Scene vs Automation: Key Differences

This is the most commonly confused concept in Builder Agent. Here's a comparison table to clarify:

Comparison Table

	Scene	Automation
Execution	Active (person-triggered)	Passive (condition-triggered)
Trigger	User taps / voice command	System auto-triggers when conditions are met
Example	Tap "Good Night Mode" — all lights off, curtains closed, AC adjusted	"Temperature > 28°C AND someone present → AC auto-on"
Best for	User knows exactly what they want, one tap does it	Automatic responses to environmental changes — no user action needed
Use cases	Good night, movie mode, leaving home, morning routine	Lights off when no one is there, temperature regulation, arming security, lux-sensor lighting

When to Use a Scene vs an Automation

Use a scene when:

• The user knows exactly what device actions they want
• Multiple devices need to act in concert with one tap
• The scene is relatively fixed and user-triggered

Use an automation when:

• You need automatic responses to environmental changes
• The logic is complex — e.g., "execute only when X AND Y are both true"
• The user doesn't want to think about it; the system handles it automatically

:::One-line rule A scene = person-triggered; automation = condition-triggered. Remember that one line and you'll always know which to use. :::