Demo Mode

Demo Mode allows you to explore and test We Love Lights without requiring a physical Philips Hue or deCONZ bridge. It's perfect for trying the app before purchasing hardware, development testing, or learning the interface.

What is Demo Mode?

Demo Mode Overview

Demo Mode creates a virtual bridge with simulated devices:

• No hardware required: Works without physical bridge
• Full feature access: Test all app features
• Simulated devices: Virtual lights, sensors, switches
• Realistic behavior: Devices respond like real hardware
• Safe testing: No impact on real setup

When to Use Demo Mode

Before Purchase:

• Evaluate We Love Lights features
• Test compatibility with workflow
• Learn the interface
• Decide if it meets your needs

Development:

• Test configurations without hardware
• Try new automations safely
• Learn advanced features
• Training and demonstrations

Learning:

• Practice without affecting real lights
• Experiment with rules and scenes
• Try different organizations
• Explore all features

Troubleshooting:

• Isolate app issues from hardware issues
• Test specific scenarios
• Verify expected behavior

Enabling Demo Mode

Activation Steps

1. Open We Love Lights Studio
2. Go to Preferences or Settings (⌘ + ,)
3. Find "Demo Mode" or "Development" section
4. Click "Enable Demo Mode" or similar
5. Confirm activation
6. Demo bridge appears in bridge selector

What Gets Created

When you enable Demo Mode:

Virtual Bridge:

• Named "Demo Bridge" or similar
• Appears alongside real bridges
• Full feature set available

Sample Devices:

• 15-20 lights: Various types (color, white ambiance, dimmable)
• Rooms: Living Room, Bedroom, Kitchen, etc.
• Scenes: Pre-configured lighting scenes
• Sensors: Motion sensors (simulated)
• Switches: Dimmer switches and buttons
• Smart Plugs: Outlet controls

Using Demo Mode

Selecting Demo Bridge

Switch to demo bridge like any bridge:

1. Click bridge selector (top of Studio)
2. Select "Demo Bridge"
3. Interface shows demo devices
4. All features available

Simulated Behavior

Demo devices behave realistically:

Lights:

• Turn on/off
• Change brightness
• Change colors
• State persists during session
• No actual hardware responds

Sensors:

• Can be manually triggered
• Simulate motion events
• Test automation rules
• No real detection

Switches:

• Button presses simulated
• Test button configurations
• Scene cycling works
• Virtual button presses only

Testing Features

Try everything without hardware:

Scenes:

• Create new scenes
• Modify existing scenes
• Activate scenes
• See state changes (in app only)

Automation:

• Set up motion sensor rules
• Configure switch buttons
• Test rule logic
• Verify conditions

Organization:

• Rename devices
• Reorder items
• Create groups
• Hide/show devices

All Changes:

• Affect only demo bridge
• Don't impact real devices
• Reset when demo mode disabled

Demo Mode Limitations

What Doesn't Work

No Physical Response:

• Real lights don't change
• No actual hardware affected
• Pure simulation

No Remote Access:

• Demo bridge is local only
• Can't test remote features
• No cloud integration

Persistence:

• Demo data may not persist between sessions
• Changes might reset
• Not for long-term storage

Hardware Interactions:

• Can't pair real devices
• No firmware updates
• No physical bridge discovery

What Works Fully

Interface Testing:

• Navigation
• All menus and options
• Search and filtering
• Organization features

Feature Testing:

• Scene creation
• Rule configuration
• Group management
• Automation logic

Learning:

• How features work
• Interface layout
• Best practices
• Workflow development

Switching Between Demo and Real

Using Both Simultaneously

Demo Mode coexists with real bridges:

Bridge Selector Shows:

• Real bridge(s)
• Demo bridge
• Switch anytime

Use Cases:

• Test configuration before applying to real
• Learn new feature with demo
• Compare setups
• Develop complex automation

Copying Configurations

Manual Recreation:

• Test scene in demo mode
• Recreate manually on real bridge
• Note configurations to replicate

Export/Import (if supported):

• Export demo scenes
• Import to real bridge
• Saves manual work

Note: Not all configurations transfer automatically.

Disabling Demo Mode

When you're done with demo:

1. Go to Preferences
2. Find Demo Mode settings
3. Click "Disable Demo Mode"
4. Confirm
5. Demo bridge disappears

Impact:

• Demo bridge removed
• Real bridges unaffected
• Demo configurations lost

Demo Mode Use Cases

Pre-Purchase Evaluation

Try before buying:

1. Enable Demo Mode
2. Test all features:
   • Menu bar controls
   • Studio window
   • Scene creation
   • Automation setup
3. Evaluate if app meets needs
4. Purchase hardware if satisfied

What to test:

• Interface intuitiveness
• Feature completeness
• Workflow compatibility
• Performance on your Mac

Learning Advanced Features

Risk-free experimentation:

1. Enable Demo Mode
2. Try complex features:
   • Advanced rules
   • Multi-device scenes
   • Custom automations
   • Organization strategies
3. Make mistakes safely
4. Apply learnings to real setup

Development and Testing

Before making real changes:

1. Test configuration in demo
2. Verify behavior
3. Refine approach
4. Apply to real devices

Scenario testing:

• "What if I set this rule?"
• "How would this scene look?"
• "Will this automation work?"
• Test hypothesis safely

Training and Demonstrations

Show features to others:

1. Enable Demo Mode
2. Demonstrate capabilities
3. Let others try features
4. No risk to real setup

Use for:

• Family training
• Guest demonstrations
• Tech support
• Educational purposes

Tips for Using Demo Mode

Getting the Most from Demo

Treat it Realistically:

• Name devices like your real setup
• Create realistic scenes
• Test actual use cases
• Don't just click randomly

Document Findings:

• Note configurations you like
• Screenshot complex setups
• Write down rule logic
• Reference when configuring real

Experiment Freely:

• Try crazy ideas
• Break things
• Test extremes
• Learn limits

Transitioning to Real Hardware

After demo testing:

1. List what works: Note successful configurations
2. Plan implementation: How to recreate on real bridge
3. Disable demo: Clean up interface
4. Apply learnings: Configure real devices
5. Iterate: Refine based on actual use

Demo for Troubleshooting

Compare behavior:

Issue with real bridge:

1. Replicate scenario in demo
2. Does it work in demo?
   • Yes: Real hardware issue
   • No: App behavior or configuration issue
3. Isolate problem
4. Easier support communication

Advanced Demo Features

Custom Demo Configurations

If supported:

Add devices:

• Create custom demo devices
• Specific types for testing
• Match your planned setup

Modify setup:

• Adjust device count
• Change room configurations
• Customize to match needs

Demo Data Persistence

Between Sessions:

• Some changes may persist
• Others reset to default
• Check after relaunching

Export Demo State (if supported):

• Save demo configuration
• Reload later
• Share with others

Developer Features

For advanced users:

API Testing:

• Test integrations
• Develop custom tools
• Verify API calls

Automation Development:

• Complex rule testing
• Shortcut development
• Third-party integration testing

Troubleshooting Demo Mode

Can't Enable Demo Mode

Problem: Demo mode option not available or doesn't work

Solutions:

• Update We Love Lights to latest version
• Check if feature is supported in your version
• Restart app and try again
• Check app documentation

Demo Bridge Doesn't Appear

Problem: Enabled demo but no demo bridge

Solutions:

• Look in bridge selector carefully
• Restart We Love Lights
• Disable and re-enable demo mode
• Check preferences saved properly

Demo Devices Not Responding

Problem: Can't control demo devices

Solutions:

• Expected: No real lights change
• Check demo bridge is selected
• Verify control changes reflected in app
• Demo is simulation only

Performance Issues with Demo

Problem: App slow with demo enabled

Solutions:

• Demo shouldn't cause slowdown
• Check if too many bridges (demo + multiple real)
• Restart We Love Lights
• Disable demo if not needed

Can't Disable Demo Mode

Problem: Can't turn off demo mode

Solutions:

• Go to preferences and disable properly
• Restart app after disabling
• Delete demo bridge manually if option exists
• Reinstall app if persistent (extreme)

Demo Mode Best Practices

Effective Testing

1. Purpose-driven: Test specific features or scenarios
2. Realistic setup: Mirror your actual or planned home
3. Document: Note what works and what doesn't
4. Iterate: Try, learn, adjust, repeat
5. Transition smoothly: Apply learnings to real setup

When to Use Real vs Demo

Use Demo For:

• ✅ Learning features
• ✅ Testing configurations
• ✅ Trying new ideas
• ✅ Demonstrations
• ✅ Development

Use Real For:

• ✅ Daily control
• ✅ Actual automation
• ✅ Performance testing
• ✅ Hardware verification
• ✅ Production use

Next Steps

Explored demo mode? Ready for the real thing:

1. Getting Started - Set up with real hardware
2. Bridge Discovery - Connect your bridge
3. Scenes - Create real lighting scenes
4. Automation Examples - Real-world automation
5. Organization - Organize your real setup

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Questions? Visit the FAQ or troubleshooting guide.