_Ok, you asked, so here is my take. _
_1) I"m not a new user. I want to learn about the software so I can decide if I want to be a user. _
2) Before I can use this tutorial I have to install OpenHAB.
" This tutorial assumes that you already installed openHAB on your preferred system. If you’re looking for installation instructions for your platform, please have a look here before continuing with this tutorial!"
Before I can install OpenHAB I have to install Java 8.
" Make sure that you have an up to date Java 8 platform installed on your host system. Zulu is currently the recommended Java platform for openHAB. Download and installation instructions can be found on Azul Systems’ Zulu website. Oracle Java is also suitable for most configurations but licencing restrictions may apply. OpenJDK may also be used, but it has some known limitations with openHAB and is not recommended."
The download link brings up a page that is entirely grayed out and I can’t find a way to get past. Oh wait, I had to scroll back to the top of the page and close some cookie window. Ok, but before I install Java reading the instructions I need to do this…
"Zulu Release 11.2, 8.33, 8.32, 7.25, and 6.22
December 11, 2018
Azul® Zulu® is a Java Development Kit (JDK), and a compliant implementation of the Java Standard Edition (SE) specification that contains all the Java components needed to build and run Java SE applications. Zulu has been verified by passing all tests in the Java SE 11, Java SE 10, Java SE 9, Java SE 8, Java SE 7, and Java SE 6 versions of the OpenJDK Community Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK).
This document describes how to install the Zulu JDK on your Microsoft® Windows®, Linux, and Apple® macOS® systems.
You can download a PDF version of this document.
Topics included in this documentation are listed below.
- Prepare the Zulu Installation Platform
- Installing Zulu
- Post Installation Tasks
- Switching Between Java Alternatives
- Upgrading Zulu
- [Downgrading Zulu](http://docs.azul.com/zulu/zuludocs/Content/ZuluUserGuide/Downgrading Zulu/DowngradeZulu.htm)
- Uninstalling Zulu
- Using the Zulu Commercial Compatibility Kit
- Using the Zulu Cryptography Extension Kit
- Appendix"
Ok, I’m throwing in the towel! I was looking for something to explain how OpenHAB works and what all the terms mean so I can get an idea of what it will be like to get involved. This is looking like it will be easier to learn brain surgery and more likely to produce good results.
I remember reading the materials. The section titled " Things, Channels, Bindings, Items and Links" starts out good explaining Things well as physical entities, then covers Channels and so forth, but ends up rather abstract with an example of physical things that are not all Things. So now I don’t know what Things are again. The diagram does not show Channels, Bindings or Links. Channels are mentioned which in the drawing appear to be the outputs. The text says “The glue between Things and Items are Links”. I don’t see Bindings mentioned at all in this example. So I guess this is all far more abstract than the simple diagram.
On to the Things detailed description. The first paragraph is a bit confusing again, but the last sentence seems to explain it all. “From a user perspective, they are relevant for the setup and configuration process, but not for the operation.” So Things are things that need to be configured.
I got further this time than I did on my own a while back. But I’m still swimming. This is the sort of stuff a developer would need to know. Is this all really needed for a user to simply install and use the system??? Do I really need a Java 8 developers kit?