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# Developing Automation Modules
In this section you will be guided through developing Module Types and corresponding Module Handlers for the automation engine of openHAB.
# Module Types and Module Handlers
Module Types describe Conditions, Triggers and Actions for the automation engine in terms of user visible strings like a label, a description, tags. But also what configuration values are available and what inputs and outputs a Module Type provides.
For each Module Type a corresponding Module Handler is in place to actually execute code.
To better get into the topic, let's develop a rule for the automation engine that is compromised completely out of custom modules (in contrast to core provided ones).
In our hands-on application we will switch on a virtual air conditioner (Action) as soon as the outdoor temperature is over a certain value (Trigger), but only if a person is at home (Condition).
We want the air conditioner to operate at different levels depending on the temperature.
First you want to create a new bundle for example via the skeleton.
# Module Type Provider
To inform the rule engine of your module types, you implement an OSGi service that extends ModuleTypeProvider.
As soon as this provider is active, you have access to all the exposed triggers, conditions and actions from
within old xtend rules, scripts and automation engine rules.
Just keep in mind, that this only describes your triggers, conditions and actions, but the automation engine will not yet know what to do when encountering such a module. We implement the handlers in a follow up section.
@NonNullByDefault
@Component(immediately=true, service={ModuleTypeProvider.class})
public class MyModuleTypeProvider implements ModuleTypeProvider {
private Map<String, ModuleType> providedModuleTypes;
public MyModuleTypeProvider() {
providedModuleTypes = new HashMap<>();
providedModuleTypes.put(TemperatureTriggerType.UID, TemperatureTriggerType.initialize());
providedModuleTypes.put(PresenceConditionType.UID, PresenceConditionType.initialize());
providedModuleTypes.put(AirConditionerActionType.UID, AirConditionerActionType.initialize());
}
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@Override
public <T extends ModuleType> T getModuleType(String UID, Locale locale) {
return (T) providedModuleTypes.get(UID);
}
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@Override
public <T extends ModuleType> Collection<T> getModuleTypes(Locale locale) {
return (Collection<T>) providedModuleTypes.values();
}
@Override
public void addProviderChangeListener(ProviderChangeListener<ModuleType> listener) {
// does nothing because this provider does not change
}
@Override
public Collection<ModuleType> getAll() {
return Collections.unmodifiableCollection(providedModuleTypes.values());
}
@Override
public void removeProviderChangeListener(ProviderChangeListener<ModuleType> listener) {
// does nothing because this provider does not change
}
}
The above factory is exposing all three Module Types that we need for our scenario.
We do not need to care about the ProviderChangeListener methods here, because our types are rather static.
If module types change over time in your factory, you need to notify the automation engine.
It is common practice to define the unique ID (UID) within the type class itself.
Let's have a look at all of our type classes:
@NonNullByDefault
public class TemperatureTriggerType extends TriggerType {
public static final String UID = "TemperatureTriggerType";
public static final String DATA_CURRENT_TEMPERATURE = "temperature";
public static final String CONFIG_OPERATOR = "operator";
public static final String CONFIG_TEMPERATURE = "temperature";
public static TriggerType initialize() { // Factory method Pattern
// Define outputs
List<Output> output = new ArrayList<>();
Output temperature = new Output(DATA_CURRENT_TEMPERATURE, Integer.class.getName(),
"Temperature", "Indicates the current room temperature", null, null, null);
output.add(temperature);
// Define configurations
final ConfigDescriptionParameter temperature = ConfigDescriptionParameterBuilder
.create(CONFIG_TEMPERATURE, Type.INTEGER).withRequired(true).withReadOnly(true).withMultiple(false)
.withLabel("Temperature").withDescription("Trigger temperature").build();
final ConfigDescriptionParameter operator = ConfigDescriptionParameterBuilder.create(CONFIG_OPERATOR, Type.TEXT)
.withRequired(true).withReadOnly(true).withMultiple(false).withLabel("Operator")
.withDescription("Below/Above temperature").withDefault("above").build();
final List<ConfigDescriptionParameter> config = new ArrayList<>();
config.add(temperature);
config.add(operator);
return new TemperatureTriggerType(output,config);
}
public TemperatureTriggerType(List<Output> output, List<ConfigDescriptionParameter> config) {
super(UID, config, "Temperature Trigger", "This triggers when the temperature has reached a certain value", null, Visibility.VISIBLE, output);
}
}
As you can see the constructor of the extended TriggerType expects us to fill in a label and description text and lets us define if the trigger is for public use (VISIBLE).
Configuration parameters are described to the user and to user-interfaces via ConfigDescriptionParameters.
A configuration parameter needs a unique ID, a label, optionally a description and a type (TEXT, INTEGER, BOOLEAN and so on).
Triggers and Conditions can also output data. And our temperature trigger will not only trigger on a configured temperature, but also output it.
To define an Output you need to pass at least an ID, a type, a label and a description to the constructor.
The type is the fully qualified name of a class, in this case from the Integer class.
Conditions and Actions can take inputs on the other hand.
Speaking of which, let's have a look at the code.
public class PresenceConditionType extends ConditionType {
public static final String UID = "PresenceConditionType";
public static final String DATA_PRESENCE = "presence";
public static final String CONFIG_PRESENCE_ITEM = "presence";
public static ConditionType initialize() {
List<ConfigDescriptionParameter> config = new ArrayList<>();
ConfigDescriptionParameter presenceItemConfig;
presenceItemConfig = ConfigDescriptionParameterBuilder.create(CONFIG_PRESENCE_ITEM, Type.TEXT)
.withRequired(true).withReadOnly(true).withMultiple(false).withLabel("Presence item")
.withDescription("The item that decides if this condition is satisfied").build();
config.add(presenceItemConfig);
List<Input> input = new ArrayList<>();
List<Output> output = new ArrayList<>();
Output state = new Output(DATA_PRESENCE, "State", "Presence",
"Indicates the state of the presence detector via an ON or OFF", null, null, null);
output.add(state);
return new PresenceConditionType(config, input, output);
}
public PresenceConditionType(List<ConfigDescriptionParameter> config, List<Input> input, List<Input> output) {
super(UID, config, "Presence Condition", "This condition is satisfied when the configure presence item is in ON state", output, Visibility.VISIBLE, input);
}
}
The Condition that we are going to implement in the Condition Handler latter on will use the state of an item to decide if this presence condition is satisfied.
Notice that our output is of type "State" instead of a fully qualified class name like java.lang.String.
The following openHAB classes have short forms:
- "State" (an Item state)
- "Event" (an openHAB event from the event bus)
- "Command" (a command targeting an Item)
And now let's have a look at the Action type.
public class AirConditionerActionType extends ActionType {
public static final String UID = "AirConditionerActionType";
public static final String CONFIG_LEVEL1_MIN_TEMP = "level1_min_temp";
public static final String CONFIG_LEVEL2_MIN_TEMP = "level2_min_temp";
public static ActionType initialize() {
final ConfigDescriptionParameter temp1 = ConfigDescriptionParameterBuilder.create(CONFIG_LEVEL1_MIN_TEMP, Type.INTEGER)
.withRequired(true).withReadOnly(true).withMultiple(false).withLabel("Temperature for level 1")
.withDescription("Level 1 on the given temperature in Celsius").build();
final ConfigDescriptionParameter temp2 = ConfigDescriptionParameterBuilder.create(CONFIG_LEVEL2_MIN_TEMP, Type.INTEGER)
.withRequired(true).withReadOnly(true).withMultiple(false).withLabel("Temperature for level 2")
.withDescription("Level 2 on the given temperature in Celsius").build();
List<ConfigDescriptionParameter> config = new ArrayList<ConfigDescriptionParameter>();
config.add(temp1);
config.add(temp2);
Input currentTemperature = new Input(TemperatureTriggerType.DATA_CURRENT_TEMPERATURE, Integer.class.getName(), "Current Temperature", "Depending on this temperature input the AC will turn on", null, true, null, null);
List<Input> input = new ArrayList<>();
input.add(currentTemperature);
return new AirConditionerActionType(config, input);
}
public AirConditionerActionType(List<ConfigDescriptionParameter> config, List<Input> input) {
super(UID, config, "Switch an air conditioner", "Control an air conditioner. Depending on the configuration and inputs it is switched into different power levels.", null,
Visibility.VISIBLE, input, null);
}
}
Our Action is quite simple. Our air conditioner is turned off by default, is going into power level 1 when a certain temperature is reached and into level 2 on a second configured temperature.
It is the task of a rule to wire outputs to inputs.
In our module types we just have to make sure that output and input types are matching.
In this action for example we have an input of type TemperatureTriggerType.DATA_CURRENT_TEMPERATURE which is exactly the output of our trigger module type.
The programmatic way is useful for dynamically appearing module types. You will learn an easier way in a moment for statically defined module types
# Module types via json
In the last section we learned about the programmatic way of exposing Module Types. It is actually way easier to just descripe your module types in a declarative way via json and bundle them with your addon.
To describe your modules (triggers, conditions, actions), add json files to src/main/resources/OH-INF/automation/moduletypes/.
A module type file can contain one or multiple type descriptions.
For our scenario we go with one file:
{
"triggers":[
{
"uid":"TemperatureTriggerType",
"label":"Temperature Trigger",
"description":"This triggers when the temperature has reached a certain value",
"configDescriptions":[
{
"name":"temperature",
"type":"INTEGER",
"label":"Temperature",
"description":"Trigger temperature",
"required":true
},
{
"name":"operator",
"type":"TEXT",
"label":"Operator",
"description":"Below/Above temperature",
"required":true,
"default": "above"
}
],
"outputs":[
{
"name":"temperature",
"type":"java.lang.Integer",
"label":"Current Temperature",
"description":"Indicates the current room temperature"
}
]
}
],
"conditions":[
{
"uid":"PresenceConditionType",
"label":"Presence Condition",
"description":"This condition is satisfied when the configure presence item is in ON state",
"configDescriptions":[
{
"name":"presence",
"type":"TEXT",
"label":"Presence item",
"description":"The item that decides if this condition is satisfied",
"required":true
}
],
"outputs":[
{
"name":"presence",
"type":"State",
"label":"Output value",
"description":"Indicates the state of the presence detector via an ON or OFF"
}
]
}
],
"actions":[
{
"uid":"AirConditionerActionType",
"label":"Switch an air conditioner",
"description":"Control an air conditioner. Depending on the configuration and inputs it is switched into different power levels",
"configDescriptions":[
{
"name":"level1_min_temp",
"type":"INTEGER",
"label":"Temperature for level 1",
"description":"Level 1 on the given temperature in Celsius",
"required":true
},
{
"name":"level2_min_temp",
"type":"INTEGER",
"label":"Temperature for level 2",
"description":"Level 2 on the given temperature in Celsius",
"required":true
}
],
"inputs":[
{
"name":"temperature",
"type":"java.lang.Integer",
"label":"Current Temperature",
"description":"Depending on this temperature input the AC will turn on"
}
]
}
]
}
# Module Handlers
You now have semantically described your modules.
The pieces of code that actually
- trigger, in case of Trigger types,
- decide on condition satisfaction for Condition types or
- execute something in case of Action types
are called Module handlers.
We now go over the implementation for all of our custom modules.
As usual, we need a factory that creates module handlers on demand for the automation engine:
@NonNullByDefault
@Component(service={ModuleHandlerFactory.class})
public class MyHandlerFactory extends BaseModuleHandlerFactory {
public static final String MODULE_HANDLER_FACTORY_NAME = "[MyHandlerFactory]";
private static final Collection<String> TYPES;
private final Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(MyHandlerFactory.class);
@Reference
private @NonNullByDefault({}) ItemRegistry itemRegistry;
static {
List<String> temp = new ArrayList<String>();
temp.add(TemperatureTriggerType.UID);
temp.add(PresenceConditionType.UID);
temp.add(AirConditionerActionType.UID);
TYPES = Collections.unmodifiableCollection(temp);
}
// Tell the automation engine about our handlers
@Override public Collection<String> getTypes() { return TYPES; }
@Override
protected ModuleHandler internalCreate(Module module, String ruleUID) {
ModuleHandler moduleHandler = null;
if (TemperatureTriggerType.UID.equals(module.getTypeUID())) {
moduleHandler = new TemperatureTriggerHandler((Action) module);
} else if (PresenceConditionType.UID.equals(module.getTypeUID())) {
moduleHandler = new PresenceConditionHandler((Condition) module);
} else if (AirConditionerActionType.UID.equals(module.getTypeUID())) {
moduleHandler = new AirConditionerActionHandler((Condition) module);
} else {
logger.warn(MODULE_HANDLER_FACTORY_NAME + "Not supported moduleHandler: {}", module.getTypeUID());
}
return moduleHandler;
}
}
In the next three sections we'll implement those three handlers.
# Trigger Handler
A Trigger Handler is created by the automation engine for each trigger module type in actual rules, via the factory that we have implemented above.
The handler tells the rule engine that something happened. In our example scenario that is when the temperature of an imaginary external device has reached a specific value.
public class TemperatureTriggerHandler extends BaseTriggerModuleHandler
implements ExternalDeviceTempChangeListener // We are listening to imaginary temp change events
{
final double temperature;
final boolean onAbove;
// Evaluate your configuration in the constructor
public TemperatureTriggerHandler(Trigger module) {
super(module);
Number tempNumber = (Number) context.get(TemperatureTriggerType.CONFIG_TEMPERATURE);
temperature = (tempNumber!=null) ? tempNumber.doubleValue() : 20.0;
String tempOp = (String) context.get(TemperatureTriggerType.CONFIG_OPERATOR);
onAbove = (tempOp != null && "below".equals(tempOp)) ? false : true;
}
// Setup your triggering stuff in here
@Override
public void setRuleEngineCallback(RuleEngineCallback ruleCallback) {
super.setRuleEngineCallback(ruleCallback);
// Register to temp change events on our imaginary external device
ExternalTemperatureDevice.registerTemperatureChangeListener(this);
}
@Override
public void dispose() { // Do your clean up here
ExternalTemperatureDevice.unregisterTemperatureChangeListener(this);
}
// Event from our imaginary temperature device. Triggers connected rules if temp is
// over the configured threshold.
@Override
public void tempChangedOnImaginaryDevice(int tempInCelsius) {
if (
(tempInCelsius>temperature && onAbove) ||
(tempInCelsius<temperature && !onAbove)
) {
((TriggerHandlerCallback) callback).triggered(module, context);
}
}
}
# Condition Handler
Condition Handler serves to help the Automation Engine to decide if it continues with the execution of the rule or to terminate it.
public class PresenceConditionHandler extends BaseModuleHandler<Condition> implements ConditionHandler {
final ItemRegistry itemRegistry;
public PresenceConditionHandler(Condition module, ItemRegistry itemRegistry) {
super(module);
this.itemRegistry = itemRegistry;
}
@Override
public boolean isSatisfied(Map<String, Object> context) {
Number left = (Number) context.get(TemperatureConditionType.INPUT_CURRENT_TEMPERATURE);
Number right = (Number) module.getConfiguration().get(TemperatureConditionType.CONFIG_TEMPERATURE);
String operator = (String) module.getConfiguration().get(TemperatureConditionType.CONFIG_OPERATOR);
if (TemperatureConditionType.OPERATOR_HEATING.equals(operator)) {
if (left != null && right != null && left.intValue() < right.intValue()) {
return true;
}
} else if (TemperatureConditionType.OPERATOR_COOLING.equals(operator)) {
if (left != null && right != null && left.intValue() > right.intValue()) {
return true;
}
}
return false;
}
}
# Action Handler
Action Handler is used to help the Automation Engine to execute the specific Actions.
A simple implementation of it can be seen into WelcomeHomeActionHandler class.
# Tie everything together: Define rules
Until now we have taught the automation engine a way to trigger on specific temperatures, to tell us if someone is at home, and to switch on an air conditioner at different levels.
We now need to write an actual rule to use our custom modules.
# Via json files
The automation engine reads rule json files from the {openhab-dir}/automation/*.json directory.
The rule that implements our application is declaratively described in the json format like this:
[
{
"uid":"JsonDemoRule",
"name":"DemoRule",
"triggers":[
{
"id":"RuleTrigger",
"label":"Item State Change Trigger",
"description":"This triggers a rule if an items state changed",
"type":"ItemStateChangeTrigger",
"configuration":{
"itemName":"DemoSwitch"
}
}
],
"conditions":[
],
"actions":[
{
"id":"RuleAction",
"label":"Post command to an item",
"description":"Posts commands on items",
"type":"ItemPostCommandAction",
"configuration":{
"itemName":"DemoDimmer",
"command":"ON"
}
}
]
}
]
# Programmatically define rules
You can also define rules programmatically and add them to the RuleRegistry.
Rules defined and added to the registry like this can be changed via user-interfaces.
@NonNullByDefault
@Component(immediately=true)
public class MyRuleRegistrationComponent {
@Reference
protected @NonNullByDefault({}) RuleRegistry ruleRegistry;
@Activated
public void activated() {
ruleRegistry.add(createACRule());
}
private Rule createACRule() {
// initialize the trigger
String triggerId = "LightsSwitchOnRuleTrigger";
List<Trigger> triggers = new ArrayList<Trigger>();
triggers.add(new Trigger(triggerId, LightsTriggerType.UID, null));
// initialize the condition - here the tricky part is the referring into the condition input - trigger output.
// The syntax is a similar to the JUEL syntax.
Configuration config = new Configuration();
config.put(StateConditionType.CONFIG_STATE, "on");
List<Condition> conditions = new ArrayList<Condition>();
Map<String, String> inputs = new HashMap<String, String>();
inputs.put(StateConditionType.INPUT_CURRENT_STATE, triggerId + "." + StateConditionType.INPUT_CURRENT_STATE);
conditions.add(new Condition("LightsStateCondition", StateConditionType.UID, config, inputs));
// initialize the action - here the tricky part is the referring into the action configuration parameter - the
// template configuration parameter. The syntax is a similar to the JUEL syntax.
config = new Configuration();
config.put(WelcomeHomeActionType.CONFIG_DEVICE, "Lights");
config.put(WelcomeHomeActionType.CONFIG_RESULT, "Lights are switched on");
List<Action> actions = new ArrayList<Action>();
actions.add(new Action("LightsSwitchOnAction", WelcomeHomeActionType.UID, config, null));
// initialize the configDescriptions
List<ConfigDescriptionParameter> configDescriptions = new ArrayList<ConfigDescriptionParameter>();
final ConfigDescriptionParameter device = ConfigDescriptionParameterBuilder
.create(WelcomeHomeRulesProvider.CONFIG_UNIT, Type.TEXT).withRequired(true).withReadOnly(true)
.withMultiple(false).withLabel("Device").withDescription("Device description").build();
final ConfigDescriptionParameter result = ConfigDescriptionParameterBuilder
.create(WelcomeHomeRulesProvider.CONFIG_EXPECTED_RESULT, Type.TEXT).withRequired(true)
.withReadOnly(true).withMultiple(false).withLabel("Result").withDescription("Result description")
.build();
configDescriptions.add(device);
configDescriptions.add(result);
// initialize the configuration
config = new Configuration();
config.put(CONFIG_UNIT, "Lights");
config.put(CONFIG_EXPECTED_RESULT, "The lights are switched on.");
// create the rule
Rule lightsSwitchOn = new Rule(L_UID);
lightsSwitchOn.setTriggers(triggers);
lightsSwitchOn.setConfigurationDescriptions(configDescriptions);
lightsSwitchOn.setConditions(conditions);
lightsSwitchOn.setActions(actions);
// initialize the tags
Set<String> tags = new HashSet<String>();
tags.add("lights");
// set the tags
lightsSwitchOn.setTags(tags);
return lightsSwitchOn;
}
}
# Define constant / non-changeable rules
We have seen how to define rules via json files as well as programmatically.
A third way is to inject rules via an own RuleProvider.
Those rules are compiled into the bundle and cannot be changed later on, which might be desired.
We will use the createACRule method from above.
@NonNullByDefault
@Component(immediately=true, service={RuleProvider.class})
public class MyStaticRulesProvider implements RuleProvider {
private Collection<ProviderChangeListener<Rule>> listeners = new ArrayList<>();
private Map<String, Rule> rules = Collections.singletonMap("AirConditionerSwitchOnRule", createACRule());
@Override
public void addProviderChangeListener(ProviderChangeListener<Rule> listener) { listeners.add(listener); }
@Override
public Collection<Rule> getAll() { return rules.values(); }
@Override
public void removeProviderChangeListener(ProviderChangeListener<Rule> listener) { listeners.remove(listener); }
}
# Further reading
This document does not yet cover all features of the automation engine.
We skipped rule templates and did not cover existing module types for common tasks, like triggering on an item state change or post a command as an action.
Please discover existing module types on your own from within the user interfaces and by consulting our user documentation.
For rule templates you may just ask in our friendly community or extend this document.