tuya-cloudcutter VS Tasmota

If you have some Pthyon experience, you should be able to use something like TinyTuya to pull DP data from your Tuya devices. Alternatively, you can use Tuya-Cloudcutter to flash a local-only firmware like ESPHome/LibreTiny or OpenBeken which have much easier integration options (local open API, HTTP, MQTT, etc).

You can flash the bk7231n directly with ESPHome using LibreTiny-ESPHome. You can even do it without soldering using Tuya Cloudcutter if you have a Raspberry Pi handy.

OpenBeken has their own list for BK7231N, BK7231T, XR809, BL602, T34, W800/W801, W600/W601 based devices. Tuya-Cloudcutter has a similar list for such devices as well.

Tuya devices, and the Tuya-based Monster, Greeni, etc stuff can be connected to HA using the Tuya Integration, or converted to local-only using Tuya Cloudcutter and connected to HA using Local Tuya, or even flashed with Tasmota, ESPHome/Libre Tiny, or OpenBeken.

One option to get control of your tuya devices is tuya cloud cutter then replace the firmware https://github.com/tuya-cloudcutter/tuya-cloudcutter

For many vulnerable/compatible device, you can use CloudCutter to OTA flash as well.

Absolutely! https://github.com/tuya-cloudcutter/tuya-cloudcutter

You can set them up locally like RFD recommended: https://github.com/tuya-cloudcutter/tuya-cloudcutter/blob/main/INSTRUCTIONS.md

Lastly, there is a https://github.com/tuya-cloudcutter/tuya-cloudcutter application that can let you flash ota for devices that have been done already.

Use tuya-cloudcutter or direct flash.

All of my office devices are connected to Sonoff S31 smart plugs, flashed with Tasmota on their own locked-down VLAN, and can be controlled via voice, Alexa, Tasker automation on my Android, NFC tags at my office door and various scripts triggered via my StreamDeck (on Linux). This all works fantastic, and I can turn on or off my devices, including my printer, when I start or end my day at work.

The best alternative firmware example for true IOT devices is Tasmota [1]. Erase manufacturer firmware for every ESP devices the day after purchase to avoid those careless manufacturer firmwares.

[1] https://tasmota.github.io/docs/

The ESP8266 based Sonoff S31 and ESP32 based Switchbot plugs, both flashed with either Tasmota or ESPHome, are my go-to options for US WiFi smart plugs with power monitoring.

And if you want to turn your ESP8266 into a standalone appliance, with a web interface and directly editable config that doesn't need a build step, Tasmota is another great option.

https://tasmota.github.io/docs/