FAQ¶
What is FaderDock?¶
FaderDock is a DIY motorized fader controller for smart home setups. It is designed to bring physical control, automatic feedback, and a more tactile user experience to systems such as Home Assistant.
Who is FaderDock for?¶
FaderDock is aimed at makers, Home Assistant users, and DIY builders who want a more physical and more polished way to control their smart home.
Does FaderDock require Home Assistant?¶
No. FaderDock is designed to work well with Home Assistant, but the overall concept is not limited to a single platform. It can also be adapted to other local smart home or automation setups.
Does FaderDock depend on a cloud service?¶
No. FaderDock is designed as a local-first system. It can run fully locally, without mandatory cloud services, and follows a privacy-friendly, data-minimal approach.
Is FaderDock a finished consumer product?¶
FaderDock is a documented DIY project, not a closed off-the-shelf consumer device. It is intended for users who want to build, understand, and customize their own setup.
What can I use FaderDock for?¶
Typical use cases include:
- lighting control
- scenes and room functions
- media and volume-style control
- custom Home Assistant entities
- experimental and highly personalized automation workflows
What is open source?¶
The public side of FaderDock includes the documentation on this site and the open-source project resources on GitHub.
You can explore the repository here:
What is included in Pro?¶
The Pro documentation focuses on the practical implementation path.
It includes topics such as:
- hardware guidance
- setup and flashing
- integration details
- calibration
- troubleshooting
- downloads and implementation resources
Do I need electronics experience?¶
Basic DIY and electronics experience is helpful. FaderDock is meant for people who enjoy building and configuring their own hardware, even if they are not professional developers or engineers.
Do I need soldering?¶
That depends on the final hardware variant and build approach. FaderDock is designed with practicality and DIY usability in mind, but some builds may still require basic assembly work.
Can I modify or extend the system?¶
Yes. Openness and flexibility are core principles of FaderDock. The project is intended to be understandable, adaptable, and extendable.
Where should I start?¶
A good path is:
- Read the Project page
- Explore the Open Source section
- Continue with Pro Documentation if you want the full implementation path
Where can I follow the project?¶
You can follow the public side of FaderDock on this site and in the GitHub repository.
You can also check the Changelog for updates.