02-ha-automations: Lab

Overview

Module: Module 3: Home Assistant & Secure Access
Activity type: Lab (Practice)
Objective: Given a plain-language automation requirement, the learner can implement trigger → condition → action logic and prove positive, negative, and failure cases with traces.

Learn

Before you start

Reading complete
Lesson Feynman teach-back drafted (you may refine after the lab)

Hands-on

Guided lab

Build one automation with explicit acceptance tests. Prefer helpers (input_boolean) so you never need real hardware risk.

1

Write requirement + acceptance criteria first (workbook):

When test_trigger turns on AND test_allowed is on → turn on test_lamp (helper)
Notify/log that the run happened
Mode: single (or restart: pick one and defend it)

2

Create helpers (UI → Helpers): input_boolean.test_trigger, input_boolean.test_allowed, input_boolean.test_lamp.

3

Build automation: trigger = test_trigger turns on; condition = test_allowed is on; actions = turn on test_lamp + persistent notification / logbook.

4

Positive test:

Linux / macOS (Terminal)

export HA=http://HA-IP:8123 TOKEN='YOUR_TOKEN'
call() { curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d "$2" "$HA/api/services/$1"; echo; }
# turn allowed on, trigger on:
call input_boolean/turn_on '{"entity_id":"input_boolean.test_allowed"}'
call input_boolean/turn_on '{"entity_id":"input_boolean.test_trigger"}'
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" "$HA/api/states/input_boolean.test_lamp"

Windows (CMD / PowerShell)

# Use Developer Tools → Services, or:
$H=@{Authorization="Bearer YOUR_TOKEN"; "Content-Type"="application/json"}
Invoke-RestMethod -Headers $H -Method Post -Uri "http://HA-IP:8123/api/services/input_boolean/turn_on" -Body '{"entity_id":"input_boolean.test_allowed"}'
Invoke-RestMethod -Headers $H -Method Post -Uri "http://HA-IP:8123/api/services/input_boolean/turn_on" -Body '{"entity_id":"input_boolean.test_trigger"}'
Invoke-RestMethod -Headers $H -Uri "http://HA-IP:8123/api/states/input_boolean.test_lamp"

Expect lamp on + notification. Open Traces and save a screenshot (no secrets).

5

Negative test: allowed off, trigger on → lamp must stay off; trace stops at condition.

6

Rapid triggers: flip trigger quickly; confirm mode behavior matches your choice (single vs restart).

7

Restart HA and repeat the positive test once.

8

Inspect traces for all cases; write pass/fail in the workbook.

Break / fix

Break/fix

Force condition false; confirm trace stops at condition.
Point action at a nonexistent entity; confirm trigger/condition pass and action errors in trace.
Add a delay; trigger twice; observe mode.
Disable automation; prove manual helper control still works.

Fix chart

Feedback / common mistakes

Skipping evidence and calling it done.
Changing multiple variables before retesting.
Moving on without completing Feynman teach-back.