[core] Deprecate set_retry, cancel_retry, and RetryResult

set_retry does a std::make_shared<RetryArgs>() heap allocation on every
invocation. No core component needs this pattern - all callers have been
migrated to set_timeout or set_interval in prior PRs. The feature wastes
flash and RAM on every firmware for a pattern that set_interval covers
better, and the hidden heap allocation is a footgun for component authors.

Deprecated in 2026.2.0, removal in 2026.8.0.

Depends on:
- #13841 [lps22] Replace set_retry with set_interval
- #13842 [ms8607] Replace set_retry with set_timeout chain
- #13843 [speaker] Replace set_retry with set_interval
- #13844 [esp32_hosted] Replace set_retry with set_interval

esphome/components/epaper_spi/epaper_spi_spectra_e6.h

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 namespace esphome::epaper_spi {
 
-class EPaperSpectraE6 final : public EPaperBase {
+class EPaperSpectraE6 : public EPaperBase {
  public:
   EPaperSpectraE6(const char *name, uint16_t width, uint16_t height, const uint8_t *init_sequence,
                   size_t init_sequence_length)

esphome/components/epaper_spi/epaper_waveshare.h

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ namespace esphome::epaper_spi {
 /**
  * An epaper display that needs LUTs to be sent to it.
  */
-class EpaperWaveshare final : public EPaperMono {
+class EpaperWaveshare : public EPaperMono {
  public:
   EpaperWaveshare(const char *name, uint16_t width, uint16_t height, const uint8_t *init_sequence,
                   size_t init_sequence_length, const uint8_t *lut, size_t lut_length, const uint8_t *partial_lut,

esphome/components/modbus/modbus.cpp

@@ -219,50 +219,39 @@ void Modbus::send(uint8_t address, uint8_t function_code, uint16_t start_address
     return;
   }
 
-  static constexpr size_t ADDR_SIZE = 1;
-  static constexpr size_t FC_SIZE = 1;
-  static constexpr size_t START_ADDR_SIZE = 2;
-  static constexpr size_t NUM_ENTITIES_SIZE = 2;
-  static constexpr size_t BYTE_COUNT_SIZE = 1;
-  static constexpr size_t MAX_PAYLOAD_SIZE = std::numeric_limits<uint8_t>::max();
-  static constexpr size_t CRC_SIZE = 2;
-  static constexpr size_t MAX_FRAME_SIZE =
-      ADDR_SIZE + FC_SIZE + START_ADDR_SIZE + NUM_ENTITIES_SIZE + BYTE_COUNT_SIZE + MAX_PAYLOAD_SIZE + CRC_SIZE;
-  uint8_t data[MAX_FRAME_SIZE];
-  size_t pos = 0;
-
-  data[pos++] = address;
-  data[pos++] = function_code;
+  std::vector<uint8_t> data;
+  data.push_back(address);
+  data.push_back(function_code);
   if (this->role == ModbusRole::CLIENT) {
-    data[pos++] = start_address >> 8;
-    data[pos++] = start_address >> 0;
+    data.push_back(start_address >> 8);
+    data.push_back(start_address >> 0);
     if (function_code != ModbusFunctionCode::WRITE_SINGLE_COIL &&
         function_code != ModbusFunctionCode::WRITE_SINGLE_REGISTER) {
-      data[pos++] = number_of_entities >> 8;
-      data[pos++] = number_of_entities >> 0;
+      data.push_back(number_of_entities >> 8);
+      data.push_back(number_of_entities >> 0);
     }
   }
 
   if (payload != nullptr) {
     if (this->role == ModbusRole::SERVER || function_code == ModbusFunctionCode::WRITE_MULTIPLE_COILS ||
         function_code == ModbusFunctionCode::WRITE_MULTIPLE_REGISTERS) {  // Write multiple
-      data[pos++] = payload_len;                                          // Byte count is required for write
+      data.push_back(payload_len);                                        // Byte count is required for write
     } else {
       payload_len = 2;  // Write single register or coil
     }
     for (int i = 0; i < payload_len; i++) {
-      data[pos++] = payload[i];
+      data.push_back(payload[i]);
     }
   }
 
-  auto crc = crc16(data, pos);
-  data[pos++] = crc >> 0;
-  data[pos++] = crc >> 8;
+  auto crc = crc16(data.data(), data.size());
+  data.push_back(crc >> 0);
+  data.push_back(crc >> 8);
 
   if (this->flow_control_pin_ != nullptr)
     this->flow_control_pin_->digital_write(true);
 
-  this->write_array(data, pos);
+  this->write_array(data);
   this->flush();
 
   if (this->flow_control_pin_ != nullptr)
@@ -272,7 +261,7 @@ void Modbus::send(uint8_t address, uint8_t function_code, uint16_t start_address
 #if ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL >= ESPHOME_LOG_LEVEL_VERBOSE
   char hex_buf[format_hex_pretty_size(MODBUS_MAX_LOG_BYTES)];
 #endif
-  ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Modbus write: %s", format_hex_pretty_to(hex_buf, data, pos));
+  ESP_LOGV(TAG, "Modbus write: %s", format_hex_pretty_to(hex_buf, data.data(), data.size()));
 }
 
 // Helper function for lambdas

esphome/core/component.cpp

@@ -152,7 +152,10 @@ void Component::set_retry(const std::string &name, uint32_t initial_wait_time, u
 
 void Component::set_retry(const char *name, uint32_t initial_wait_time, uint8_t max_attempts,
                           std::function<RetryResult(uint8_t)> &&f, float backoff_increase_factor) {  // NOLINT
+#pragma GCC diagnostic push
+#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wdeprecated-declarations"
   App.scheduler.set_retry(this, name, initial_wait_time, max_attempts, std::move(f), backoff_increase_factor);
+#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
 }
 
 bool Component::cancel_retry(const std::string &name) {  // NOLINT
@@ -163,7 +166,10 @@ bool Component::cancel_retry(const std::string &name) {  // NOLINT
 }
 
 bool Component::cancel_retry(const char *name) {  // NOLINT
+#pragma GCC diagnostic push
+#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wdeprecated-declarations"
   return App.scheduler.cancel_retry(this, name);
+#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
 }
 
 void Component::set_timeout(const std::string &name, uint32_t timeout, std::function<void()> &&f) {  // NOLINT
@@ -203,10 +209,18 @@ bool Component::cancel_interval(uint32_t id) { return App.scheduler.cancel_inter
 
 void Component::set_retry(uint32_t id, uint32_t initial_wait_time, uint8_t max_attempts,
                           std::function<RetryResult(uint8_t)> &&f, float backoff_increase_factor) {  // NOLINT
+#pragma GCC diagnostic push
+#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wdeprecated-declarations"
   App.scheduler.set_retry(this, id, initial_wait_time, max_attempts, std::move(f), backoff_increase_factor);
+#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
 }
 
-bool Component::cancel_retry(uint32_t id) { return App.scheduler.cancel_retry(this, id); }
+bool Component::cancel_retry(uint32_t id) {
+#pragma GCC diagnostic push
+#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wdeprecated-declarations"
+  return App.scheduler.cancel_retry(this, id);
+#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
+}
 
 void Component::call_loop() { this->loop(); }
 void Component::call_setup() { this->setup(); }
@@ -371,7 +385,10 @@ void Component::set_interval(uint32_t interval, std::function<void()> &&f) {  //
 }
 void Component::set_retry(uint32_t initial_wait_time, uint8_t max_attempts, std::function<RetryResult(uint8_t)> &&f,
                           float backoff_increase_factor) {  // NOLINT
+#pragma GCC diagnostic push
+#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wdeprecated-declarations"
   App.scheduler.set_retry(this, "", initial_wait_time, max_attempts, std::move(f), backoff_increase_factor);
+#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
 }
 bool Component::is_failed() const { return (this->component_state_ & COMPONENT_STATE_MASK) == COMPONENT_STATE_FAILED; }
 bool Component::is_ready() const {

esphome/core/component.h

@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ extern const uint8_t STATUS_LED_OK;
 extern const uint8_t STATUS_LED_WARNING;
 extern const uint8_t STATUS_LED_ERROR;
 
+// Remove before 2026.8.0
 enum class RetryResult { DONE, RETRY };
 
 extern const uint16_t WARN_IF_BLOCKING_OVER_MS;
@@ -347,68 +348,40 @@ class Component {
   bool cancel_interval(const char *name);         // NOLINT
   bool cancel_interval(uint32_t id);              // NOLINT
 
-  /** Set an retry function with a unique name. Empty name means no cancelling possible.
-   *
-   * This will call the retry function f on the next scheduler loop. f should return RetryResult::DONE if
-   * it is successful and no repeat is required. Otherwise, returning RetryResult::RETRY will call f
-   * again in the future.
-   *
-   * The first retry of f happens after `initial_wait_time` milliseconds. The delay between retries is
-   * increased by multiplying by `backoff_increase_factor` each time. If no backoff_increase_factor is
-   * supplied (default = 1.0), the wait time will stay constant.
-   *
-   * The retry function f needs to accept a single argument: the number of attempts remaining. On the
-   * final retry of f, this value will be 0.
-   *
-   * This retry function can also be cancelled by name via cancel_retry().
-   *
-   * IMPORTANT: Do not rely on this having correct timing. This is only called from
-   * loop() and therefore can be significantly delayed.
-   *
-   * REMARK: It is an error to supply a negative or zero `backoff_increase_factor`, and 1.0 will be used instead.
-   *
-   * REMARK: The interval between retries is stored into a `uint32_t`, so this doesn't behave correctly
-   * if `initial_wait_time * (backoff_increase_factor ** (max_attempts - 2))` overflows.
-   *
-   * @param name The identifier for this retry function.
-   * @param initial_wait_time The time in ms before f is called again
-   * @param max_attempts The maximum number of executions
-   * @param f The function (or lambda) that should be called
-   * @param backoff_increase_factor time between retries is multiplied by this factor on every retry after the first
-   * @see cancel_retry()
-   */
-  // Remove before 2026.7.0
-  ESPDEPRECATED("Use const char* or uint32_t overload instead. Removed in 2026.7.0", "2026.1.0")
+  /// @deprecated set_retry is deprecated. Use set_timeout or set_interval instead. Removed in 2026.8.0.
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("set_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0. Use set_timeout or set_interval instead.",
+                "2026.2.0")
   void set_retry(const std::string &name, uint32_t initial_wait_time, uint8_t max_attempts,       // NOLINT
                  std::function<RetryResult(uint8_t)> &&f, float backoff_increase_factor = 1.0f);  // NOLINT
 
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("set_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0. Use set_timeout or set_interval instead.",
+                "2026.2.0")
   void set_retry(const char *name, uint32_t initial_wait_time, uint8_t max_attempts,              // NOLINT
                  std::function<RetryResult(uint8_t)> &&f, float backoff_increase_factor = 1.0f);  // NOLINT
 
-  /** Set a retry function with a numeric ID (zero heap allocation).
-   *
-   * @param id The numeric identifier for this retry function
-   * @param initial_wait_time The wait time after the first execution
-   * @param max_attempts The max number of attempts
-   * @param f The function to call
-   * @param backoff_increase_factor The factor to increase the retry interval by
-   */
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("set_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0. Use set_timeout or set_interval instead.",
+                "2026.2.0")
   void set_retry(uint32_t id, uint32_t initial_wait_time, uint8_t max_attempts,                   // NOLINT
                  std::function<RetryResult(uint8_t)> &&f, float backoff_increase_factor = 1.0f);  // NOLINT
 
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("set_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0. Use set_timeout or set_interval instead.",
+                "2026.2.0")
   void set_retry(uint32_t initial_wait_time, uint8_t max_attempts, std::function<RetryResult(uint8_t)> &&f,  // NOLINT
                  float backoff_increase_factor = 1.0f);                                                      // NOLINT
 
-  /** Cancel a retry function.
-   *
-   * @param name The identifier for this retry function.
-   * @return Whether a retry function was deleted.
-   */
-  // Remove before 2026.7.0
-  ESPDEPRECATED("Use const char* or uint32_t overload instead. Removed in 2026.7.0", "2026.1.0")
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("cancel_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0.", "2026.2.0")
   bool cancel_retry(const std::string &name);  // NOLINT
-  bool cancel_retry(const char *name);         // NOLINT
-  bool cancel_retry(uint32_t id);              // NOLINT
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("cancel_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0.", "2026.2.0")
+  bool cancel_retry(const char *name);  // NOLINT
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("cancel_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0.", "2026.2.0")
+  bool cancel_retry(uint32_t id);  // NOLINT
 
   /** Set a timeout function with a unique name.
    *

esphome/core/scheduler.cpp

@@ -252,6 +252,11 @@ bool HOT Scheduler::cancel_interval(Component *component, uint32_t id) {
   return this->cancel_item_(component, NameType::NUMERIC_ID, nullptr, id, SchedulerItem::INTERVAL);
 }
 
+// Suppress deprecation warnings for RetryResult usage in the still-present (but deprecated) retry implementation.
+// Remove before 2026.8.0 along with all retry code.
+#pragma GCC diagnostic push
+#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wdeprecated-declarations"
+
 struct RetryArgs {
   // Ordered to minimize padding on 32-bit systems
   std::function<RetryResult(uint8_t)> func;
@@ -364,6 +369,8 @@ bool HOT Scheduler::cancel_retry(Component *component, uint32_t id) {
   return this->cancel_retry_(component, NameType::NUMERIC_ID, nullptr, id);
 }
 
+#pragma GCC diagnostic pop  // End suppression of deprecated RetryResult warnings
+
 optional<uint32_t> HOT Scheduler::next_schedule_in(uint32_t now) {
   // IMPORTANT: This method should only be called from the main thread (loop task).
   // It performs cleanup and accesses items_[0] without holding a lock, which is only

esphome/core/scheduler.h

@@ -72,18 +72,30 @@ class Scheduler {
   bool cancel_interval(Component *component, const char *name);
   bool cancel_interval(Component *component, uint32_t id);
 
-  ESPDEPRECATED("Use const char* or uint32_t overload instead. Removed in 2026.7.0", "2026.1.0")
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("set_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0. Use set_timeout or set_interval instead.",
+                "2026.2.0")
   void set_retry(Component *component, const std::string &name, uint32_t initial_wait_time, uint8_t max_attempts,
                  std::function<RetryResult(uint8_t)> func, float backoff_increase_factor = 1.0f);
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("set_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0. Use set_timeout or set_interval instead.",
+                "2026.2.0")
   void set_retry(Component *component, const char *name, uint32_t initial_wait_time, uint8_t max_attempts,
                  std::function<RetryResult(uint8_t)> func, float backoff_increase_factor = 1.0f);
-  /// Set a retry with a numeric ID (zero heap allocation)
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("set_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0. Use set_timeout or set_interval instead.",
+                "2026.2.0")
   void set_retry(Component *component, uint32_t id, uint32_t initial_wait_time, uint8_t max_attempts,
                  std::function<RetryResult(uint8_t)> func, float backoff_increase_factor = 1.0f);
 
-  ESPDEPRECATED("Use const char* or uint32_t overload instead. Removed in 2026.7.0", "2026.1.0")
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("cancel_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0.", "2026.2.0")
   bool cancel_retry(Component *component, const std::string &name);
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("cancel_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0.", "2026.2.0")
   bool cancel_retry(Component *component, const char *name);
+  // Remove before 2026.8.0
+  ESPDEPRECATED("cancel_retry is deprecated and will be removed in 2026.8.0.", "2026.2.0")
   bool cancel_retry(Component *component, uint32_t id);
 
   // Calculate when the next scheduled item should run
@@ -231,11 +243,14 @@ class Scheduler {
                          uint32_t hash_or_id, uint32_t delay, std::function<void()> func, bool is_retry = false,
                          bool skip_cancel = false);
 
-  // Common implementation for retry
+  // Common implementation for retry - Remove before 2026.8.0
   // name_type determines storage type: STATIC_STRING uses static_name, others use hash_or_id
+#pragma GCC diagnostic push
+#pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wdeprecated-declarations"
   void set_retry_common_(Component *component, NameType name_type, const char *static_name, uint32_t hash_or_id,
                          uint32_t initial_wait_time, uint8_t max_attempts, std::function<RetryResult(uint8_t)> func,
                          float backoff_increase_factor);
+#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
   // Common implementation for cancel_retry
   bool cancel_retry_(Component *component, NameType name_type, const char *static_name, uint32_t hash_or_id);
 

esphome/dashboard/web_server.py

@@ -317,7 +317,6 @@ class EsphomeCommandWebSocket(CheckOriginMixin, tornado.websocket.WebSocketHandl
             # Check if the proc was not forcibly closed
             _LOGGER.info("Process exited with return code %s", returncode)
             self.write_message({"event": "exit", "code": returncode})
-            self.close()
 
     def on_close(self) -> None:
         # Check if proc exists (if 'start' has been run)

tests/dashboard/test_web_server.py

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from esphome.dashboard.entries import (
     bool_to_entry_state,
 )
 from esphome.dashboard.models import build_importable_device_dict
-from esphome.dashboard.web_server import DashboardSubscriber, EsphomeCommandWebSocket
+from esphome.dashboard.web_server import DashboardSubscriber
 from esphome.zeroconf import DiscoveredImport
 
 from .common import get_fixture_path
@@ -1654,25 +1654,3 @@ async def test_websocket_check_origin_multiple_trusted_domains(
             assert data["event"] == "initial_state"
         finally:
             ws.close()
-
-
-def test_proc_on_exit_calls_close() -> None:
-    """Test _proc_on_exit sends exit event and closes the WebSocket."""
-    handler = Mock(spec=EsphomeCommandWebSocket)
-    handler._is_closed = False
-
-    EsphomeCommandWebSocket._proc_on_exit(handler, 0)
-
-    handler.write_message.assert_called_once_with({"event": "exit", "code": 0})
-    handler.close.assert_called_once()
-
-
-def test_proc_on_exit_skips_when_already_closed() -> None:
-    """Test _proc_on_exit does nothing when WebSocket is already closed."""
-    handler = Mock(spec=EsphomeCommandWebSocket)
-    handler._is_closed = True
-
-    EsphomeCommandWebSocket._proc_on_exit(handler, 0)
-
-    handler.write_message.assert_not_called()
-    handler.close.assert_not_called()