Node-RED

Node-RED
Node-RED (JS Foundation) · Public domain · source
Name	Node-RED
Developer	IBM, JS Foundation
Released	2013
Programming language	JavaScript
Operating system	Cross-platform
License	Apache License 2.0

Node-RED Node-RED is a flow-based visual programming tool for wiring together hardware devices, APIs, and online services. It provides a browser-based editor and a runtime built on Node.js to create event-driven applications, focusing on rapid prototyping and integration across platforms such as Raspberry Pi, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Web Services. The project originated within IBM and has since engaged contributors from communities associated with Linux Foundation, OpenJS Foundation, and multiple open source ecosystems.

Overview

Node-RED was initiated as an internal project at IBM and publicly released to simplify connections between embedded systems like Arduino, cloud platforms like Google Cloud Platform, and enterprise middleware such as Apache Kafka. The tool's visual paradigm parallels concepts from LabVIEW, Yahoo! Pipes, and flow-based programming research led by figures like Paul Morrison and organizations including the IETF. Adoption spans maker communities around Adafruit Industries, industrial adopters like Siemens, and academic labs at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Imperial College London.

Architecture and Components

The runtime is implemented on Node.js and leverages the npm ecosystem for extendable nodes and modules. Core components include a browser-based editor served via an Express application similar to projects built with Django or Ruby on Rails in web architecture, a flow engine that manages message passing reminiscent of Apache Camel, and a palette of nodes comparable to libraries maintained by Eclipse Foundation projects. Nodes encapsulate function logic using JavaScript engines like V8 (JavaScript engine) and integrate with protocols such as MQTT, HTTP, and WebSocket; persistent state can be stored in databases like MongoDB, Redis, or SQLite.

Features and Functionality

Node-RED's visual editor supports drag-and-drop wiring, subflow creation, and versioning workflows akin to systems using Git and GitHub. It provides debugging tools, context storage for flow-level and global-level variables, and runtime metrics that can be monitored alongside telemetry platforms like Prometheus and Grafana. Security features include role-based access patterns comparable to OAuth 2.0 integrations found in Google Identity Platform and certificate management strategies used by Let's Encrypt. Extensions enable integration with machine learning services such as TensorFlow, speech platforms like Amazon Alexa, and mapping tools like OpenStreetMap.

Deployment and Integration

Deployments range from single-board computers like Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone to container orchestration platforms such as Docker and Kubernetes. Cloud-hosted deployments often interact with Microsoft Azure IoT Hub, AWS IoT Core, and IBM Cloud services, while on-premises installations can integrate with enterprise systems from SAP, Oracle Corporation, and VMware. Continuous integration and delivery pipelines use tools like Jenkins, Travis CI, and CircleCI to automate tests and releases; configuration management can employ Ansible, Puppet, or Chef.

Use Cases and Applications

Applications include home automation setups using devices from Philips Hue lighting ecosystems and Nest (company) thermostats, industrial monitoring with protocols implemented by Modbus gateways and Siemens S7 controllers, and smart city prototypes coordinated with platforms deployed by municipalities like Barcelona and Singapore. Research labs combine visual flows with datasets from NASA missions or environmental sensors for projects affiliated with University of Cambridge and Stanford University. Enterprises create API orchestrations connecting services such as Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Zendesk for automation and incident response.

Community and Development

The project is maintained by a community that includes contributors from IBM, members of the OpenJS Foundation, and volunteers coordinating via repositories hosted on platforms like GitHub and issue tracking systems similar to Bugzilla. Conferences and meetups align with events such as FOSDEM, KubeCon, and maker fairs organized by Maker Media; community resources include tutorials from organizations like Linux Foundation Training and example libraries curated by groups such as Adafruit Industries. Governance and licensing discussions reflect practices followed by projects under the Apache Software Foundation and the Eclipse Foundation.

Category:Free software