Build a Smart Light Dimmer with ESP32 and a Rotary Encoder in Home Assistant

I’ve always loved the tactile feel of a good knob. While voice commands and smartphone apps are convenient, there’s something deeply satisfying about physically turning a dial to dim the lights. I wanted to bridge that gap between the digital smarts of Home Assistant and the physical world. So, I set out to build a custom smart light dimmer with ESP32 and a rotary encoder. The goal was simple: a knob that not only controls my smart lights locally but also stays perfectly in sync with their state in Home Assistant.