Did I Leave the Garage Open? One Real-World Problem, Many Engineering Lessons

Software development can often feel disconnected from the physical world. A great way to bridge this gap is by working on home automation projects. On a more visceral level, have you ever found yourself running errands or lying in bed, wondering if you remembered to close the garage? What if your garage door could tell you if you leave it open, or even better, close itself when you forget? All while running on your own network without any subscriptions or risk of cloud services shutting down! In this talk, Matt will describe how he uses a Raspberry Pi as a smart garage door controller that monitors status, sends alerts, and can even close the door automatically. We will walk through setting up a simple door sensor to track whether the door is open or closed. Then we'll cover how to use sensor data to trigger email, SMS, and other alerts based on the door state, how long it has been open, the time of day, and more! Matt will also talk about the broader engineering lessons he's learned in 10+ years of running his own Pi-controlled garage door: * Easing concerns from non-technical stakeholders (i.e. family members who value reliability over tech party tricks) * Deciding when to write your own code vs. integrating 3rd-party tools * Using AI tools to assist with stability, updates, and modernization Whether you are looking for a fun weekend project, exploring home automation, or just want to stop wondering if you left the garage door open, this talk will give you practical steps to follow, plus ideas for adding more capabilities or integrating with smart home systems.