Using node-red, MQTT, an ESP32 with Tasmota firmware and a web page I’m able to create automation based on time of day, events like weather prediction or the input from a browser to control lights. I can monitor devices and using node-red display the information as guages or graphs. Or use the information to control devices.
Because I use MQTT to send the messages (weather, temperature, on/off) and because MQTT allows multiple subscribers and publishes I can manually or programatically use the information in other ways such as shell scripts or other smart home software.
I currently use Samsung’s SmartThings with my node-red flows, shell scripts, Python scripts and Home Assistant to deal with the automation in my home.