HABPanel

HABPanel (short for Home Automation Panel) is a web-based dashboard component for the openHAB home automation platform. It enables users to create customizable control panels intended primarily for tablets and other touch devices, but usable from any web browser on desktop or mobile. Panels can be deployed on local networks or over the internet when secured properly.

A key feature of HABPanel is its panel editor, a drag-and-drop interface that lets users arrange a grid of widgets. The widget library typically includes controls for openHAB items such as switches, sliders, gauges, charts, text blocks, images, and maps. Each widget binds to one or more items, so the panel reflects real-time item states and can send commands back to the openHAB server.

Panels are stored as JSON configurations that describe layout, widget properties, and item bindings. These configurations can be exported, imported, or shared with other users. HABPanel supports multiple panels for different locations or purposes (for example, a living room dashboard and a kitchen dashboard).

In terms of architecture, HABPanel runs within the openHAB server environment and communicates with the openHAB items via the server’s APIs. It is typically accessed through the openHAB user interface or a dedicated panel URL on the local network. Security considerations include using authentication and TLS when panels are exposed beyond the local network.

HABPanel has served as a popular option for tablet-based control and monitoring of smart homes, offering a flexible alternative to more generic dashboards while remaining tightly integrated with openHAB items.