Home Assistant - watch remote control
using a Restful API interface

( Last update 2025-05-29 )


Here is how, with examples for general purpose use
1. Set up access
How to create a Restful API type access to Home Assistant

2. Sample PY code

 Add to your configuration, functional virtual Hall light example
3. SimpleHome Settings
How it was implemented in SimpleHome

4. Sample PY code
Add to your configuration, functional real Sofa light example

5. Versions
Installation versions and usage

General usages
SimpleHome for Fitbit watches
can be used to send these functions direct from the watch

Bookmarks can be made in browsers and added to a phone home screen

Shortcuts can be made on PCs



1. Set up Restful API  support in Home Assistant

Sample door operations [open, close, state]

\\192.168.1.59\addon_configs\a0d7b954_appdaemon\apps\apps.yaml
---
commander:
  module: commander
  class: RestfulAPI
Restart the appDaemon if this file is changed
HomeAssisant Dashboard => System => Addons => AppDaemon => Restart


\\192.168.1.59\addon_configs\a0d7b954_appdaemon\apps\commander.py
import appdaemon.plugins.hass.hassapi as hass

class RestfulAPI(hass.Hass):

    def initialize(self):
        self.log("RestfulAPI initialized")
        self.register_endpoint(self.api_handler, "commander")
        self.action = None  # will be remembered as long as AppDaemon stays running

    async def api_handler(self, args, rargs):
        action = args.get("action", "").lower() #convert actions to lower case
        self.log(f"received {action}")
       
        if action != "doorquery": # will respond equally to DoorQuery or doorQuery
            self.action = action
            self.log(f"Action updated to: {self.action}")
        else:
            self.log(f"Query received. Returning stored action: {self.action}")
           
        response = {
            "request": action,
            "state": self.action,
            "message": "Response from RestfulAPI"
        }
        return response, 200
This file can be changed without a restart


http://192.168.1.59:5050/api/appdaemon/commander?action=closedoor

Result

request    "closedoor"
state    "closedoor"
message    "Response from RestfulAPI"


HomeAssisant Dashboard => System => Addons => AppDaemon => Log tab

2025-05-29 12:58:07.881196 INFO AppDaemon: New app config: commander
2025-05-29 12:58:07.902175 INFO AppDaemon: Starting apps: {'commander'}
2025-05-29 12:58:07.913284 INFO AppDaemon: Calling initialize() for commander
2025-05-29 12:58:08.125547 INFO commander: RestfulAPI initialized
2025-05-29 12:58:08.132613 INFO AppDaemon: App initialization complete
2025-05-29 12:58:18.561479 INFO commander: received closedoor
2025-05-29 12:58:18.573935 INFO commander: Action updated to: closedoor
2025-05-29 12:58:18.575042 INFO AppDaemon: API Call to commander: status: 200 OK

http://192.168.1.59:5050/api/appdaemon/commander?action=DoorQuery

Result

request    "doorquery"
state    "closedoor"
message    "Response from RestfulAPI"

HomeAssisant Dashboard => System => Addons => AppDaemon => Log tab

2025-05-29 13:02:15.373524 INFO commander: received doorquery
2025-05-29 13:02:15.383417 INFO commander: Query received. Returning stored action: closedoor
2025-05-29 13:02:15.384491 INFO AppDaemon: API Call to commander: status: 200 OK


Notes:
Replace "192.168.1.59" with your Home Assistant server IP
URL should be lower case but "action" values needn't be

 Back to the top

2 - Sample commands to operate virtual Hall light

\\192.168.1.59\addon_configs\a0d7b954_appdaemon\apps\apps.yaml
---
hall_light:
  module: hall_light
  class: RestfulAPI
Restart the appDaemon if this file is changed
HomeAssisant Dashboard => System => Addons => AppDaemon => Restart

Create virtual device

HomeAssisant Dashboard => System => Devices & Services => Helpers tab

+ CREATE HELPER

Select Toggle

Enter hall_light as name

\\192.168.1.59\addon_configs\a0d7b954_appdaemon\apps\hall_light.py
import appdaemon.plugins.hass.hassapi as hass

class RestfulAPI(hass.Hass):
    def initialize(self):
        self.register_endpoint(self.api_handler, "hall_light")
      
    async def api_handler(self, args, rargs):
        action = args.get("action", "").lower() #convert actions to lower case
        self.log(f"received {action}")

        # Control or check the Hall light based on the command
        if action == "turn_on_hall_light":
            self.turn_on("input_boolean.hall_light")
            response = {"message": "Hall light has been turned on."}

        elif action == "turn_off_hall_light":
            self.turn_off("input_boolean.hall_light")
            response = {"message": "Hall light has been turned off."}

        elif action == "check_hall_light":
            light_status = await self.get_state("input_boolean.hall_light")
            response = {"message": f"The hall light is currently: {light_status}."}

        else:
            response = {"message": "Unknown action."}

        return response, 200
       
 
http://192.168.1.59:5050/api/appdaemon/hall_light?action=turn_on_hall_light

Result

{"message": "Hall light has been turned on."}


Notes:
Replace "192.168.1.59" with your Home Assistant server IP
URL should be lower case but "action" values needn't be

Back to the top


3. Implemented in the SimpleHome app
on
Device 5 =     

  DeviceName: Hall Light 
  DeviceIP: 192.168.1.59:5050 
  DeviceHTTP: HTTP 
  DeviceMake: HomeAssistant
  DeviceMode: Off/On 
  DeviceDate: 2025-05-02 
  DeviceOff: api/appdaemon/hall_light?action=turn_off_hall_light 
  DeviceOn: api/appdaemon/hall_light?action=turn_on_hall_light 
  DeviceQuery: api/appdaemon/hall_light?action=check_hall_light 
  DeviceState1: off 
  DeviceState2: on 

Back to the top

4 - Create functional commands to operate Sofa light


\\192.168.1.59\addon_configs\a0d7b954_appdaemon\apps\apps.yaml
---
lights:
  module: lights
  class: RestfulAPI
Restart the appDaemon if this file is changed
HomeAssisant Dashboard => System => Addons => AppDaemon => Restart


 \192.168.1.59\addon_configs\a0d7b954_appdaemon\apps\light.py
import appdaemon.plugins.hass.hassapi as hass

class RestfulAPI(hass.Hass):
    def initialize(self):
        self.register_endpoint(self.api_handler, "lights")
      
    async def api_handler(self, args, rargs):
        action = args.get("action", "").lower() #convert actions to lower case
        self.log(f"received {action}")

        # Control or check the SSofa light based on the command
        if action == "turn_on_sofa_light":
            self.turn_on("switch.mystrom_sofa_light")
            response = {"message": "Sofa light has been turned on."}

        elif action == "turn_off_sofa_light":
            self.turn_off("switch.mystrom_sofa_light")
            response = {"message": "Sofa light has been turned off."}

        elif action == "check_sofa_light":
            light_status = await self.get_state("switch.mystrom_sofa_light")
            response = {"message": f"The Sofa light is currently: {light_status}."}

        else:
            response = {"message": "Unknown action."}

        return response, 200

http://192.168.1.59:5050/api/appdaemon/lights?action=turn_on_sofa_light

Result

{"message": "Sofa light has been turned on."}

192.168.1.59:5050/api/appdaemon/lights?action=turn_on_sofa_light
192.168.1.59:5050/api/appdaemon/lights?action=turn_off_sofa_light
192.168.1.59:5050/api/appdaemon/lights?action=check_sofa_light

Notes:
Replace "192.168.1.59" with your Home Assistant server IP
URL should be lower case but "action" values needn't be
view1

SimpleHome request
 view2

SimpleHome result

evice 14 =      
 
  DeviceName: HA sofa light  
  DeviceIP: 192.168.1.59:5050  
  DeviceHTTP: HTTP  
  DeviceMake: HomeAssistant  
  DeviceMode: Off/On  
  DeviceDate: 2025-04-06  
  DeviceOff: api/appdaemon/lights?action=turn_off_Sofa_light  
  DeviceOn: api/appdaemon/lights?action=turn_on_Sofa_light  
  DeviceQuery: api/appdaemon/lights?action=Check_Sofa_light  
  DeviceState1: off  
  DeviceState2: on 

Back to the top


5. Installation versions and usage


Raspberry Pi

HA Core 2025.5.2
HA Supervisor 2025.05.3
HA Operating System 15.2
HA Frontend 20250509.0
Appdaemon 0.17.0

Fitbit SimpleHome app V5.3.06

Usage:

URL examples can be used from anywhere. Such as:

your Fitbit watch.(with SimpleHome) or other application for other watches where the connected phone has access to the Home Assistant network

or shortcuts stored on any device, phone, tablet, PC, Mac on the same network

Be sure to use URLs in lower case but "action" values aren't case sensitive in theses examples

Back to the top