OK, So I have to agree with @dman2306. Every time a feature or option that seems to involve access or security comes up, there seems to be two opinions from the community,
That will be too confusing for a novice
AND
I can do it so much better with XYZ hardware/software/service.
Remote access(be it HTTPS, cloud access, dashboard security or even MFA) has come up multiple times and has always been met with this opposition. From my standpoint it is obvious that a subset of users would like these abilities (in some cases expected them to already be there). However a lot of technical community people come in and say I don't want that because I can do it better. And ultimately so can I, however I don't want to support n products on n platforms. I am looking for a single device. I think there are many people who don't have the skills or the time to make those things feasible.
Offering this via the product, even as a subscription service seems worthwhile, and if that is something that scares you away from the product you can simply use X hardware, y software and z service to not use that feature and use your own better one.
To me this seems like the technical version of classism. If you can devote the time to learn these skills and support these other things, you don't deserve security, or remote access, or XYZ.
Most cellular devices are connecting to what is a large private subnet and then being fed data from a small subset of public IP's. Thus not allowing for things like Port Forwarding.
Verizon will let you get a dedicated Public IP for a SIM for the low low cost of $500 bucks.
-- this! I'm looking for a single device that lets me make my home smart. I don't want to have to build out a lot of other things to support it. While people have used terms like HE is for "DIY" or for "expert" users... well then HE will remain a hobby. The key to being the guy that disrupts smart home technology is to be the hub that is installed in a billion homes, not 10,000 homes. You're only going to get there by being something "my parents" can install.
It amazes me that people still refer to themselves as home automation "early adopters"... They sell this stuff at big box stores. You are not an early adopter. Home automation is fairly mainstream technology at this point.
I recall someone else lamenting that the community was beating up on him because he wanted a Username and Password...
I know I was surprised to not find a default password for main configuration.
All of this to say I think that the community doesn't value enhancements that aren't fun features, because they are hobbyist who devote time to this and want more wiz-bang and not more security or remote access.
However I think if this platform is going to disrupt the market it will need more attention to basic features.
But those are all decisions for the leadership of hubitat to make.. not me, you or the community (because in all honesty, they already have our money) they just need to keep people happy enough to still be recommended and to move more units (when they get back in stock).
Agreed. Right now that's my challenge. To my techie friends/family I suggest HE. To my non-techies, I tell them get an Alexa and some Wifi bulbs. Honestly, one reason is the lack of remote access even though it sounds stupid. I know they're going to call me and ask me to troubleshoot it which is fine, like many people on this forum "I'm the family IT guy"... but I want to do so from my couch, not having to go over their house. So if I could manage their RM and such remotely, I'd get one for my father in law who really loved when I showed him how my exhaust fan kicks on/off in my bathroom based on humidity. But right now I don't want to have to go over there constantly when he wants a rule tweaked.
I am a Privacy/Security Rights guy, both professionally and socially. The HEs local features are what attracted me it. However the more I dug into it, the more issues I have found with the platform. Some of the issues have decent work-arounds. Some of them are much more techincal and harder to resolve. Some of the issues I have found make me question the security of the things I cant see.
This is my compromise, because I want to spend time with my growing family...not working on a Home Automation system (or my dads, or my sisters) .
Push come to shove I will probably be in every forum post remotely about security rooting for it! Because I want my hub to be better secured and not require a bunch of extra hardware,
This is a very good point I hadn't properly considered. I'd also be able to help more friends use the product if simple remote access was available. Right now it's fine for me, an rPi is simple enough and does the trick. But it is another failure mode (and they often do) so a properly integrated remote solution would be better. Certainly for commercial deployments too, so that you could support the customer more easily.
-- this! I'm looking for a single device that lets me make my home smart. I don't want to have to build out a lot of other things to support it. While people have used terms like HE is for "DIY" or for "expert" users... well then HE will remain a hobby. The key to being the guy that disrupts smart home technology is to be the hub that is installed in a billion homes, not 10,000 homes. You're only going to get there by being something "my parents" can install.
