Prototype — Home Assistant Homelab

A prototype is throwaway work that answers a question. The question decides the shape. Put it under .scratch/ — never use packages/ as a throwaway playground.

Git is operator-owned (operator-owned-git.md): do not commit scratch contents. Promote validated decisions into tracked paths later.

Pick a branch

Identify which question is being answered — from the user's prompt, nearby config, or by asking:

Question	Shape
"Does this logic / state model feel right?"	Tiny script, state diagram, or YAML sketch that walks hard cases (triggers, conditions, modes)
"What should this look like?"	Dashboard card mock, notification copy variants, or lovelace YAML drafts — multiple options side by side
"Where should this live?"	Package placement sketch + entity naming table (still scratch; not a live package)

If the question is ambiguous and the operator isn't reachable, default to the logic branch for automations/packages and the look branch for UI/dashboard asks — state the assumption at the top of the prototype.

Rules

1. Throwaway and marked as such. Create under .scratch/<slug>/ with a short README stating the question and that it is disposable.
2. Never throwaway under packages/. Scratch is not loaded by Home Assistant. Promoting into packages/, esphome/, utilities/, or docs/ is a separate, explicit step after the question is answered.
3. One command to run when there is runnable code (python path, bash path, etc.). Prefer zero-deps scripts.
4. No persistence by default. In-memory or a clearly named scratch file (PROTOTYPE — wipe me). Do not write .storage/ or .shopping_list.json.
5. Skip the polish. No tests beyond what makes it runnable, no abstractions.
6. Surface the state. After each action or variant switch, print/show the full relevant state so the operator can see what changed.
7. Capture the answer, not the junk. When done, record the verdict (what was learned) in chat. If promoting, move only the validated decision into the right tracked path via implement-change / HA domain skills — leave the scratch tree disposable.

Workflow

- [ ] 1. Name the question and pick logic vs look vs placement
- [ ] 2. Create .scratch/<slug>/ with a one-paragraph README
- [ ] 3. Build the smallest artifact that answers the question
- [ ] 4. Run / walk cases with the operator
- [ ] 5. Write the verdict; recommend promote path or drop

Promote vs drop

Outcome	Action
Decision validated	Hand off to implement-change / package-organize / automation path with acceptance bullets
Still fuzzy	alignment or another prototype slug
Dead end	Leave under .scratch/; do not commit; optional delete

Do not

• Commit, push, or open PRs for prototypes
• Edit live packages/ "just to try something"
• Treat scratch YAML as source of truth for Home Assistant
• Invent docs/research/ or issue files for the prototype writeup