SMART HOME SYSTEMS
Connect devices, dashboards, and automations into one reliable smart home
Connect ESP32, Arduino gateways, and Raspberry Pi services into a real smart-home system with dashboards, automations, and reliable messaging.
Created by Marco Schwartz
A clear result, not another playlist
What you will learn
- Connect custom devices to Home Assistant
- Design clean MQTT topic and entity naming
- Build dashboards for monitoring and control
- Create Node-RED automation flows
- Add notifications and fallback behavior
- Back up and maintain smart-home configuration
Your finished project
Finish the course able to connect custom devices to Home Assistant.
Step-by-step learning path
Course curriculum
3 sections / 9 lessons
1Integration Architecture3 lessons
- Choose MQTT, ESPHome-style, or direct API patterns01
- Design naming, rooms, entities, and topics02
- Connect first device state into Home AssistantPreview03
2Dashboards and Automations3 lessons
- Build useful dashboards01
- Create automations from sensor state02
- Use Node-RED for visual flows03
3Reliability and Maintenance3 lessons
- Add alerts, fallbacks, and manual overrides01
- Back up Home Assistant and flows02
- Troubleshoot entity, MQTT, and network issues03
See how the course teaches
Try a lesson before enrolling
Open the public lesson directly on this page. No account or payment is required.
Designed for practical progress
About this course
A system integration course for makers ready to connect devices into a smart home. Students configure MQTT entities, Home Assistant dashboards, Node-RED flows, automations, notifications, backups, and sane naming conventions.
Learn from experience
Meet your instructor
Marco Schwartz
Maker educator and electronics & IoT instructor
Marco Schwartz teaches practical electronics, embedded programming, and connected-device projects. His courses help makers move from wiring and firmware to dependable Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, MQTT, Node-RED, and home automation systems they can understand, troubleshoot, and extend.
- 15+ years of electronics and maker education
Student results
What learners are saying
4.7 from 3 stories
“This course tied everything together for me. I'd dabbled in Home Assistant before, but adding MQTT and Node-RED into the mix opened up a whole new world of automations.”
“Fantastic content! My home now basically runs itself, and I actually understand how it all works. The Node-RED flows section was my favorite.”
“There's a lot packed into this course, which is great, though I'd recommend taking it slow. Everything is explained well and the results are genuinely impressive.”
Before you start
Requirements
- One ESP32, Arduino gateway, or Raspberry Pi device project
- Basic MQTT understanding recommended
- Home Assistant install or willingness to set one up
A good fit for
Who this course is for
- Makers who want a structured path into Home Assistant
- Learners who prefer building real projects over watching disconnected tutorials
- Developers and hobbyists who want practical troubleshooting experience
Answers before you enroll
Frequently asked questions
Is this course suitable for beginners?
Yes. The course is designed for intermediate learners and builds each skill in a deliberate sequence.
What do I need before starting?
You will need One ESP32, Arduino gateway, or Raspberry Pi device project, Basic MQTT understanding recommended, Home Assistant install or willingness to set one up.
Can I learn at my own pace?
Yes. Start after checkout and return to the course whenever you are ready to continue.
What if the course is not a good fit?
Contact Makecademy support within 14 days of purchase. We will review the request and issue a refund when the course is not a suitable fit.
Ready to build it?
Start Home Assistant, MQTT, and Node-RED Automation today
Follow a clear path from the first setup step to a finished project you can explain, troubleshoot, and extend.
$39
Enroll nowA practical 14-day guarantee
Start the course and review the learning path. If it is not the right fit, contact us within 14 days and we will help make it right.