What's going on with HomeKit? Will it ever be Home Assistant compatible?

HomeKit and Home Assistant Compatibility

At WWDC 2024, Apple presented several updates and features related to HomeKit, particularly focusing on the integration with the Matter protocol. Here are some key points:

1. Matter Protocol Integration:

   • HomeKit now supports Matter accessories natively. This means that any device implementing the Matter protocol can automatically work with HomeKit. This was demonstrated in the session "Go small with Embedded Swift" where a smart light was built using embedded Swift and integrated into HomeKit using the Matter protocol.
   • Go small with Embedded Swift (10:00)

2. Accessory Setup Kit:

   • iOS 18 introduces the Accessory Setup Kit, which provides a streamlined and privacy-friendly approach to set up and manage accessories with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. This new framework simplifies the pairing process and enhances user control over accessory permissions.
   • Meet AccessorySetupKit (00:07)

Home Assistant Compatibility

While the sessions did not explicitly mention Home Assistant, the integration of the Matter protocol is a significant step towards broader compatibility. Matter is an open standard for smart home devices, and many platforms, including Home Assistant, are working towards supporting Matter. Therefore, devices that are compatible with Matter should, in theory, be compatible with Home Assistant as well.

Relevant Sessions

1. Go small with Embedded Swift

   • Using Swift's interoperability to control the LED (06:19)
   • Adding the Matter protocol (10:07)
   • Using a Swift enum in the event handler (13:43)

2. Meet AccessorySetupKit

   • Introduction (00:07)

If you have any more specific questions or need further details, feel free to ask!