Hub Variables and Connectors question

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1

I'm totally new to playing around with Variables and Connectors, so pardon if this is a dumb question...

I'd like to be able to compare a humidity sensor's current reading to its last reading... I created a Hub Variable for the sensor's last reading, but should I (or is it simply more preferable to) also create an associated Connector too?

If I'm reading the documentation right, it sounds like I shouldn't create a Connector unless I use an app that cannot reference the Variable directly -- it appears RM 5.1 can rock Variables perfectly well, so is there any need for me to create a Connector?

It seems like adding a Connector is just unnecessary "overhead" in my case, but I'd be grateful to confirm I'm not missing something obvious or important. Thanks!

2

Correct, there is no need to create a connector if the app you're using can work with variables directly. Before hub variables, no app besides Rule Machine (now Rule Machine Legacy) could do this, so you'd need one to work with other apps, including Dashboard (which could very well have been the impetus for their creation in the first place).

Nowadays, lots of built-in apps and an increasing variety of custom apps can work with them directly. For everything else, there are still connectors--though the ability to create them will likely be deprecated or removed at some point as direct usage becomes possible.

Or in other words, doesn't sound like you're missing anything. :slight_smile:

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3

Perfecto - thanks very much for that sanity check! :+1: