
>> years? Yes, customizations would have to be redone, but at some point 
>> you have to acknowledge that it will be easier for most people in 
>> Python/.NET/Whatever than in a language that is dead for all useful 
>> purposes.
>
>
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-- 
Tony Yates                          [email protected]



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