Goals
Enable everyone to make an informed decision for chosing a smart home device that suits their needs.
Vision
We envision an easy way to consult real-world device data based on our core principles for building the device database:
-
Striving for a Single Source of Truth: The device database will be built as an unbiased and trusted repository for smart home devices. It will strive for comprehensiveness and aim to be evergreen, accurately reflecting the evolving smart home ecosystem. We are committed to a process of continuous improvement on its journey to ultimately becoming the single source of truth. We are aware this is not an easy endeavor but are committed to learning and improving along the way.
-
Enabling Informed Choice: The device database will be designed to empower users by surfacing all relevant variables for a decision. It will always aim for objectivity, presenting facts without judgment. Our guiding philosophy is that there are no "good" or "bad" devices — only different capabilities, compatibilities, trade-offs, and requirements for users to evaluate in order to take an informed decision.
-
Human-Centric & Meaningful: This device database is being built for people like you, not just as a mere collection of manufacturer specifications. What we consider "meaningful" is not carved in stone; it is an evolving concept that will be shaped by community feedback and real-world needs. We will prioritize capturing user-relevant information, starting with concepts like privacy implications, long-term battery performance, and the level of home access a device requires.
-
Sustainable & Principled: We will build the database to be scalable and sustainable, operating efficiently within the Open Home Foundation's resources. Its integrity is a foundational commitment: core principles will not be compromised, and the data will always remain independent of commercial influence.
-
A Communal Effort: The database is envisioned as a living project, built by and for the community. We will develop simple and effective validation and contribution systems to encourage broad participation. We invite everyone to help enrich the database, guiding its growth into the foundational resource for the smart home ecosystem and single source of truth.
Scope & Boundaries
In Scope:
Out of Scope:
- Public real-time availability of device data
Plan
Epic 1: Launch Foundational MVP (Iteration 1)
- Enabling collection of real-world device data
- Extend existing analytics integration
- Limited to OHF employees to test submission process
Epic 2: Launch Foundational MVP (Iteration 2)
- Leverage visibility to a broader public
- Introduce as Labs feature
Epic 3: Launch MVP (Iteration 1)
- Have a first limited web interface available for public consumption
- Keep learning and adjusting based on data insights and feedback
- Branding is done
Epic 4: Launch MVP (Iteration 2)
- Introduce consumption of device data in Home Assistant
- Next iteration of the web interface
Related Feature Requests
Additional Context
Decision Log
- Dec 15 2025: Aim for Foundational MVP (Iteration 2) to launch with 2026.2
- Dec 15 2026: Aim for MVP (Iteration 1) to launch with 2026.4 or 2026.5 (depending also on SOTOH and general progress)
- Apr 2025: Aim for MVP (Iteration 1) to launch with 2026.7
Q&A
Goals
Enable everyone to make an informed decision for chosing a smart home device that suits their needs.
Vision
We envision an easy way to consult real-world device data based on our core principles for building the device database:
Striving for a Single Source of Truth: The device database will be built as an unbiased and trusted repository for smart home devices. It will strive for comprehensiveness and aim to be evergreen, accurately reflecting the evolving smart home ecosystem. We are committed to a process of continuous improvement on its journey to ultimately becoming the single source of truth. We are aware this is not an easy endeavor but are committed to learning and improving along the way.
Enabling Informed Choice: The device database will be designed to empower users by surfacing all relevant variables for a decision. It will always aim for objectivity, presenting facts without judgment. Our guiding philosophy is that there are no "good" or "bad" devices — only different capabilities, compatibilities, trade-offs, and requirements for users to evaluate in order to take an informed decision.
Human-Centric & Meaningful: This device database is being built for people like you, not just as a mere collection of manufacturer specifications. What we consider "meaningful" is not carved in stone; it is an evolving concept that will be shaped by community feedback and real-world needs. We will prioritize capturing user-relevant information, starting with concepts like privacy implications, long-term battery performance, and the level of home access a device requires.
Sustainable & Principled: We will build the database to be scalable and sustainable, operating efficiently within the Open Home Foundation's resources. Its integrity is a foundational commitment: core principles will not be compromised, and the data will always remain independent of commercial influence.
A Communal Effort: The database is envisioned as a living project, built by and for the community. We will develop simple and effective validation and contribution systems to encourage broad participation. We invite everyone to help enrich the database, guiding its growth into the foundational resource for the smart home ecosystem and single source of truth.
Scope & Boundaries
In Scope:
Out of Scope:
Plan
Epic 1: Launch Foundational MVP (Iteration 1)
Epic 2: Launch Foundational MVP (Iteration 2)
Epic 3: Launch MVP (Iteration 1)
Epic 4: Launch MVP (Iteration 2)
Related Feature Requests
Additional Context
Decision Log
Q&A