{"id":703,"date":"2024-05-10T01:05:54","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T01:05:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/draith.com\/?p=703"},"modified":"2025-01-05T02:04:18","modified_gmt":"2025-01-05T02:04:18","slug":"why-not-logic-apps-home-assistant-to-automate-your-cats-treat-dispenser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/draith.com\/?p=703","title":{"rendered":"Why Not? Logic Apps + Home Assistant to Automate Your Cats Treat Dispenser"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alright, buckle up, folks – we\u2019re diving into the absurd side of automation. Sure, Home Assistant can make your home smarter, but what if it could make your cat happier and financially savvy? Let’s build a system that dispenses treats based on stock market performance. Because why not tie your feline friend\u2019s snack schedule to the whims of Wall Street?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is overkill. It\u2019s ridiculous. It\u2019s everything you didn\u2019t know you needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Plan: Cats, Treats, and Capitalism<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what we\u2019re doing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Stock Price Check<\/strong> – Use Azure Logic Apps to pull daily stock prices for your favorite company (or your cat\u2019s favorite, obviously). I prefer something like Alpha Vantage – it’s got a free tier and it’s easy to setup. https:\/\/www.alphavantage.co\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Treat Dispensing Logic<\/strong> – Determine whether the stock is up or down and decide if treats should rain upon your furry roomate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Home Assistant Integration<\/strong> – Trigger a smart treat dispenser via a webhook.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you don\u2019t have a smart treat dispenser, DIY it. A smart plug attached to a motorized dispenser (or a cheap automatic feeder) works perfectly. I prefer these TPLink Matter Plugs.<\/a> Connect it to Home Assistant and set up an automation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    alias: \"Dispense Treats\"\ntrigger:\n  - platform: webhook\n    webhook_id: \"dispense_treats\"\naction:\n  - service: switch.turn_on\n    target:\n      entity_id: switch.treat_dispenser\n  - delay: \"00:00:05\"  # Dispense treats for 5 seconds\n  - service: switch.turn_off\n    target:\n      entity_id: switch.treat_dispenser\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
    Make sure you note the “webhook_id” – you will need it soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Create the Logic App<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In Azure Portal, create a new Logic App (Consumption)<\/strong>. Call it something fun, like WallStreetKitty<\/em>.  Add a Reoccurrance Trigger – maybe every 5 minutes or something like that.  If you use a different API for the stock prices, make sure you know the number of calls you can make on your pricing tier.  These sample below just checks once a day at 5pm (after the market closes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    {\n  \"recurrence\": {\n    \"frequency\": \"Day\",\n    \"interval\": 1,\n    \"schedule\": {\n      \"hours\": [17],\n      \"minutes\": [0]\n    }\n  }\n}<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
    Fetch Stock Prices<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Add an HTTP<\/strong> action to call a stock API (e.g., Alpha Vantage). Example setup:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Method<\/strong>: GET<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. URI<\/strong>: https:\/\/www.alphavantage.co\/query?function=TIME_SERIES_INTRADAY&symbol=MSFT&interval=1min&apikey=YourAPIKey
      <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      Replace MSFT with the ticker symbol of your choice – or your cat\u2019s favorite stock. The actual json you get from Alpha Vantage might be something like this:
      <\/p>\n\n\n\n
      {\n  \"Meta Data\": {\n    \"1. Information\": \"Intraday (1min) open, high, low, close prices and volume\",\n    \"2. Symbol\": \"MSFT\",\n    \"3. Last Refreshed\": \"2024-05-01 16:00:00\",\n    \"4. Interval\": \"1min\",\n    \"5. Output Size\": \"Compact\",\n    \"6. Time Zone\": \"US\/Eastern\"\n  },\n  \"Time Series (1min)\": {\n    \"2024-05-01 16:00:00\": {\n      \"1. open\": \"309.6200\",\n      \"2. high\": \"310.0000\",\n      \"3. low\": \"309.1500\",\n      \"4. close\": \"309.9200\",\n      \"5. volume\": \"1234567\"\n    },\n    \"2024-05-01 15:59:00\": {\n      \"1. open\": \"309.5000\",\n      \"2. high\": \"309.8000\",\n      \"3. low\": \"309.1000\",\n      \"4. close\": \"309.6200\",\n      \"5. volume\": \"987654\"\n    }\n  }\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
      So your next step is to parse the json – add a parse JSON step and use this schema:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      {\n  \"type\": \"object\",\n  \"properties\": {\n    \"Meta Data\": {\n      \"type\": \"object\",\n      \"properties\": {\n        \"2. Symbol\": { \"type\": \"string\" },\n        \"3. Last Refreshed\": { \"type\": \"string\" }\n      }\n    },\n    \"Time Series (1min)\": {\n      \"type\": \"object\",\n      \"additionalProperties\": {\n        \"type\": \"object\",\n        \"properties\": {\n          \"1. open\": { \"type\": \"string\" },\n          \"2. high\": { \"type\": \"string\" },\n          \"3. low\": { \"type\": \"string\" },\n          \"4. close\": { \"type\": \"string\" },\n          \"5. volume\": { \"type\": \"string\" }\n        }\n      }\n    }\n  }\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
      We want 4 – the CLOSE value.  We just need to extract it from the JSON – <\/p>\n\n\n\n
      @body('Parse_JSON')?['Time Series (1min)']?[body('Parse_JSON')?['Meta Data']?['3. Last Refreshed']]?['4. close']<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
      Now we need to add a condition – we don’t want Tabby to get fat if the stocks aren’t doing well, right??<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      @greater(float(body('Extract_Stock_Price')),float(variables('Previous_Price')))<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
      If True – continue.  If False, well someones going to not be happy.  Let’s assume that the stocks are going to do well, so let’s call out to Home Assistant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      Call Home Assistant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      In the True<\/strong> branch, add an HTTP<\/strong> action to trigger the treat dispenser:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Method<\/strong> – POST<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. URI<\/strong> – https:\/\/your-homeassistant-instance\/api\/webhook\/<<that webhook id I told you to remember>>.  For example – https:\/\/your-homeassistant-instance\/api\/webhook\/dispense_treats<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Headers<\/strong> – Add your Home Assistant authentication token.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        Bonus Round: Go Big or Go Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n