openHAB 5.0 release blog post

[florian-h05]

Deploy preview: https://deploy-preview-521--openhab.netlify.app/blog/2025-07-21-openhab-5-0-release.html

[florian-h05]

Let‘s create the 5.0 release blog post together.
I will ping a few people and write down what I‘d like them to write about (ot at least think about what can be written about), but please always feel free to add your own topics.

• @digitaldan: Matter integration & iOS App
• @HolgerHees: Python Scripting
• @lsiepel: Z-Wave JS Binding
• @lolodomo: Sitemap & Basic UIs
• @ccutrer: MQTT (HA): HA Jinja in GraalPython
• @jimtng: Copy DSL/YAML definitions
• @lolodomo & ?: YAML config files
• @stefan-hoehn: Blockly
• @mherwege: Semantic Model Maintenance (Main UI)
• @andrewfg Semantic Tagging
• @Nadahar: Regenerate rules from template (Main UI)
• @jsjames: oh-state-series (Main UI)
• @openhab/openhabian-maintainers: openHABian
• @openhab/core-maintainers: openHAB core
• @openhab/add-ons-maintainers: openHAB Add-ons

Either create a PR to this branch with your changes (preferred way when including images) or comment your Markdown text in code fences. Thanks in advance!

I will take care of Main UI myself and probably ping more people.

[digitaldan]

We are also racing to get the IOS app ready for release at the same time with some rather big changes, i'll also volunteer to do a write up on it.

• Complete rewrite of the networking code to use Apple's Swift OpenAPI Generator
• Updated many parts of the app to Swift UI and Swift 6
• All new Settings view and more configurable connection settings
• Updated App shortcuts and intents
• Support for multiple "Homes" (major requested feature), including cloud notification and app intents support for multiple homes
• Embedded screen saver and fullscreen support for wall mounted devices

[Nadahar]

I'm a bit unsure of what form/at what detail level this should take place, so I'll hang back until I see some other contributions "for calibration".

[lolodomo]

We have of course to talk about one of the major new feature of OH 5, that is the new YAML format to provide items and things. I will write it.

And we have to announce the new Main UI feature implemented by @jimtng in Main UI (and me in core framework) to generate DSL/YAML code from any item, thing and inbox entry.

[lolodomo]

I'm a bit unsure of what form/at what detail level this should take place,

In my opinion, we have to be no too much technical and it should be relatively short and a little marketing, we should introduce any new major feature, if possible with a screenshot and a link to documentation for more details.

If the blog post is too big, we can expect most users not reading it until the end.

[HolgerHees]

• new python 3.11 binding based on graalpy 24.2.1
• works in ui and file based rules and as a transformation service
• provide direct access to the complete openhab java api
• includes a thin helper library which provides
  • improve error logging
  • import native java.* or org.openhab.* java packages
  • scope module to encapsulate all jsr223 objects
  • rule class to simlify rule setup, logging and more.
  • registry class which wraps access to Items, Things, Channels
  • works with native python datatypes like datetype instead of ZonedDateTime
  • all kind of triggers, actions and services are supported
• only limitation is currently the missing support of external modules (will be added with the next version)

[lsiepel]

is branch with your changes (preferred way when including images) or comment your Markdown text in code fences. Thanks in advance!

I believe the significant work that @andrewfg put into the tagging deserves a mention in the blog as well.

[florian-h05]

@HolgerHees Do you want to formulate a text or should I take your notes and do it myself?

[florian-h05]

I'm a bit unsure of what form/at what detail level this should take place, so I'll hang back until I see some other contributions "for calibration".

I think adding a subsection to Main UI saying that it is now possible to regenerate rules from their template if the template has been updated along with a screenshot and a documentation link (once openhab/openhab-docs#2518 is merged).

[HolgerHees]

@HolgerHees Do you want to formulate a text or should I take your notes and do it myself?

I will try... Give me some minutes...

[HolgerHees]

A new addition is the Python scripting binding based on GraalPy. Unlike the Jython binding, it offers full Python 3.11 support and also offers better future perspectives, as the underlying GraalPy is actively developed and promoted by Oracle. In the long term, it will also completely replace the "outdated" Jython. But before, Jython will be market as deprecated for a while.

The binding offers the possibility of using Python as a scripting language in UI or file-based rules, as well as in transformation services. The Python API is deliberately kept lean to provide the most direct access to the openHAB API possible.

It also offers the following improvements over the Jython binding

• improve error logging
• import native java.* or org.openhab.* java packages
• scope module to encapsulate all jsr223 objects
• rule class to simlify rule setup, logging and more.
• registry class which wraps/simplifies access to Items, Things, Channels
• works with native python datatypes like datetype instead of ZonedDateTime
• all kind of triggers, actions and services are supported
• object functions are almost 100% similar to the openhab java API
• dependency watcher to reload scripts when modified

The only current limitation is the lack of PIP support for installing external modules. This will be added in the next version. Alternatively, this version can already be installed via the Marketplace. This version offers the following advantages:

• updating of helper libs
• venv setups
• ‘pip’ and preinstalled “modules”
• native modules
• karaf console support
  • show python scripting state values
  • open an interactive console
  • install, check, list and uninstall additional modules
  • install, check, list and uninstall helper lib module

It's also important to note that this binding was not developed as a replacement for HabAPP. HabAPP is completely independent, is still actively developed, and enjoys a large community. Which one you choose to use depends entirely on personal preference.

[florian-h05]

@HolgerHees Thanks! I have integrated this and shortened it a bit.

[stefan-hoehn]

@lsiepel Can we add a link to a (and create a) migration tutorial for zwavejs? (UPDATE: see link below) I would be the first to go for it if I knew the exact way how to do that without risking to lose my current zwave things and items.
It would also make sense to mention what the advantages for the new bindings are (as the old will still be maintained) - how about linking https://community.openhab.org/t/new-z-wave-js-binding-released/164943 (thanks Florian for finding it)

[lolodomo]

I am a little lost, we need to submit changes directly in openhab/website or to your repo @florian-h05 ?

[florian-h05]

This branch is on openhab/website (not my fork), so yes PRs go to openhab/website.
It should be easier to create them against this repo than against my fork.

[lolodomo]

Looking at what are the 19 new bindings added to OH in version 5 and thinking which ones could have a large audience, I believe we could mention the Dirigera binding for Ikea devices ?

[lolodomo]

I just submitted a PR to update sitemap and Basic UI section (I merged both sections). Nothing major in OH 5.

Note sure I did it as expected regarding branches.

[florian-h05]

Looking at what are the 19 new bindings added to OH in version 5 and thinking which ones could have a large audience, I believe we could mention the Dirigera binding for Ikea devices ?

In the past we have usually mentioned all new bindings with a short sentence what they add, but if you think it is important we can highlight the Dirigera binding with a short section. Keep in mind that the blog post shouldn't get too long though, Matter, iOS and Garmin app are still missing in it and are major enhancements.

[lsiepel]

@lsiepel Can we add a link to a (and create a) migration tutorial for zwavejs? (UPDATE: see link below) I would be the first to go for it if I knew the exact way how to do that without risking to lose my current zwave things and items. It would also make sense to mention what the advantages for the new bindings are (as the old will still be maintained) - how about linking https://community.openhab.org/t/new-z-wave-js-binding-released/164943 (thanks Florian for finding it)

Not sure what you mean, the mentioned community thread is linked in my proposal that is added to the release blog. First post is some extended details, second post is a FAQ. The FAQ already shows the installation outline, not sure if i can provide an in-depth step by step tuturial.

[digitaldan]

@florian-h05 see #526

[andrewfg]

I believe the significant work that @andrewfg put into the tagging deserves a mention in the blog as well.

The information on the mass tagging project is here openhab/openhab-addons#18585 (comment)

[lsiepel]

Some small suggestions. I noticed a mix of present and past tense in some areas. I'd opt to stick with present.

[lolodomo]

Please check "openHAB Maintainer" vs "openHAB Contributor".

[lolodomo]

My proposal for YAML Configuration Format:

YAML Configuration Format

Laurent Garnier (@lolodomo), openHAB Maintainer

openHAB 5.0 introduces a modular configuration system that allows supported entities (objects such as Things, Items, etc.) to be defined in one or more YAML files.
This new format does not replace our dédicated DSL format but rather provides an alternative for YAML enthusiasts or users who have never been confortable with our DSL syntax. .It is also a way to not depend too much on XTend/XText while we don't know how many more years these Eclipse projects will be maintained.
This file format was introduced in openHAB 4.1 but limited to custom tags. It is extended in openHAB 5.0 to Things and Items.
Unlike the DSL configuration files, YAML configuration files are not limited to a specific object type—they can contain any supported entities (Things, Items, Tags, etc.).
Here is an example:

version: 1

tags:
  Location_Indoor_Room_HomeCinemaRoom:
    label: Home Cinema Room
    description: The room containing my home cinema system
    synonyms:
      - Home theater room
      - TV room
      - Movie room

things:
  lgwebos:WebOSTV:3aab9eea-953b-4272-bdbd-f0cd0ecf4a46:
    config:
      host: 192.168.2.119
      key: 6ef1dff6c7c936c8dc5056fc85ea3aef
      macAddress: 3c:cd:93:c2:20:e0

items:
  TV_Power:
    type: Switch
    label: TV Power
    icon: television
    autoupdate: false
    channel: lgwebos:WebOSTV:3aab9eea-953b-4272-bdbd-f0cd0ecf4a46:power

You can consult the documentation.

It is now also possible to generate this syntax directly from Main UI if you have Things and Items that were defined either with DSL syntax or created from Main UI.

Support for other entities will be added in next releases, starting with rules and rule templates. Other exciting features based on this are already in the pipe.

[florian-h05]

I rebased this again now, should fix the issue.

[florian-h05]

Thanks all for the good collaboration on this, it should be live in a few minutes 🚀

[digitaldan]

Thanks @florian-h05 for coordinating all of this ! Did you also add a summer banner to the post ?

[florian-h05]

Do you mean the header image?

[digitaldan]

here's one i just generated with openAI's O3 model

[florian-h05]

Looks pretty nice, but I prefer what I generated with Black Forest Lubs Flux and refined with GPT 4o:

[mstormi]

can you have a logo somewhere like on the boat?

[digitaldan]

Looks good! My only preference for these images is they show a home with lights (or other modern touches)
which helps relate to our home automation theme

[florian-h05]

can you have a logo somewhere like on the boat?

Let's try ... but first I will do the release announcement, already waited a while to do that.

[florian-h05]

@digitaldan Do you want to give Markus idea a try? My free ChatGPT consistently crashes when generating images ...

[digitaldan]

To put a oh logo on the boat? I can try, not sure how well ai does with detail like that

[stefan-hoehn]

How do you like this?

I "photoshopped" it by adding the logos to the AI image.

[florian-h05]

Haha, that's great!
The logo on the roof looks very realistic, the one on the boat less, probably remove the one on the boat.

[stefan-hoehn]

I blurred the logo on the boat and gave it some perspective distortion.

Hardly noticeable but still there...

[florian-h05]

That looks really nice now, thanks!
I will convert this to webp and update the image on the website.

[jlaur]

Post-mortem comment.

[holgerfriedrich]

Maybe a stupid question... Could you make the images clickable, showing them at a bigger size? I cannot see the details of the examples without right-clicking and opening in a separate frame (so the image data is there, we just shrink it a lot when we display it in the blog post).

[florian-h05]

Not simply, unfortunately that’s no simple config option or something like that.
Wrt to Vuepress plugins, not sure how many plugins are still available for our very old Vuepress version.

[holgerfriedrich]

Ok, thanks.