I am new to automation and just got my hub last week. at this point I only have a few switches and a garage door open. Prior to getting the hub i messed around with IFTTT and google home. I am starting to play around with rule machine and looking for a tool to evaluate my statements. It would be much easier to test the logic before trying to add it to RM.
a RM simulator of sorts or graphic flow editor would be ideal so i could see where my logic went wrong.
I have searched the web but havent been able to find anything simple. The closest i have found is logic.ly but that more of an electronics simulator.
lots of great info here. Appreciate any thought on this.
.
2 Likes
Welcome to the Hubitat community!
Testing the actual rule is easy. Create a virtual device and assign that as your action. You can even use virtual devices in the conditions.
Just open up a separate tab for the condition and a separate tab for the device and a separate tab for the rule. Then you can go to one tab activate the condition go to the other tab and see if the device turned on or activated or whatever it supposed to do. Then if something didn’t work like you expected you go to the other tab with your rule and make a change.
This is exactly how I do it on my test hub to try things with devices I don’t own. Habitat can create a whole bunch of different virtual devices. And if you learn a little bit of groovy coding, you can even create your own virtual devices to do what you need, but that’s not critical that you know how to code.
Thank for the quick response. this is very helpful. I do understand the Virtual device part. I have to use a virtual switch to control the garage door opener.
i will check that out. So you are saying that i can essentially write and evaluate in real time using separate tabs?
I am still looking for something external so i can test ideas. The RM interface can be a little unfriendly with nested statements. I Havent found a way to backup one step if an error is made. Also, when i am away and dont want to remote into the house a separate tool would be handy. kind of like putting it down on paper first but better.
I thought about building something in excel but i would rather not spend the time if i dont have too.
thanks you.
The developers of the hub use the hub to test and write the hub code. The only thing you have to do with the rules is click done and then test. So when you need edit you have to click on the child app, which is your rule, in the apps list under rule machine to edit if it doesn’t work
Most things in rule machine, you can just open up the rule or the action, uncheck the box, and it’s removed. If you’re on the latest hub platform, there’s also a way to remove conditions you didn’t mean to add or you changed your mind about.
