Wow, that's pretty cool. What level of iOS device do you need to run it? I try to avoid using my phone too much so I'm wondering if I could control it all with a really old iPad or a cheap old iTouch. Any recommendations on the IR blaster? I've been wanting to have some sort of non-remote control but I don't trust alexa/google home so this looks like a good option that would let me use my existing devices.

Friends installed a new IR controlled ceiling light, but it was a little buggy and kept turning off.

It was using the same IR frequency as one of the buttons on the TV remote :)

Interesting. Most of what I've seen is either wifi based or zigbee/zwave style. Isn't IR inconvenient due to line of sight?

Home Assistant. If you're comfortable with a bit of tinkering that's overall a good choice.

Currently using a tinkerboard, but would probably be looking to virtualise this

>"smart" tech yet

Smartplugs and smart lightbulbs are pretty easy. Things start getting a bit ugly on presence detection though - i.e. who is home and where. Haven't seen anything reliable on that front. The other headache to think about is standby mode. Many things these days can't be controlled via smartplugs because they go into standby mode...not on mode

2nd comment because I remembered some additional tips:

1) If you're considering a device...google the device name & github. Generally if I can find some github code of someone managed to get this to talk to python then we're probably OK to buy

2) The Xiaomi equivalent (Yeelight) of Philips Hue Lights are really good quality/value for money. If you can swallow the associated question marks on brand I'd go that route.

3) Basically everything is gonna require an app on phone initially and it will phone home...so you'll need a FW to block this after you got it to talk to local home assistant server

4) Some of these things like zigbee...frequency depends on country so look carefully what you're buying.

5) Most of this tech doesn't like 5ghz