I prefer the HTTP API as it works always for me. The LAN API whist fast had issues that I gave up on, I would set the colour of a bulb and for 3 to 5 seconds it would stay that colour then it would revert to the old colour, sometimes it did not do that. It was most likely my fault or just that Daniel has not completed his SDK so as I said I went back to HTTP and have been happy as.
Yes correct. The HTTP API is provided by LIFX so has a dedicated developer team, all the LAN API’s are created based upon documentation and none of them are official LIFX API’s. The LAN protocol is faster but unless you write your own API you are limited by the quality of the API.
The LAN protocol does not have the scenes or group support that the HTTP API has so there is a functionality trade off unless you are going to build your own application to do it all.
It would be nice if LIFX could package the HTTP API into a local server offering to install where you want. Something like the Raspberri Pi would be a perfect local controller for it.