Anyone who's somewhat technically inclined should, in my opinion, only be buying valetudo [0] compatible vacuums and replacing the default software as soon as possible.

[0] https://valetudo.cloud/

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ericpauley 7 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I found the “Why Not Valetudo” page on that site extremely persuasive. I would consider myself technically inclined. I also own a robot vacuum so I can spend more time doing important things that leverage my skills. Valetudo does not serve this mission.

Very impressive, but I disagree that this is the clear best choice for anywhere close to anyone.

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misnome 7 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Also, the first line in "Why Valetudo?"

> First of all, please do not try to convince people to use Valetudo.

A good realist position for such a project to take.

	▲	Aurornis 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		That is very refreshing. Many geek hobbies like 3D printing and home automation are becoming full of unnecessarily smug evangelization if you're not using hivemind approved software and tools, even if it requires a lot more work to do. It's nice to a see a project encourage their userbase to be realistic about what it is and refrain from trying to force it on everyone as the only acceptable way to use a robot vaccuum.

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MostlyStable 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The main value proposition is privacy and security. If you are content with the privacy and security of your existing vacuum, then yes, I'd agree it's not for you. That being said, your critique seems to imply that Valetudo will increase your overall time spent managing the vacuum, and this has not been my experience. There is the initial setup time which I'm sure varies by robot, but for me took (conservatively) and hour or two, and then I never think about it again, to the same degree that I would before. You still have schedules, etc. and all the same features that make a robot vacuum a time saving item.

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lucb1e 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

For anyone else wondering, "Why Not Valetudo" <https://valetudo.cloud/pages/general/why-not-valetudo.html> lists:

- all the same downsides as keeping the stock OS would have ("it's opinionated software", "it's not about you", and the last one "it's not a community" basically means "you can't tell me how to change my software and be confident I'll do it")

- that this fan project is not necessarily as polished as the original software (as I would have expected)

- Only supported robots are supported (as the author themselves say: duh)

- it only works in english

- you can't revert to stock software if you don't like it

For me, the latter is the only thing worth mentioning. You made me curious what all these compelling downsides are but the rest is obvious and the latter isn't surprising / I would have known to check beforehand

How did you come to the conclusion that it's not likely the right choice for nearly anyone? Do you think so many people wouldn't understand enough English to operate the controls of a robot vacuum cleaner? Have you found features to be missing or clunky/fragile enough that people would frequently want to revert to stock? Do you think people care so much about it being community-driven FOSS that they'd rather keep the proprietary OS instead of open source that isn't community-driven?

Btw I have no experience with the project whatsoever and am not involved, only interested in trying it out once we need a new vacuum. I just came to a very different conclusion and am quite surprised by yours

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mkoubaa 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I wonder if Claude could do a good job or setting this up for someone not technically inclined

	▲	mzhaase 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Until it can disassemble a robot to attach a programmer to the mainboard, it cannot.