Almost there!

[toggledbits]

Everyone: for some weeks now, I've buried myself in getting as much done on MSR as possible before this coming week. This is the week I had planned to put out the first developer preview of MSR, and it's looking good for that to happen.

The first previews will be for Linux-based systems only, and will not be docker containers, but stand-alone installs. You'll need to be running a fairly modern version of Ubuntu, Debian, etc. (so that includes RPi Raspios Buster).

What I really need at this early stage is people who will give me good, solid data on what doesn't go well. I really cannot, at this stage, spend time with anyone who isn't functionally fluent with Linux system administration. While I suspect most of the people here are already firmly in the former camp, I'm about to make a public announcement on the Vera forums that I suspect will drive a new cadre of people here, so the mix may change a bit. But it's simply a fact that the better the information I get up front, the faster I can fix things that have gone wrong, thus the more I can fix in any given period of time, and the sooner it will be that my time will be freed so I can start helping everyone.

I will be using this community as the focus of communication, as in, announcements and discussions. For issues, however, I have set up a MantisBT (Mantis Bug Tracker) server at https://reactor.toggledbits.com/mantisbt/ and I invite and encourage you to sign up. I will only address bugs opened in that tool. This is an administrative choice to keep me somewhat sane and not be overwhelmed by juggling feedback from however it might come at me. I'm pipelining the process.

There's still a lot to do. I've been running my own house on it, but as I've often said, that's me running it one way -- one data point. I'm sure there will be a lot to look at. There are still some functional gaps, and the documentation is a mess, but I think that's less of an issue for current Reactor users than it is for newcomers.

Stay tuned... more to follow....

[rafale77]

Very impressive and looking forward to it. I will do what I can with the limited time I have working on this these days... As I seem to be getting near unlimited work hours. I am thinking about creating a dedicated ubuntu20 VM for this.

[toggledbits]

@rafale77 said in Almost there!:

I am thinking about creating a dedicated ubuntu20 VM for this.

That's a big bat to hit it with, but perfectly workable. If it helps, I do all my development in a 2GB single core VM. I'm stubborn with things like that. If I can't make it run well on that, I'm doing it wrong. And it runs with a really light touch, so far, even though I have three Veras, Hass and Hubitat all integrated at once. Runs great on a RPi4 as well.

[kfxo]

Spinning up a dedicated VM on my synology right now in anticipation of the first preview. Can't wait!

[Matohl]

Dusting of my RPi 4 to test it out

[PerH]

Cool! I'm currently on the Docker path, so i'll be setting up one for this. Ubuntu or debian? mabye Alipne, as VWout used for Openluup?

[akbooer]

I like Alpine. It's tiny. "Less is more."

[cw-kid]

I plan to switch from PLEG to MSR.

I've never used Reactor before ever.

Can't be any harder than PLEG right?

[Black Cat]

@cw-kid ^^^ It's actually easier but it isn't the same. I haven't abandoned PLEG entirely as it is rock solid and use Reactor for new automations.
MSR is entirely different from what I see as it ties in different systems, for instance I'm looking at tying a Vera Lite, Vera Edge, Homeseer 3 & Homeseer 4 into one system.

[cw-kid]

So MSR is very different to the current Reactor in Vera?

I guess as I'll be starting from scratch with MSR it's the right time to start learning it and skip the current Reactor in Vera

[toggledbits]

MSR will be very familiar to users of Vera Reactor. There are changes, for sure, but conceptually it works very much the same, and many of the displays have a similar look and feel. The systems are close enough that I have been able to craft an importer to read a Vera Reactor backup file and create MSR rules and reactions (they still need review and adjustment, but at least it's not starting from a blank slate). The biggest difference is that Vera Reactor's device model is determined by Vera/Luup, where I had to invent a model for MSR. In doing so, I borrowed concepts from other available controllers and services like MQTT, choosing what I thought were the best ideas and set the stage for the broadest reach platform-wise, and the most extensibility. I would say that if you have something you want to get done today in Vera Reactor, go ahead and do it. It will only smooth the path for you starting with MSR.

[parkerc]

Hi @toggledbits - QQ: where do I register to use MantisBT, the link you shared just takes me to a page with a logo and a username box, there are no other menu options on the page I can see? (FYI - I’m accessing it from an iPad)

[LibraSun]

When I have an abundance of extra time, and when the MSR Dashboard feature is fully fledged, I plan to make a "Lights Out game" using NxN virtual switches, that operates just like this online version: http://bz.var.ru/comp/web/js/floor.html