What version of python is supported by Home Assistant?

Spark 45 Published: 08/12/2024

What version of python is supported by Home Assistant?

I'd be happy to help you with that!

Home Assistant, a popular open-source home automation platform, supports Python 3.x. Specifically, the recommended Python version for Home Assistant is Python 3.9 or higher.

Here's why:

Python 3.x: Home Assistant has been using Python 3.x as its primary programming language since version 0.34 (released in March 2018). This is because Python 3.x offers significant improvements over Python 2.x, including better support for modern features like async/await and improved security. Python 3.9: In particular, Home Assistant recommends using Python 3.9 or higher due to its enhanced performance, new library modules (like asyncio), and bug fixes that improve the overall stability of your automation setup. Why not earlier versions? While it's technically possible to run Home Assistant on older Python versions like 2.x or even 3.5-3.8, these versions are no longer supported and might result in compatibility issues or errors. In addition, new features and improvements introduced in Python 3.9+ won't be available. What about Python 3.10+?: Home Assistant supports Python 3.10 and later versions as well, providing the latest language features, security patches, and improved performance. How do I check my Python version? To ensure you're running the correct Python version for Home Assistant, simply open your terminal or command prompt and type: 
python --version

This will display your current Python version. If it's below 3.9, consider updating to a newer version.

What about other dependencies?: Keep in mind that Home Assistant relies on various Python packages (like requests, asyncio, and aiohttp) for its features. Make sure you have the latest versions of these libraries installed using pip or your package manager.

By using the recommended Python 3.9+ version, you'll enjoy a seamless automation experience with Home Assistant, leveraging the best that Python has to offer!

What's your current Python version? Are you planning on upgrading to ensure compatibility with Home Assistant?

How do I reload python scripts in Home Assistant?

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Reloading Python scripts in Home Assistant is a straightforward process. When you make changes to your custom Python scripts, Home Assistant doesn't automatically detect the updates and restart them. Instead, you need to manually reload the scripts to apply the changes.

Here are some ways to reload Python scripts in Home Assistant:

Method 1: Using the Web Interface

Open the Home Assistant web interface in your favorite browser. Click on Supervision in the top navigation bar. Click on the Reload button next to each script you want to reload. Confirm that you want to reload the script by clicking Reload.

Method 2: Using the CLI

Open a terminal or command prompt and navigate to your Home Assistant installation directory (usually located at ~/.homeassistant/). Run the following command: 
   home-assistant restart

This will reload all Python scripts, including your custom ones.

Method 3: Using a YAML Configuration File

In your Home Assistant configuration file (configuration.yaml), add the following line to the end of your file: 
   reload_interval: 0

The reload_interval setting controls how often Home Assistant checks for updates to Python scripts. A value of 0 means that Home Assistant will check for updates immediately.

Save the configuration file and restart Home Assistant using Method 1 or Method 2 above. Once Home Assistant has restarted, your custom Python scripts should be reloaded with the new changes.

Method 4: Using a Custom Component

You can also create a custom component to reload your Python scripts. This method requires some programming knowledge and involves creating a custom component that listens for changes to specific files or directories.

Create a new directory for your custom component, such as custom_components/ in the same directory as your Home Assistant installation. Inside this directory, create a new file called __init__.py. In this file, add the following code: 
   import os

from homeassistant.components import base


class PythonScriptReloader(base.Component):


def init(self, hass):


self.hass = hass


self.script_path = "path/to/your/script.py"


def start(self):


if os.path.exists(self.script_path):


self.hass.log.info(f"Reloading script: {self.script_path}")


self.hass.reload_script(self.script_path)


return PythonScriptReloader
Update the script_path variable to point to the location of your custom Python script. Save the file and restart Home Assistant using Method 1 or Method 2 above.

In conclusion, reloading Python scripts in Home Assistant is a straightforward process that can be accomplished through various methods. Choose the method that best fits your needs, whether it's using the web interface, CLI, YAML configuration file, or custom component.

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