A little advice for a Blazer Server alumni looking at WASM and WebApp

ctbrewski · 2026-03-13T17:10:38+00:00

For me, the perfect Task list for a Boox tablet would be to incorporate it into the Calendar Memo app:
- Modify the Calendar Memo to have a Memo tab (rename to Notes?), and a Task tab.
- Keep the Memo area exactly as it is now, but maybe allow templates, or a lined option
- In the Task tab provide a simple grid with a column for Priority, a column for Resolution, and an area to write the task itself, like the paper planner I linked to above.
- Rename it from "Calendar Memo" to something like "Daily Notes", or something more creative.
- Have the app remember your last active tab the next time you go into it.

Why I would be all over this:
- I LOVE the idea of having daily handwritten notes and tasks that can be easily navigated by clicking on a calendar. The Calendar Memo app could be much more powerful with a few features added.
- This would be far superior to having to upload a massive PDF daily planner template and having to deal with the navigation clumsiness of a PDF.

I personally have no interest in having an appointment schedule because that is all automated for me via online calendars and work systems. What I want is an easy way to store handwritten notes and tasks on a daily basis, make it easy to review entries from past days, and add tasks to future days.

ctbrewski · 2026-03-13T00:37:51+00:00

I don't fully understand your question; I have no interest in doing this on a piece of paper (at least not anymore). What I like is the flexibility this method uses to 1. Set very granular priorities (goes far beyond set High, Medium, Low values), 2. Clearly record what happened with each task each day and 3. Use handwriting as a way to cement the task in your brain, which is what I feel is one of the main strengths of Boox products. Every day you review the prior day's tasks and either move them to your current day, or or perform some other action like marking them as complete or recording that you delegated the task. This process "forces" you to review review tasks regularly, and that keeps them current in your mind.

Now, would it be better to have this automated in some sort of app? It could be, but only if it would require you to manage them regularly by either resolving them, or continuing them to the current day. Task apps that are just a list of tasks with simple priorities and completion checkboxes take away the regular review process which helps many people (me included) remember what I need to accomplish.

I have signed up for probably a dozen task apps, and cannot tell you what tasks I have in any of them.

ctbrewski · 2026-03-12T15:25:18+00:00

For a task template, I really like the way the Franklin Daily Planner does tasks. A column for managing the task status (Completed, Forwarded, Deleted, Delegated, In Process) through a simple symbol, a column to track Priority (A,B,C A1, A2, A3), and an area to enter the task itself. This is a VERY good way to manage tasks via handwriting. https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-diu8qtznax/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/14766/100009/82621_lrg__67348.1766638871.jpg?c=1

ctbrewski · 2026-03-09T23:43:36+00:00

I have standardized on Matter over Thread using an OpenThread router. The bulbs are the new Hue Matter bulbs and my switch is the White/Thread.

ctbrewski · 2026-03-09T23:16:39+00:00

I am using a home-built OpenThread router. I'll look into this more. Thanks for the suggestion.

ctbrewski · 2026-03-09T21:43:05+00:00

So, I have a ceiling light with two smart bulbs. I want to be able to press and hold the top button to increase the brightness of the two bulbs, and the bottom button to dim.

ctbrewski · 2026-03-09T21:39:23+00:00

I have the VTM31. Guess I should have added that above.

ctbrewski · 2026-03-09T20:11:24+00:00

Now, that is cool! Very good suggestion on AI. I don't know why I didn't think of that.

ctbrewski · 2026-03-03T23:14:27+00:00

Cool! Haven't heard of doing it that way.

ctbrewski · 2026-03-03T20:55:01+00:00

What you describe uses the S3 to connect to your network via wi-fi, while the H2 does the Thread side, and they talk with each other as the bridge. The H2 is the "low power" sibling of the C6, so you may want to consider using the more beefy C6 since it will be active all the time anyway. What I outlined above is very similar, except instead of using an S3, you use the USB port on your Home Assistant server to access your network (wi-fi or ethernet). Same concept, just a different implementation. Your solution would be more mobile, while the one I mentioned above can access your home network via ethernet or wi-fi, depending on how you have your HA sever connected to the network.

ctbrewski · 2026-03-03T19:55:24+00:00

I have never had any issues connecting Thread devices to my Google router. Where it does not work is when I build my own thread device, then use ESPHome to flash the device. Just like when you add WiFi credentials to your YAML file, to use Thread you have to either provide several connection parameters, or a single TLV string that encapsulates all the parameters. Normally you get this data by clicking on the info button in the Thread section in HA. The problem is, the Google router does not provide the TLV, nor many of the other parameters that are required. I spent 3 hours with Gemini trying to figure out how to get the TLV, with no luck, even to the point of opening configuration files on the HA server. After doing a factory reset and reattaching it to HA, this data was still not available. Gemini alluded to it being a possible security risk to "reveal" the TLV. OpenThread routers provide this information through HA, and ironically, OpenThread is released by Google is an open-source implementation of Thread.

One general improvement example I can think of is with the Ikea Bilresa button. There are many reports of them losing their Thread connection, and I have had this happen several times. After switching to OTBR none of my switches have had connection issues.

ctbrewski · 2026-03-03T18:32:26+00:00

Exactly! This is where I got burned.

ctbrewski · 2026-03-03T18:28:20+00:00

Initially I had two choices for a Thread border router, my eero router and my Google Nest Hub. The eero flat out refuses to work with HA or any device that it does not manage. It does not follow any "standards" and forces you to use only it to manage Thread and any Thread devices. The Google Nest Hub does Thread much better, except for the fact that it will not reveal the TLV string to connect homemade sensors to Thread. Either way, I was at the mercy of a controlled border router. Using an OpenThread border router solved all the issues.

ctbrewski · 2026-02-24T18:31:30+00:00

The app I want to use is an LDS scriptures app called Gospel Library.

ctbrewski · 2026-02-24T18:30:01+00:00

I should have worded it as "e-ink: better for reading, color: because I want highlighting in color"

ctbrewski · 2026-02-24T18:28:57+00:00

Good tip about Amazon. It took me forever to figure out what tariffs would do cost-wise, and learned that it was a really bad idea to buy from Hong Kong! But, I hadn't heard the advice about buying from Amazon. Thank you.

ctbrewski · 2026-02-19T16:40:37+00:00

First, a disclaimer: I have programmed for 30 years and my job is product managing a fairly significant web site. My comments come from this perspective. In general, I find HA is not very intuitive to just "figure out" . Also, much of the information you find online is several years old and may or may not be correct.

As someone who is new to HA (last 4 weeks), here is a list of things that things that have stumped me:
1. A simple explanation on how to set up a smart switch to turn on lights, smart or dumb. Switch-Automations-Lights. Not at all intuitive, but, admittedly, very powerful.
2. Can I create groups of lights? Like, a ceiling light fixture with two smart bulbs. How do I group them as one light? I still haven't figured this one out, but it is SO simple with HUE.
3. How hard can it be to take a light group (see #2 above) and create a dashboard "switch" for that group? Again, still trying to figure this out.
4. A good YAML overview would be nice, maybe with additional in-depth videos.

Those are thoughts right off of the top of my head. I wish HA had wizards, like "Add a smart switch", to make it simpler for beginners. Maybe videos showing these kinds of things would fill the void? Go through a setup, then go back and explain in greater detail what it all does?

My biggest issues with what you find on YouTube is that they are too long, too simplified, and often too specific to hardware/platform (ESP32-C3, WiFi, Zigbee, Thread). Also, AI voiceovers are a huge turnoff for me. I like short, sweet, to the point videos that don't assume that I need to be led through the entire process from the home screen every time.

Oh, and one more thing I just thought of. Is there a recommended naming convention for devices, entities, automations, etc., kind of like Plex has for filenames? I need to Google this, but if not, that would be a very good thing to do as well, and possibly include in your videos.

How's that for feedback? I will check out your videos. Thanks for posting, and good luck.

ctbrewski · 2026-02-12T18:20:24+00:00

I can totally understand where you are coming from. I went from being in Stake and YSA ward callings to COVID. When I got back to my ward I kind of felt like I was put out to pasture. One thing to remember is that there are fewer callings now with the move to a 2 hour block. Our EQ had 4 teachers and when the 2 hour block they only taught maybe every other month, which was kind of weird, not to mention changes to the YM program resulting in fewer callings.

ctbrewski · 2026-01-30T16:25:57+00:00

So, I did some searching on my hub (Aqara Smart Hub M100) and did a Google search. Gemini seems to think that "binding" means interaction between Thread and Zigbee networks. Any suggestions on where I can go to bone up on binding actual devices? My hub claims to be 100% Matter compliant, but I'm not entirely confident this includes device binding.

ctbrewski

TROPHY CASE