Open Source Projects Revive Google's Nest Thermostat for Better Control

Google's Nest Gen 1 and Gen 2 thermostats, which were introduced between 2011 and 2014, recently reached their end of support date on October 25, 2023. According to Tom's Hardware, this sunsetting not only halted firmware and software updates but also unpaired the devices from the Nest and Google Home apps, stripping away their remote control and scheduling functionalities.

As a result, these devices were left to operate solely as basic thermostats with a click-wheel interface for temperature adjustments. Enter the No Longer Evil Thermostat project, spearheaded by Arizona-based security researcher and developer Cody Kociemba, who is part of the Hack House collaborative group.

Frustrated by Google's decision to abandon the Nest devices, Kociemba was motivated to create an open-source solution. This initiative has been supported by the FULU Foundation, which offers a financial bounty of approximately $15,000 for developers who help liberate devices from corporate constraints. The No Longer Evil Thermostat project is designed to breathe new life into these outdated thermostats, offering users enhanced control through an intuitive interface that mimics the original Nest design.

The project includes a GitHub repository that provides all necessary tools and firmware, complete with step-by-step instructions for installation. Upon successful installation, users are greeted with a welcome screen proclaiming 'made with 100% less evil!' Kociemba emphasizes the project's community-driven nature, noting that it allows for localized control through a web interface, allowing for features such as temperature control, scheduling, and settings management.

Users can also integrate the thermostat with Home Assistant using MQTT or REST APIs, or even develop a custom mobile wrapper for the UI. While the project presents an exciting opportunity for Nest thermostat owners, Kociemba has issued a warning: the firmware is still in the testing phase, and flashing it could potentially brick the device.

He advises users to proceed with caution, ensuring they have a backup heating system in case of failure. This revival of the Nest thermostat through open-source development highlights a significant trend in the tech industry—community-driven improvements for products that have been essentially abandoned by their manufacturers.

By leveraging the power of open-source collaboration, developers like Kociemba are demonstrating that there is still potential for innovation and improvement, even in products that corporations have deemed obsolete.

The No Longer Evil Thermostat project not only underscores the capabilities of dedicated developers but also raises questions about the responsibilities of tech companies toward their legacy products.