Flows
Build automations visually with When, And and Then steps.
A Flow is an automation you draw instead of code. A When step starts it, And steps decide whether it continues, and Then steps act. Flows run on the hub, so they keep working when the internet does not, and they appear in the same run history as smart apps.
Concepts
Steps and exits, the otherwise branch, waits and cancel, drafts and publishing, variables and placeholders.
Using the editor
From a blank canvas to a published flow, plus testing, debugging, tabs and import/export.
Step reference
Every When, And and Then step with its options, generated from the editor's own catalog.
Troubleshooting
A flow that never runs, missing devices, cooldowns and busy runs.
Flows or smart apps?
| Flows | Smart apps | |
|---|---|---|
| Built with | the canvas in the Novon app | JavaScript against the smart-app API |
| Good for | most household automations: triggers, conditions, waits, notifications, device control | anything the steps cannot express, parent/child wizards, external webhooks with logic |
| Who | anyone with the manage automations permission | developers; code is registered by an admin |
| Runs | on the hub, published graph only | on the hub, per installed instance |
Both share the device catalog and the notification channels; neither can call the other.