App Idea: Firmware release checker

Lounge
1

Throwing this out there as I won’t have time to look at this myself for a bit, but I was recently told about a firmware repo for finding releases of firmware… I did a cursory look around and didn’t see an app that had been built to search for firmware updates, so I figured I’d post this in case somebody else had more time on their hands than I do right now.

firmware.zwave-js.io is a firmware update service framework that include a number of vendors who apparently submit update notifications when a device has new firmware.

Just thinking through some requirements, an app that did the following would be cool:

  1. At install time, grabs the list of supported vendors and allow you to select ones to query for updates. Later, as part of a weekly job, re-parse the supported list. Perhaps defaults to “on” to catch new vendors participating (Having a list prevents searching for vendors who don’t participate (even tho the returned info will exclude them), or that you don’t want to ever update)

  2. Runs a weekly job which dedupes your devices and makes a single call for all enabled vendors using the v4 API and sends a push message with a short list of Models with updates at a scheduled date and time.

  3. Allow you to go to the app for an “extended” mode report which shows the updated driver (with clickable URL link to download) and all the devices by name that use that driver. Makes it easier to then download firmware (perhaps drop it in the proper place), and then allow you to open another window and launch updater so you have the firmware information and your locally named device list – makes it easy to walk the list with the firmware details you need for updater all concisely listed.

(I thought about but decided against launching an upgrade. You probably want to be a little more aware of devices updating… but auto-downloading the new version could be cool)

So, if anybody has time before I do, have at it! Or if somebody’s already done this already… please share.

2

I mean the biggest challenge is getting companies onboard to report updates. Zigbee updates have to be sent directly to Hubitat and put in their servers. So if you come across a zigbee device update that you can download, you can send it to Mike and he’ll put it up so your hubitat can download and install it.

3

HI,

The same idea went through my mind especially after bricking a Shelly device for picking the wrong way to download and the firmware updater just pushed it on. This same service is used for Zwave-JS UI and I like the ease. Drawback is that just a few vendors use it, and you need to give them a little nudge to create the PRs to keep it up to date. So that is my main reason not to look into this further, but I may change my mind on a long winter day.

Cheers Rene

4

Agreed – for better or worse, one of my device vendors (majority of devices) is apparently engaged with the system. However, building value add and encouraging vendors by having more end users using the update system seems like it’d help raise the level of vendor interest and adoption. In my case most of my devices would be covered. Not true for everybody yet.

Always wondered about that - I have just a handful of Zigbee with none I’ve ever found published updates.

Can’t help but think more will look into it. On another forum I’m told Home Assistant uses it and can launch updates directly from it’s checker… Not suggesting that it’s a reason to follow in kind, but momentum drives vendor interest.

Thanks for the comments guys.

5

I’m guessing you may be referring to Zooz? I’m moving all my ZW devices to HA (long story, but I’m staying on HE overall :sweat_smile: ), and I am super impressed so far with how HA handles ZW, to include the (basically totally hand’s-off) firmware updates. It’s pretty darn slick!