Blockly comparison, colours and functions

Action functions and conditional results since 0.1.47

In Functions, define an action function beside the automation. Use a valid name without spaces, add up to eight distinct ASCII parameters with the cog, and insert HA actions into the body. Its call block appears automatically in the same category; connect every argument. Read parameters using variable blocks from Variables, for example as a log message, pause duration or variable assignment value.

Export produces a native HA sequence. Each call receives its own internal parameter bindings; arguments are evaluated at the call. Nested calls are supported; recursion and empty bodies are rejected. Parameter bindings do not overwrite equally named HA variables. Other assignments in the body remain normal HA assignments. Free Jinja/JSON text fields keep their normal HA context and are not rewritten to local parameters; connect variable blocks instead. Stop still stops the entire HA run.

If / return / otherwise produces a conditional Jinja value. Only the selected branch is evaluated. Connect it to a value function’s return socket or another value input. Both branches and the condition are required. This is not an early return from an action sequence.

JSON projects retain definitions, parameters, calls and layout. YAML contains expanded steps or expressions; importing YAML reconstructs those steps, not the original function definitions. Block images. The tables below also document the historical 0.1.15 comparison.

Version 0.1.15, October 10, 2026: 111 supported block types. Three colour calculations and three original Blockly types for value functions/parameters are new. Function definitions may sit beside the automation; other disconnected blocks still prevent export.

Sources and method

We compared our installed Blockly 13.3.0 standard blocks, the original Blockly block library, the ioBroker default toolbox and its Blockly bridge. These links pin the reviewed commits.

Registered, offered in the menu and exportable here are different states. ioBroker imports the complete standard library. Registered blocks need not appear in its default toolbox. Screenshots may also show an older toolbox. Text reverse is now included in ioBroker's menu; atan2 is absent there but registered through the library import. This does not prove ioBroker cannot execute atan2.

All standard categories

Category / original types	ioBroker default menu	UGSo / HA and remaining variants
Logic: controls_if, controls_ifelse, logic_compare, logic_operation, logic_negate, logic_boolean, logic_null, logic_ternary	Included, plus custom multi-AND/OR, cases, range and fallback	Comparisons, groups, If/Else-if/Else, conditional values, ranges and cases implemented. Own blocks combine shape variants.
Loops: controls_repeat, controls_repeat_ext, controls_whileUntil, controls_for, controls_forEach	Included, mainly repeat with value input	Count/while/until/for-each and fixed integer counting bounds implemented. Dynamic/fractional counting bounds pending.
Loop control: controls_flow_statements	break / continue	Local break/continue pending. Stop run ends the whole HA run and is not a replacement.
Math: math_number, math_arithmetic, math_single, math_trig, math_constant, math_number_property, math_round, math_on_list, math_modulo, math_constrain, math_random_int, math_random_float, math_change	Included, plus fixed decimal places	Own arithmetic/statistics/rounding/random/variable-change blocks. Prime tests, standard deviation, modes including ties and infinity pending. Not all dropdown variants have parity.
Math: math_atan2	Not offered; registered in library	Four-quadrant angle already implemented.
Text: text, text_join, text_append, text_length, text_isEmpty, text_indexOf, text_charAt, text_getSubstring, text_changeCase, text_trim, text_count, text_replace, text_reverse	Included, plus multiline, newline, contains and number formatting	Implemented including reverse. Substring currently uses start-based bounds; further positions and ioBroker number formatting pending.
Text: text_print, text_prompt, text_prompt_ext	Not offered	Output through HA Log action. Browser prompts would not provide later HA runtime input.
Lists: lists_create_empty, lists_create_with, lists_repeat, lists_length, lists_isEmpty, lists_indexOf, lists_getIndex, lists_setIndex, lists_getSublist, lists_split, lists_sort, lists_reverse	Included; empty list is a variant	Create with 0–100 inputs, repeat, search/get/set/remove/insert, sublist, split/join, sort/reverse implemented. Combined get-and-remove and further end/random positions pending.
Variables: variables_get, variables_set, typed variants variables_get_dynamic, variables_set_dynamic	Dynamic VARIABLE category, no VARIABLE_DYNAMIC category	Create/get/set/change implemented. Type selection/typed-variable-modal remains planned. Original getter additionally supported for function parameters.
Functions: procedures_defreturn, procedures_callreturn, procedures_defnoreturn, procedures_callnoreturn, procedures_ifreturn	Dynamic PROCEDURE category	New original value definition/call with parameters and return value. Actions without a return use existing HA Script calls; no local action functions or early return.
Colour: picker/random/rgb/blend from field-colour	All four included	Picker plus random/RGB/blend now in own category; own HA generators instead of JavaScript.

Internal mutator helpers are not independent user blocks. Older aliases are covered by their corresponding function. ioBroker's additional System, Actions, Sendto, Date/Time, Conversion, Trigger, Timeouts and Object categories extend its script engine. Existing counterparts are documented under Date/time, Conversion, Timeouts/objects/logic and Collections. Other adapters and third-party installations are outside this default comparison. Sendto/JSONata and named JavaScript timer handles are not presented as native HA features.

Using colours

Farbe offers picker, random colour, RGB percentages and blending. Percentages clamp to 0–100 and the ratio to 0–1. Channels convert to 0–255, rounding positive half values upward. Ratio 0 selects colour 1, ratio 1 colour 2; red/blue at 0.5 produces [128, 0, 128]. No gamma correction.

Unlike the original JavaScript colour blocks, calculated values are HA RGB lists, not hex strings. Connect to Light → Colour or a variable assignment. A fixed picker still exports a native RGB list; calculations produce a template in data.rgb_color. Saved RGB variables can be connected too. Exactly three numeric channels in 0–255 are required; convert hex strings deliberately first. Invalid values produce template errors.

Blending evaluates each directly connected colour block once. Store changing numeric/template inputs, especially the ratio, in a variable first: generated type checks or reused function parameters can evaluate expressions repeatedly. Randomness is not cryptographic. Generators use the documented HA helpers zip, multiply and add. The reference describes current HA; check availability on older installations.

Using value functions

1. Open Funktionen and drag a definition onto the workspace.
2. Name it double; add parameter x through the original cog editor.
3. Connect Variable x × Number 2 as the return value. Variable getters read parameters.
4. Reopen the category: the double call with input x appears dynamically. Connect 21 and assign the call to a variable.

Export expands the Jinja expression with argument 21; it creates no JavaScript/Python function. Up to eight distinct parameters; ASCII letters/digits/underscores, starting with a letter or underscore. Nested calls follow the general expression-depth limit. Recursion, missing arguments/returns, duplicate names and action bodies prevent export. Within a value function parameters override equally named automation variables. Outside, normal HA variables and scope apply. Connector colours alone do not guarantee runtime return types; a condition requires a Boolean result.

JSON projects retain definitions, parameters and calls. YAML stores expanded meaning and reopens as templates; definitions cannot be reconstructed from it. Planned Developer Tools imports for arbitrary block/template packages remain a separate roadmap item.

Verified: project/YAML roundtrips, colour boundaries, immutable Jinja with simulated HA helpers, original function mutator, dynamic menu and browser reload. Execution in an actual Home Assistant installation remains untested.

Images and individual block descriptions · Original field-colour · Custom Blockly blocks