Big Tech ruined the cloud, so we're renaming ours
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.bestiver.se/post/1374246
https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2026/10/02/big-tech-ruined-the-cloud-so-were-renaming-ours/Open linkView original on lemmy.worldSyndicated from the fediverse. Read and engage on the original instance.
View original on lemmy.worldhttps://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2026/10/02/big-tech-ruined-the-cloud-so-were-renaming-ours/Open linkView original on lemmy.world
61 replies
The comparison table is the useful part, because "optional and replaceable" is something you can actually check. Remote access works without the subscription through your own reverse proxy, a VPN like WireGuard/Tailscale, or a tunnel, and the Alexa/Google voice integrations can be set up manually, just with more steps. So the no-lock-in claim holds for the service itself.
The rename seems mostly aimed at the confusion they mention, where new users thought "Home Assistant Cloud" meant running Home Assistant in the cloud. Fair enough given how many people ask exactly that.
HAC has problematic connotations, so we renamed it to HAL, which is 9000 times better.
"I'm sorry Dave I'm afraid I can't do that"
"You're absolutely right. Thank you for pushing back."
HAL, open the microwave door. Open the microwave door, HAL.
...HAL? HAL!!!!
Still one step ahead of IBM!
TL;DR Home Assistant Cloud is now Home Assistant Link
Home Assistant Link is a bit too long to type out. We should call it HAL instead. HAL will never turn on its creators.
"Unlock the front door, HAL."
HAL: "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that."
He come to town. Come to save, the printer's samba.
Good move and well substantiated.
Genuinely.
I'm not sure why people are saying this is a waste of time and it's just a name, because the truth is, names matter!.
"Cloud" and all the associated vendor lock-in and data-selling etc is exactly what most people using HA are trying to escape from, and so Home Assistant 'Cloud' gave completely the wrong impression.
That old degenerate, trump, is starting a new "renaming" trend. This is not "rebranding" which trump didn't invent, but "renaming" which trump came up with all on his own. And in this guy's case, out of a pile of shit, eventually grew a rose.
I don't think this is part of trumps trend, but by the last heading I think the recent article of LibreOffice might have prompted it
I don't think this is part of trumps trend, but by the last heading I think the recent article of LibreOffice might have prompted it
sorry grandpa you're lost, bluesky and facebook are that way
Never been on bluesky or facebook, but I am a grandpa. I'm sorry you think I'm lost. Look at us! Both sorry.
@melsaskca
That definitely is giving this being too much credit.
Someone tell OpenAI, this strategy might save their ass.
I think you mean OpenSI
You mean ClosedSI
ohhh. the burn. love it.
Synthetic Intelligence?
Haven't heard the news? Trump and US Government have "officially" changed the name for the whole world. He decided it's "Super Intelligence" now.
Ah...yeah...now that you mention it...
I really, really hope this sh*t doesn't stick
I have no idea what it was, but home assstant is anything but 'no lock-in' they have a very narrow idea of what you should and shouldn't do with it, how and why. Essentially you are (or were didn't have time lately to check) locked to home assistant os.
You're right, you have no idea what it is.
Lock in is more about open standards and protocols then it is about an opinionated implementation. Yes there is not simple "export to whatever" and an alternative service that dies an "import from home assistant"
But you cannot blame a service for not having any valid alternative or other options.
Its either 20 different vendor logins and apps or home assistant.
I used to have an app (and a login account to their cloud server) for my: 1) MyQ Garage Door Opener; 2) TP-Link smart plugs, switches, and bulbs; 3) Reolink AI cameras (I have 6 of them); 4) Insteon plugs and switches; 5) The Weather Channel; etc.... Now, I have Home Assistant to manage those devices that I deleted my account from the respective cloud servers and deleted the respective apps from my mobile deives.
When I'm out and about, my iPhone is always connected to my home VPN gateway so I always have local control of my IoT devices at home with Home Assistant companion app on my iPhone. I have been with Home Assistant for 4 years now. I started with a Raspberry Pi 4B with 8Gig memory and HAOS in a mcroSD card. Now I'm on RPi5 with HA on SSD in a USB-3 enclosure.
Long Live Home Assistant.
That's not what lock-in typically means.
That's not what lock-in means at all.
You don't have to use HAOS. You absolutely can just run HA in a container.
Official container, I know.
You're not doing a good job of communicating what your issue is. None of this makes sense.
Since when? I use it frequently in my house. The possibilities are damn near endless, you have the freedom to do damn near whatever the fuck you want with it.
The problems come with shitty vendor integrations that intentionally gimp functionality when the devices aren't used in whatever "official" app the vendor ships. That's not HA's fault, tha's squarely on the vendor for doing shit in bad faith to steer low-IQ customers (like you, apparently) to the "official" app.
Me, I don't have "shitty vendor integration"! I deleted all apps to control/access respective vendor devices. I have HA to manage and control the variety of vendor devices in my home.
Same here. I've got all but one or two vendor integrations left, and I just flat out refuse to buy smart home stuff that isn't wholly supported by HA.
That's the way to go. And, local integration, which does not depend on cloud account for HA to control. The only integration I have that needs a cloud account is the integration for my car - it still depends on the cloud server to expose the differenct entities for my car's status and functions (close/open doors, start engine with climate control, etc.).
I wonder if it's possible to sniff that from the CAN bus and create a HA-compatible device with an ESP32 🤔
With the manufacturers sucking up more and more data, I can't bring myself to even consider buying anything equipped with cloud connectivity.
Can't even play Doom on it, those bastards
Actually... https://github.com/frenck/home-assistant-doom
Really? I used to play Doom on a MS-DOS PC circa 1994 or '95.
You're "locked in" because it is super versatile and accepts a ultra wide variety of devices and plug-ins that can do pretty much anything one can imagine as a tiny or big project for their home.
Or does it sound better if you "lock in" with Amazon and buy only what they produce, stay in their environment and do only things they designed you can do with the devices they sell?
As others said, not lock in. But they certainly make some very questionable UX decisions. I wish there was a good replacement, but there isn't, at least none that I am aware of.
You can make your own dashboard, I think it's called Lovelace or something like that. Then you can pretty much design it how you want
There's always OpenHAB
What a giant waste of resources...
I'm sure the 5 seconds spent changing some text strings on their branding will be sorely missed
Yes because it definitely only took 5 seconds...
Let people have fun!
Not stopping anyone.
He's coaching you on your mindset, not claiming you're physically preventing something.
I am in no way preventing anything, physically or otherwise. If changing names is your idea of fun, have at it. But the project will suffer as a result.
Why?
...you're kidding right? I just told you that.
You said the project will suffer as a result [of changing names]. Why will the project suffer as a result of changing the phrase “Home Assistant Cloud” to the phrase “Home Assistant Link”?