I built a native iOS app! Now live with Scheduling!

[HenryGelderbloem]

Now live in TestFlight! https://testflight.apple.com/join/eDu7WSye

I built a native iOS/iPadOS app to use instead of the web interface.

I built this app to make it easier for my partner to control our Hot Tub.

In my experience, it is also faster to use when your Module has poor signal strength.

What do you think about it?

It’s not currently on the App Store as Apple charge £99 a year for doing so, so I wanted to gauge if anyone would use it before I do.

If there is a lot of interest, I will add additional features.

I have these on my list:

• [Now supported!] Support for Hydro Jets Spas. I don’t have one so I haven’t prioritised support for this as I can’t test it.
• Notifications: Notifications for adding chlorine, replacing or rinsing the filter, and errors.
• Onboarding: To allow you to setup the module for first use and after Firmware Updates.
• Scheduling: Provide a better interface to the current command queue interface.
• WatchOS companion app.

[HenryGelderbloem]

Some more screenshots:

[mkfc1981]

Wow this is incredible. Just what I needed for my tub! Please make it available.

[HenryGelderbloem]

Working on it! I will post an update when it is available.

[HenryGelderbloem]

I added support for HydroJet Spas! I am not able to test this but I am confident it will function as expected.

[KnT04d]

Outstanding!
What a pity there is no way to make it available for installation without Apple sticking their finger in the pie.
FWIW I would happily pay a nominal fee to download just to help cover your work. I'm sure many others would too.

[HenryGelderbloem]

Thank you for your support! I am working out some details and should have an update about App Store publishing soon!

[HenryGelderbloem]

@KnT04d I have released the app for testing https://testflight.apple.com/join/eDu7WSye

Let me know what you think, please use the feedback options within TestFlight.

[ChrisMisker]

Looks great! :) Thank you for your work!
However, I wouldn't use it.. I have connected my spa to Home Assistant, which is then connected to Apple Home (HomeKit), where I can get the same view (more or less). so for me, it's already available. (Or create a separate Home Assistant dashboard or something).
But I really do enjoy the effort!

[HenryGelderbloem]

Hi! Thanks for taking the time to add your thoughts! I agree that this app won't be for everyone. If you already have HomeAssistant you can push it into the Home app using HomeKit Bridge. I have the same setup at home too! I use it to turn the heater on or off depending on the time of day when I get cheaper electricity rates or when I get cheaper electricity during the day when my car is charging.

I made this app for those who don't have access to HomeAssistant or find that sort of setup too complicated.

I also found that using HomeAssistant + HomeKit Bridge made controlling the Hot Tub feel hacky for my partner. Not everything is supported or things are displayed in weird ways, for example, I modified the HomeKit Bridge config file to limit what entities are pushed into the Home App, this also allowed me to change some of the entities to display better but it is not perfect due to the limitations imposed by Apple. My app displays and controls the Hot Tub in a way that makes it feel native.

[metaljay]

ive been trying to replicate using MQTTThing on homebridge so that all the toggles are within one card/accessory. I can get it to work mostly but toggling the bubbles doesnt work.

I am telling you this as whilst I think a dedicated app is great, bringing to homekit is possibly a better option?
tried todo a screenshot but cant get it all on one display, but you get the gist (temp controllable and the switch is for the bubbles)

[HenryGelderbloem]

Hi @metaljay!

Apologies for not responding sooner, I am currently on my first holiday of the year!

I was having the same problems you have described which is why I created the app.

I will have a look at HomeKit and see what I can do. It may not be possible without changes to the hardware firmware but I will investigate this as this is an interesting idea!

[metaljay]

this is what I had so far:

{
  "accessory": "mqttthing",
  "type": "custom",
  "name": "Lay-Z-Spa Controller",
  "url": "mqtt://192.168.2.254",
  "username": "XXX",
  "password": "XXX",
  "logMqtt": true,
  "services": [
    {
      "type": "thermostat",
      "name": "Spa Temperature",
      "topics": {
        "getCurrentTemperature": {
          "topic": "layzspa/message",
          "apply": "return JSON.parse(message).TMP;"
        },
        "getTargetTemperature": {
          "topic": "layzspa/message",
          "apply": "return JSON.parse(message).TGT;"
        },
        "setTargetTemperature": {
          "topic": "layzspa/command",
          "apply": "let d=Number(message); let current=global.currentSpaTemp||20; global.currentSpaTemp=current; let payloads=[]; payloads.push(JSON.stringify({CMD:0,VALUE:d})); if(d>current){payloads.push(JSON.stringify({CMD:1,VALUE:true}));} else {payloads.push(JSON.stringify({CMD:1,VALUE:false}));} return payloads;"
        },
        "getCurrentHeatingCoolingState": {
          "topic": "layzspa/message",
          "apply": "let d=JSON.parse(message); return d.RED===1?1:0;"
        },
        "getTargetHeatingCoolingState": {
          "topic": "layzspa/message",
          "apply": "let d=JSON.parse(message); return d.RED===1?1:0;"
        },
        "setTargetHeatingCoolingState": {
          "topic": "layzspa/command",
          "apply": "let v=Number(message); return JSON.stringify({CMD:1, VALUE:(v===1)});"
        }
      },
      "minTemperature": 20,
      "maxTemperature": 40,
      "temperatureDisplayUnits": "C",
      "restrictHeatingCoolingState": false,
      "polling": true,
      "pollingInterval": 5
    },
    {
      "type": "switch",
      "name": "Spa Bubbles",
      "topics": {
        "getOn": {
          "topic": "layzspa/message",
          "apply": "return JSON.parse(message).AIR===1;"
        },
        "setOn": {
          "topic": "layzspa/command",
          "apply": "return JSON.stringify({CMD:3, VALUE:(message==='true'||message===true)});"
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

[HenryGelderbloem]

this is what I had so far:

{

  "accessory": "mqttthing",

  "type": "custom",

  "name": "Lay-Z-Spa Controller",

  "url": "mqtt://192.168.2.254",

  "username": "XXX",

  "password": "XXX",

  "logMqtt": true,

  "services": [

    {

      "type": "thermostat",

      "name": "Spa Temperature",

      "topics": {

        "getCurrentTemperature": {

          "topic": "layzspa/message",

          "apply": "return JSON.parse(message).TMP;"

        },

        "getTargetTemperature": {

          "topic": "layzspa/message",

          "apply": "return JSON.parse(message).TGT;"

        },

        "setTargetTemperature": {

          "topic": "layzspa/command",

          "apply": "let d=Number(message); let current=global.currentSpaTemp||20; global.currentSpaTemp=current; let payloads=[]; payloads.push(JSON.stringify({CMD:0,VALUE:d})); if(d>current){payloads.push(JSON.stringify({CMD:1,VALUE:true}));} else {payloads.push(JSON.stringify({CMD:1,VALUE:false}));} return payloads;"

        },

        "getCurrentHeatingCoolingState": {

          "topic": "layzspa/message",

          "apply": "let d=JSON.parse(message); return d.RED===1?1:0;"

        },

        "getTargetHeatingCoolingState": {

          "topic": "layzspa/message",

          "apply": "let d=JSON.parse(message); return d.RED===1?1:0;"

        },

        "setTargetHeatingCoolingState": {

          "topic": "layzspa/command",

          "apply": "let v=Number(message); return JSON.stringify({CMD:1, VALUE:(v===1)});"

        }

      },

      "minTemperature": 20,

      "maxTemperature": 40,

      "temperatureDisplayUnits": "C",

      "restrictHeatingCoolingState": false,

      "polling": true,

      "pollingInterval": 5

    },

    {

      "type": "switch",

      "name": "Spa Bubbles",

      "topics": {

        "getOn": {

          "topic": "layzspa/message",

          "apply": "return JSON.parse(message).AIR===1;"

        },

        "setOn": {

          "topic": "layzspa/command",

          "apply": "return JSON.stringify({CMD:3, VALUE:(message==='true'||message===true)});"

        }

      }

    }

  ]

}

I used HomeKit Bridge in Home Assistant and my configuration was similar but as you've mentioned, it's not perfect.

I've had a brief look at how to get HomeKit working without Home Assistant/MQTT etc and it would need support at the ESP8266 hardware level. This is possible but it is a more difficult job! There are some libraries etc that can make it easier but these would need integrating into the existing firmware whilst ensuring that it stays in the storage + memory footprint. It might be tight!

I'll look into it more.

[hmpff1990]

Really nice! There will be many dutch users willing this app on iphone!

[HenryGelderbloem]

Thank you so much! I am planning to add different languages soon! Please use the TestFlight feedback to report any issues.