DIY Smart Home 
Protocol/Controller Evolution

2012-2018

Home Automation Controllers

The main protocol choices from earlier did change, but mostly incrementally.  X10 and UPB were dying or dead at this time. Z-Wave and Zigbee continued to improve their user experience, and in Zigbee's case, it's interoperability.

In the DIY space, the commercial hub/controllers by this time were becoming (a bit) more consumer-friendly, and new software-based solutions emerged. In contrast, a few older solutions (like HomeSeer) continued to enhance their capabilities. Many controller solutions in this era support multiple protocols, enabling integration with Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi. The dealer/custom-installer products also evolved but remained closed and expensive, so I will continue to exclude them from this write-up. Additionally, during this period, some alarm companies began offering home automation as part of their home security systems. 

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In the late 2010s, some of the more interesting, DIY-friendly products available and later considered for an upgrade option are discussed below.

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• SmartThings launched in 2012. The hub was equipped with both Z-Wave and Zigbee radios. It focused on a relatively easy-to-use GUI that did not require programming to configure automations, thereby appealing to a broader user base. SmartThings's user experience is centered on its mobile app for programming and control. SmartThings built a large community with many manufacturers supporting the platform. Samsung acquired SmartThings in 2014, and the platform continued to grow and improve. 

• Wink launched around 2014 and offered multi-protocol support (Z-Wave, Zigbee, Lutron, Kidde) at bargain prices. The Wink Hub 2 improved on the original by offering better connectivity and support for more protocols. However, Wink's reliability became problematic due to prolonged outages and other issues. 

• Home Assistant (HA) started as a Python app, first released in 2013. Unlike commercial platforms, HA is (and remains) open-source software that runs on various hardware. In its early days, HA focused on integrating multiple smart home protocols and devices, including Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi. HA prioritized local control, a web-based user interface, a privacy-first approach, vendor neutrality, and the fostering of an active community. Initially, programming automations in Home Assistant was complex; users needed to be comfortable with coding and troubleshooting YAML configuration files. Another challenge was that users had to purchase and set up their own hardware before installing and configuring HA. Over time, the HA team has worked to address many of these issues, with notable improvements occurring after 2018.

• ​​​HomeSeer continued to enhance its product offerings by releasing new hubs, improving usability, and increasing multi-protocol support. (see here for more HomeSeer history) 

• The Hubitat Elevation hub is a local-first home automation platform that emphasizes running automations and device drivers directly on the device, rather than relying on vendor clouds. Its design prioritizes low-latency, privacy-focused automation, extensive Zigbee and Z-Wave support, and a powerful rule engine (Rule Machine), along with Groovy-based custom apps and drivers for advanced users. The platform has a steeper learning curve and features a somewhat outdated UI, making it less accessible to non-technical users; some vendor integrations and cloud-first services are slow or need community drivers.

• Philips Hue, launched in October 2012, was the first lighting system (lights and a controller) controllable via a smartphone. Its product range has grown from basic A19 bulbs to a wide array of light strips, outdoor lights, smart sensors, and more. The system primarily relies on a proprietary version of the Zigbee protocol, which provides high reliability and low latency through a central Bridge. Originally a largely closed system, it has, over time, added numerous integrations with other smart home products.

• Lutron, before 2012, had sold smart home products to professional installers through its RadioRA and RadioRA2 product lines. In 2012/3 Lutron introduced their more consumer-friendly Caséta (lights and switches) and Serena (shades) product lines. These products continued Lutron's reputation for excellent reliability, but the radio technology was proprietary.  The products were generally 50-100% more expensive than typical Z-Wave/Zigbee products and not interoperable with them. Lutron's first third-party integration was with Apple HomeKit in 2015. 

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