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Abstract

HomeWizard B.V. is looking to expand the range of compatible TCP/IP devices for its home automation hub. To this end, the company wants to use third-party plugins that control these devices. To allow even people with little programming experience to make devices compatible with the HomeWizard hub, these plugins have to be easy to create. These demands pose an interesting challenge: to create a system that is flexible enough to control hundreds of different devices, while being simple enough to be used by people with little programming experience. During the research phase of the project, existing home automation solutions were studied, as well as home automation techniques. The clients current position in the market was also researched to get a better understanding of the clients needs. During the implementation of the product, scrum was applied to manage the project. Prototypes were created in sprints of two weeks. A final prototype, called Outsourcery, is delivered at the end of the project. Outsourcery is a flexible home automation solution, facilitating the use of plugins to extend compatibility with both devices and network protocols. Outsourcery has been tested using unit tests and manual testing. An acceptance test determined that the creation of plugins is relatively easy. Outsourcery is a good start towards a universal home automation solution. However, it has still some way to go before it reaches maturity. Some required steps have been detailed in the report. Furthermore, some recommendations are done regarding the development of a plugin developer platform and making said platform available to customers.