Gwilliamb wrote:Do you need to know code(Python) to operate the software and get the most out of it? Without knowing code how limited are you?
I didn't know a bit of Python when I started, and I still don't really know any. There's exactly one piece of Python that does anything complex in my setup, and all it took was for me to ask about how to do it, and Jay provided the clue I needed. So now my exterior lights react to the exterior luminance. Almost all the time I work in Indigo, I work in the graphical user interface, which is all point and click. Easy peasy.
Gwilliamb wrote:Does Indigo do as much as or even more than say Fibaro HC2, Vera, Homey? Any examples would be appreciated .
The trick here is that it's unlikely that anyone here knows much about all those systems--except maybe Vera. There are many topics here about former Vera users who would never consider switching back, though. And I'll bet money every example you mention is more limited, less capable, less reliable, harder to use, or all those things at once.
Gwilliamb wrote:How easy is Indigo? I know this is a strange question but is it user friendly or relatively hard if you are not an expert HA person?
I'm no expert. I came from SmartThings, and Indigo was so much easier, because everything is all in one place compared to ST. Also, there's a free trial that can give you a better idea of how easy it is to set things up.
Gwilliamb wrote:I notice Homey has several protocols. I'm in Australia so I know Insteon won't work here, but does Indigo have solutions to other protocols like wi-fi, Bluetooth , RF, Lightwave RF, Zigbee, Infrared, NFC etc?
Indigo does not directly, currently support Zigbee, though one of the major Zigbee products, Hue,
IS supported through an IP based connection to the Hue Bridge.
Bluetooth HA devices are not great ideas for a variety of reasons, but some, like the Flic button can be supported. If a device can connect to a Mac, it's probably possible to make work with Indigo.
RF devices are supported in a variety of ways, through for example the Harmony Hub plugin, or through the Global Cache plugin. RF and Infrared are the same thing. Since it's unlikely you'll be carrying around your Mac running Indigo to activate an NFC tag, you have to explain more about how you would imagine NFC would work with your automation system. Can Indigo react to an NFC tag being sensed by another device? Yes. Check out the rPi plugin.
Here's the thing: Unless you already have a lot of random automation devices using a bunch of different protocols, you don't actually NEED compatibility with all these things. Settle on a system and make sure that what you're going to use to do stuff is compatible with that system. Not EVERY device on every protocol works with any one system, but there's bound to be SOME device from some manufacturer on some protocol that works with every system. Including Indigo. So rather than ask
"Does Indigo support every single thing out there?" maybe the better question is
"These are thing things I want to do. Is there a way to do that with a device supported by Indigo?"Speaking personally, the ONLY thing keeping me from being able to do anything I've ever thought of with Indigo is not wanting to spend the money on the $400 z-wave water valve, or the $500 switching multi-zone music amp, or on hiring an electrician to install neutrals in places that don't have them. And these are not issues with Indigo. They would be the case with any system.