Skip to content

Usage Guide

This guide explains how to use the Home Assistant MCP Server for basic device management and integration.

Basic Setup

  1. Starting the Server:
  2. Development mode: bun run dev
  3. Production mode: bun run start

  4. Accessing the Server:

  5. Default URL: http://localhost:3000
  6. Ensure Home Assistant credentials are configured in .env

Device Control

REST API Interactions

Basic device control can be performed via the REST API:

// Turn on a light
fetch('http://localhost:3000/api/control', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    entity_id: 'light.living_room',
    command: 'turn_on',
    parameters: { brightness: 50 }
  })
});

Supported Commands

  • turn_on
  • turn_off
  • toggle
  • set_brightness

Supported Entities

  • Lights
  • Switches
  • Climate controls
  • Media players

Real-Time Updates

WebSocket Connection

Subscribe to real-time device state changes:

const ws = new WebSocket('ws://localhost:3000/events');
ws.onmessage = (event) => {
  const deviceUpdate = JSON.parse(event.data);
  console.log('Device state changed:', deviceUpdate);
};

Authentication

All API requests require a valid JWT token in the Authorization header.

Limitations

  • Basic device control only
  • Limited error handling
  • Minimal third-party integrations

Troubleshooting

  1. Verify Home Assistant connection
  2. Check JWT token validity
  3. Ensure correct entity IDs
  4. Review server logs for detailed errors

Configuration

Configure the server using environment variables in .env:

HA_URL=http://homeassistant:8123
HA_TOKEN=your_home_assistant_token
JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret

Next Steps