Serial interface RS232 ruled in the good old times. Many hardware vendors would open their systems providing a serial port for control and feedback. Examples Lutron lights, DSC security, Pentair pool, Denon receivers etc. The game has changed today. It is the API that rules today. Almost each of the new connected IoT devices and systems has an API.
HS3 users have two ways of tackling API. First is the passive way. If your device is quite popular, chances are that some plug-in developers will implement a dedicated plug-in for it. You just go and shop for plug-ins. Of course you pay for each one separately.
If you are out of luck and your device is not covered by an existing plug-in or you don't want to pay each time when you introduce a new device than there is another option that is not well known. It is called Big5 plug-in for HS3. It is an universal communication plug-in that covers 5 protocols as the name suggests. It is REST compatible. REST is some sort of a standard that all APIs are build around. You can tackle most of the APIs out there using Big5 plug-in. Big5 is perfect for the good old Serial devices as well.
The advantage of using Big5 is that you pay only once and use it many times for as many APIs and devices as you want. Also this may be your only option if ready made plug-in is not available for your device. The disadvantage is that you have to get dirty getting into the guts of your API and tackling all details. HS3 is made for non-programmers and so is Big5. You don't need to know any programming language to use it. At the same time those JSON API files may look quite scary and confusing for first timers.
HS3 users have two ways of tackling API. First is the passive way. If your device is quite popular, chances are that some plug-in developers will implement a dedicated plug-in for it. You just go and shop for plug-ins. Of course you pay for each one separately.
If you are out of luck and your device is not covered by an existing plug-in or you don't want to pay each time when you introduce a new device than there is another option that is not well known. It is called Big5 plug-in for HS3. It is an universal communication plug-in that covers 5 protocols as the name suggests. It is REST compatible. REST is some sort of a standard that all APIs are build around. You can tackle most of the APIs out there using Big5 plug-in. Big5 is perfect for the good old Serial devices as well.
The advantage of using Big5 is that you pay only once and use it many times for as many APIs and devices as you want. Also this may be your only option if ready made plug-in is not available for your device. The disadvantage is that you have to get dirty getting into the guts of your API and tackling all details. HS3 is made for non-programmers and so is Big5. You don't need to know any programming language to use it. At the same time those JSON API files may look quite scary and confusing for first timers.
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