A lightweight, local-first web app that lets anyone on my home network control my WiZ smart lights without installing proprietary vendor apps or giving IoT devices internet access.
Why This Exists
As documented in my homelab, no IoT devices are allowed internet access on my network.
WiZ smart lights communicate over local UDP on port 38899 using a straightforward JSON-RPC protocol. Rather than forcing housemates or guests to install a bloated, account-driven mobile app that tries to phone home to cloud servers, this service runs as a small container on my Kubernetes cluster (Draynor) and exposes an instant, responsive interface to anyone on the Wi-Fi.
How It Works
- Go Backend: Serves fast, server-rendered HTML and communicates directly with bulbs over UDP.
- HTMX Reactivity: Sliders, toggles, and scene buttons swap HTML fragments over HTTP with zero heavy JavaScript frameworks.
- Local UDP Protocol (
38899): Sends directgetPilotandsetPilotJSON payloads to each bulb's local IP address. Commands are retried with small backoffs for reliable delivery over Wi-Fi. - In-Memory Cache & Polling: The Go server maintains an in-memory cache updated instantly on user actions and periodically polled every 10 seconds, so sliders are always accurate when opening the app on a new device.
- Progressive Web App (PWA): Includes a web app manifest and mobile app icons so it can be installed directly to an iOS or Android home screen with no browser chrome.
