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dbus2mqtt

dbus2mqtt is a Python application that bridges DBus with MQTT. It lets you forward Linux D-Bus signals and properties to MQTT topics, call D-Bus methods via MQTT messages and shape payloads using configurable templates.

This makes it easy to integrate Linux desktop services or system signals into MQTT-based workflows - including Home Assistant.

Features

  • 🔗 Forward D-Bus signals to MQTT topics.
  • 🧠 Enrich or transform MQTT payloads using Jinja2 templates and additional D-Bus calls.
  • ⚡ Trigger message publishing via signals, timers, property changes, or startup events.
  • 📡 Expose D-Bus methods for remote control via MQTT messages.
  • 🏠 Includes example configurations for MPRIS and Home Assistant Media Player integration.

Project status

dbus2mqtt is considered stable for the use-cases it has been tested against, and is actively being developed. Documentation is continuously being improved.

Initial testing has focused on MPRIS integration. A table of tested MPRIS players and their supported methods can be found on Mediaplayer integration with Home Assistant

Getting started with dbus2mqtt

Create a config.yaml file with the contents shown below. This configuration will expose all bus properties from the org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.Player interface to MQTT on the dbus2mqtt/org.mpris.MediaPlayer2/state topic.

dbus:
  subscriptions:
    - bus_name: org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.*
      path: /org/mpris/MediaPlayer2
      interfaces:
        - interface: org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties
          methods:
            - method: GetAll

      flows:
        - name: "Publish MPRIS state"
          triggers:
            - type: dbus_object_added
            - type: schedule
              interval: {seconds: 5}
          actions:
            - type: context_set
              context:
                mpris_bus_name: '{{ dbus_list("org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.*") | first }}'
                path: /org/mpris/MediaPlayer2
            - type: mqtt_publish
              topic: dbus2mqtt/org.mpris.MediaPlayer2/state
              payload_type: json
              payload_template: |
                {{ dbus_call(mpris_bus_name, path, 'org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties', 'GetAll', ['org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.Player']) }}

MQTT connection details can be configured in that same config.yaml file or via environment variables. For now create a .env file with the following contents.

MQTT__HOST=localhost
MQTT__PORT=1883
MQTT__USERNAME=
MQTT__PASSWORD=

Install and run dbus2mqtt

python -m pip install dbus2mqtt
dbus2mqtt --config config.yaml

See setup for more installation options and configuration details.

Examples

More dbus2mqtt examples can be found in the examples section. The most complete one being Mediaplayer integration with Home Assistant

Exposing dbus methods, properties and signals

See subscriptions for documentation on calling methods, setting properties and exposing D-Bus signals to MQTT. When configured, D-Bus methods can be invoked by publishing a message like

{
    "method": "Play"
}

Flows

dbus2mqtt lets you build flows to automate how D-Bus data is published or processed. Templates provide dynamic control over filtering, topics, payloads and other flow parameters.

A reference of supported flow triggers and actions is available on flows and templating details can be found at templating