Breezely: An IoT Solution for Monitoring Window and Door States

Breezely is an IoT device that monitors the open and closed status of windows and doors. It provides real-time data for better home security and energy efficiency.

My Role

I was the team lead and mobile developer on Breezely. Alongside coordinating the team, I built the cross-platform mobile app and drove the integration between the app, the IoT hardware, and the backend.

Technical Challenges

A few parts of this project were genuinely hard to get right:

• Local connection to the IoT device — establishing a reliable direct link between the mobile app and the sensor hardware.
• Standing up and integrating the backend — setting up the Django backend and the IoT service, then wiring them together into one working system.
• Authentication with Zitadel — getting Zitadel to work across the app, backend, and IoT service for a single, consistent login.

Introduction

Whether for temperature control or burglary prevention, closed windows and doors matter. Breezely monitors these states in real time.

What is Breezely?

Breezely was built by a student development team with the goal of monitoring windows and doors simply. Compact, non-invasive sensors capture their state along with temperature and humidity. The data is shown in a mobile app.

Key Features:

• Real-time monitoring of window and door statuses
• Temperature and humidity tracking
• Non-invasive, easy-to-install sensors
• Mobile app notifications
• Historical data analysis
• Multi-user access control

Breezely IoT Ecosystem

Breezely's components work together to enable a secure and energy-efficient home.

Web dashboard

The Breezely source code is also public on GitHub, and the app can be self-hosted — ideal for anyone who cares about data privacy.

System Architecture

1. Edge Devices: Battery-powered sensors installed on windows and doors
2. Gateway: A local hub that collects data from sensors and transmits it to the cloud
3. Cloud Backend: Processes, stores, and provides data to user applications
4. User Applications: Mobile app and web dashboard for user interaction

Security Considerations

• End-to-end encryption
• Regular security updates
• Permission controls for household members
• Optional offline mode for maximum privacy

Note: No system offers perfect security — but Breezely was built with data privacy as a core principle.

Installation and Setup

Setup takes less than 30 minutes, even without technical expertise.

User Experience

The app displays:

• Current status of all monitored windows and doors
• Historical data on openings and closings
• Temperature and humidity trends
• Battery life indicators for sensors
• Customizable notifications for specific events

Project Development Journey

Breezely originated as a project at our university's IoT lab. The idea: solve a real everyday problem in shared living spaces. Over six months, we built a functional prototype.

Conclusion

Breezely shows how an everyday problem can be solved with simple operation and solid engineering — a practical building block for the smart home.

For more information, visit our GitHub repository.