That’s a totally fair point — and honestly, I really respect setups like yours. Domoticz + direct Python integrations is a great way to stay lean and fully in control. I’ve used similar setups before and agree that for a lot of power users, the OS doesn’t need to change.Ok. But why do I need a new OS? The OS manages the computer's resources. Surely all I need is a driver for my ZigBee dongle, and an application? Basically what Home Assistant or Domoticz does now.That's totally fair — I used to flash Tasmota on everything too for the same reason: local control, no cloud lock-in.It was cloud based, but even if it isn't any longer I much prefer local control using http or MQTT. I blew the brains out of my Sonoff devices and installed Tasmota. Ahh, that's better.
What surprised me is that CUBE OS is actually fully local now. No account needed, runs entirely on the Pi, and exposes devices via Matter — so I was able to bridge some Zigbee sensors and even Wi-Fi plugs into Apple Home without flashing them.
It also has a built-in web UI and supports LAN-accessible control APIs — haven’t tested raw MQTT yet but curious to see how deep it goes.
Definitely a big shift from the old cloud-dependent eWeLink days.
I actually use Domoticz, and it's great. There is a Python module to link to my IKEA Tradfri hub. All I did was install Raspberry Pi OS, install Domoticz, and install the Python Tradfri plugin.
But, more choice is always good. If it is as seamless as you say, and totally local, then it might become popular. Frankly, home automation is a real mess, and it's going to be really hard for any commercial system to gain traction (and none have so far). Literally every system is bespoke, and every user's requirements are unique. A building-block approach is much better, and that might be the way we are headed.
Where CUBE OS differs is that it bundles everything together as a tightly integrated, pre-configured system. It’s not just the driver + app — it includes the Matter Bridge stack, device discovery, service management, and a UI — all out of the box. No Docker, no YAML, no separate installs.
So yeah, you could replicate most of it using other components, but CUBE OS is aiming to lower the barrier for people who want reliable local control and Matter exposure with less manual work.
That said, I completely agree — the real strength of home automation is modularity and flexibility. If anything, I hope things like CUBE OS can become one of the building blocks people choose from, not a black-box replacement.
If you're ever curious to try it out or offer feedback, they’re quietly running an early access group on Discord — happy to share the invite:
https://discord.gg/67Ybdn23rS
Statistics: Posted by Redhorse2 — Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:10 am