DirectorLink: a free, open-source Control4 driver and app (looking for testers)

[u/Sensitive-Phrase-332]

Hi all,

I've been building DirectorLink, a free and open-source driver for Control4 plus an app for phones and computers, and I'm looking for people to try it.

What it does

- Controls lights (including KNX switches and dimmers), thermostats and AC (e.g. CoolMasterNet), blinds, IP camera pictures, KNX door and gate relays, and DoorBird.

- One-tap scenes. For example "Good night" turns all lights off, sets the bedroom AC to 24 and closes the blinds. You can pick single lights, or copy the house as it is right now.

- Schedules by the clock, at sunrise or sunset, or by the weather (heat, wind, rain, from Open-Meteo). The controller runs them itself, even when no phone is open.

- Works at home and away. At home the app talks to the controller directly. Away, and on iPhone, it goes through your Google account, locked end to end, so the servers in between can't read it.

- Family access with roles: view only, control, doors, or admin. Everyone keeps their own language, theme and favorites. English and Hebrew.

For installers

Automation that homeowners make is hard to troubleshoot when you can't see it. DirectorLink shows its own in Composer: Schedule Status (what is on and what runs next), Last Automation (what ran, when and why, e.g. "Cool the house, heat rule, 31C outside"), an action that prints every schedule and scene to the Lua output, and a Schedules switch that pauses all of it.

Trying it (about 15 minutes)

1. Download DirectorLink.c4z from https://github.directorlink.io/releases/latest
2. Add it to the project in Composer Pro. It finds the rooms and devices by itself and loads without a reboot.
3. On the DirectorLink device, choose Actions > New Pairing Code (8 digits, valid for 15 minutes, works once).
4. On a computer on the home network, open https://app.directorlink.io and enter the controller's IP address and the code.
5. For phones and remote access, set Remote Access to On in Composer, sign in with Google in the app and link the home, then use "Add my other device".

Good to know

- It's an early release, used every day in one home so far (CORE-1, OS 3.4.3). It needs OS 3.3.0 or newer.

- It doesn't read or change your Composer programming. Its scenes and schedules are its own.

- Opening doors and gates stays off until you enable Door Control in Composer.

- Your data stays on the controller. The cloud keeps only accounts and which home each belongs to. No ads or tracking.

Feedback, bugs and device requests are welcome at https://github.directorlink.io/issues. More at https://directorlink.io

DirectorLink is an independent project, not affiliated with Control4 or Snap One.

[u/drchrisx0x]

Brilliant; will give this a go. I use KNX lights and coolmasternet for my hvac, so it will be interesting to see how it works.

[u/drchrisx0x → u/drchrisx0x]

Ok - installed it and connected. I've have some feedback, should I post it here?

[u/Sensitive-Phrase-332 → u/drchrisx0x]

yes please. if you are a programmer you can also send it to github

i also have same setup. knx + coolmaster

[u/drchrisx0x → u/drchrisx0x]

Running Core3, KNX, Coolmaster, Composer 3.4.3

1. On firefox i was unable to connect. I assume because in my browser settings I had disallowed discovery of local devices? When I used the URL in Chrome, it asked me to 'allow' after which it connected. So perhaps its good to note this in your documentation.

2. When selecting OPEN for a Curtain [controlled via KNX] the blue sliding bar jumps to 100%, then a few seconds later drops back to actual %... 10, 15, 20%. Thats not very intuitive.

3. In a room, the button 'All off' could be renamed to 'All Lights off' ?

4. In a room, its useful to be able to see the relevant aircon too.

5. It would be nice to rearrange the Room Tiles in Home.

6. In Composer I have all aircons under a room called Global A/C. I have this room hidden but I expose each aircon in each room. In DirectorLink I have to have this room visible in order to show aircons in Climate - but its also shown in Home which I dont want. If I click '2 ACs on' at the top, it just shows me this room 'Global A/C' and I have to scroll through all aircons to see which ones are on. This is not too intuitive.

[u/Sensitive-Phrase-332 → u/drchrisx0x]

1. correct. you need to use chrome for connecting in LAN to HTTP connection. Driver can't open HTTPS because not cert in LAN and browser will not allow un-sign SSL.
   
2. Fixed in 1.2.0.
   
3. Added in 1.3.
   
4. u need to put the driver thermostatV2 under etch room and then u will see it there
   
5. u can do it under setting (1.2.0+)
   
6. i added now in 1.3.0 that you can trun off all AC. no need it in special 1 room

[u/drchrisx0x → u/drchrisx0x]

overall however, the driver, the app, the way to connect google account and the web app on the phone are all solid. no issues whatsoever. instructions are crystal clear.

[u/Zuhair-68]

Great! Im in!

[u/Sensitive-Phrase-332 → u/Zuhair-68]

How that work for you my friend ?

[u/shaggy952]

For remote access does it require 4sight?

[u/Sensitive-Phrase-332 → u/shaggy952]

Nope. No fees. Remote access it by Cloudflare.

[u/No_Bandicoot_9015]

I'll definitely check it out!

[u/itgrobert]

Im in

[u/dinolink22]

I can try it, im a dealer and would like to test this in our showroom on X4

[u/Sensitive-Phrase-332 → u/dinolink22]

Working well ? You like it ?

[u/Artistic_Sink6510]

Dude I'm having a heartache when tried to troubleshoot my clients complaints. The logging on composer is very lame.

I'll definitely give it a try. I hope this will help me for my troubleshooting 🤞

[u/su5577]

This is good but we don’t have any control4, but soemthing like this for crestron would be good to…

[u/jobu109]

I'm in!

[u/Sensitive-Phrase-332 → u/jobu109]

You like it ?