Clarification re MQTT

[PartialVolume]

Probably a stupid question for those that know what MQTT is capable of but I need some clarification regarding my use case.

I've been using brens version with voice control via Google assistant for years, at least until IFTTT changed their pricing structure and I lost a load of commands. Does MQTT, once I've set it up, replace IFTTT so that I can use unlimited voice commands with the Google assistant to control the TCP lighting?

[sktaylortrash]

MQTT while useable as an internet-accessible interface is largely intended for use as a local control mechanism.

There is to my knowledge no direct way to interface a google/nest device with MQTT. And if you're non-technical there's probably nothing as easy as the IFTTT implementation was.

This version of the project very easily integrates with Home Assistant - https://www.home-assistant.io/
At which point you have to choose between the complicated but free process of enabling Google Assistant or paying for their cloud service at $5/month which I believe is more than IFTTT charges.

Personally, I don't use Home Assistant but rather a combination of Node-Red https://nodered.org/ and a bridging service from https://red.cb-net.co.uk/ which presents all my lights to both Google and Alexa. But this is also a complicated setup.

So unless you are a technically minded person or are prepared to spend a bunch of time tweaking and testing. Paying IFTTT the $4/month for unlimited applets may be a better option.
Both of these implementations are best suited to integrating multiple systems. Not just a single light vendor.
I use MQTT to bridge between my alarm system, these lights, Zigbee remotes and lights, custom esp8266 and Arduino devices, smart power bars and plugs and the like.

[sktaylortrash]

@PartialVolume had a second thought you might be able to use https://github.com/bwssytems/ha-bridge to achieve your previous config. It's a HUE emulator you could reuse your existing API calls and wouldn't need a cloud service at all

[PartialVolume]

@sktaylortrash Thanks for all the info. A more technical solution is not a problem for me, although it would be nice to find a simple solution where somebody else has done all the hard work. I've also been looking at a more direct integration with the Google assistant. More info here https://developers.google.com/assistant/sdk/guides/service/integrate and https://github.com/googlesamples/assistant-sdk-cpp.