node-red/node-red
Node Red
Node-RED is a visual, low-code automation framework designed for building event-driven data processing workflows. It provides a browser-based programming environment where users connect hardware devices, APIs, and online services by wiring together functional nodes in a directed graph. This visual approach allows for the creation of complex logic paths without the need for traditional source code.
The platform is distinguished by its pluggable node architecture and portable flow serialization. Logic is represented as JSON-based data structures, enabling flows to be easily versioned, shared, and deployed across diverse environments ranging from cloud infrastructure to embedded hardware. The system includes a message-passing engine that routes asynchronous objects between nodes, supported by a scoped context mechanism for managing state across different parts of an automation flow.
Beyond its core execution model, the project offers extensive capabilities for system orchestration and hardware interfacing. It supports modular development through reusable subflows and custom nodes, which can be discovered and shared via a community-driven repository. The runtime is highly extensible, allowing developers to embed the engine directly into existing applications, configure custom storage backends, and manage the system programmatically through an HTTP-based administrative API or command-line tools.
Features
- Event-Driven Workflows - Enables the construction of event-driven workflows through visual wiring of functional nodes.
- Visual Programming Tools - Provides a browser-based visual programming editor for wiring together hardware, APIs, and services using event-driven flows.
- IoT Automation - Provides a visual, node-based environment for connecting hardware devices, sensors, and online services into automated IoT workflows.
- Visual Data-Flow Systems - Uses a directed graph of interconnected nodes to represent and execute logic paths without traditional code.
- Automation Frameworks - Acts as a Node.js-based automation framework for building and deploying event-driven workflows across cloud, edge, and embedded infrastructure.
- Event-Driven Automation Engines - Provides a runtime environment that triggers processes based on external events and webhooks.
- Low-Code Automation Platforms - Offers a low-code, visual integration platform that connects services and protocols using a palette of reusable, community-contributed nodes.
- Plugin Palettes - Enables installation of additional nodes to add support for new protocols and services.
- Embedded Runtimes - Functions as a library that can be embedded directly into other applications to provide local automation.
- Message Passing Systems - Routes asynchronous message objects between functional nodes through a central event-driven execution loop.
- State and Context Management - Provides scoped storage mechanisms for nodes to persist and share data across automation flows.
- JSON Message Serializers - Represents complex automation logic as portable JSON data structures for versioning and deployment.
- Administrative Automation APIs - Exposes administrative APIs for programmatic control of application lifecycle and flow deployment.
- Application Deployment Platforms - Facilitates the deployment of event-driven applications to diverse infrastructure including cloud and embedded devices.
- Event-Driven Orchestration - Provides a visual, event-driven engine for routing messages and orchestrating data processing pipelines across disparate services.
- GPIO Pin Controllers - Provides interfaces for reading and writing digital signals on hardware pins.
- Serial Communication Interfaces - Provides interfaces and libraries for communicating with physical hardware devices via serial ports.
- Application Runtimes - Integrates the core engine as a library into existing software projects for embedded automation.
- Embedded Automation Engines - Allows integration of the visual programming environment directly into existing applications.
- Modular Extension Architectures - Allows extending the system by dynamically loading modular packages for protocols and custom logic.
- Home Automation Platforms - Visual programming tool for wiring hardware and services.
- Internet Of Things - Flow-based editor for wiring hardware devices and online services.
- Automation Platforms - Flow-based visual programming tool for wiring devices and services.
- Developer Tools - Visual programming tool for wiring internet of things devices.
- General Purpose Orchestration - Browser-based editor for wiring hardware, APIs, and online services.
- Internet of Things - Flow-based editor for wiring hardware devices and online services.
- Low-Code Platforms - Visual programming for event-driven applications.
- Visual Programming - Low-code programming for event-driven apps.
- More to explore - Flow-based programming for IoT.
- Remote Data Fetching - Enables asynchronous retrieval of data from external services and hardware devices.
- Artifact Repositories - Provides a central repository for hosting and distributing custom nodes and flow logic.
- Deployment Environments - Supports execution across various platforms including local machines, cloud VMs, and containerized environments.
- Hardware Interfacing - Enables direct interaction with physical hardware pins and serial devices to integrate sensors and actuators into automation workflows.
- Automation Runtimes - Provides an administrative interface for managing runtime environments and configuration remotely.
- Flow Modularization - Organizes complex automation into smaller, reusable components to simplify maintenance.
- Administrative APIs - Exposes internal runtime state and configuration through an HTTP-based administrative API.
- Node Editors - Provides visual graph-based editing interfaces for building custom node configurations.
- Command Line Interfaces - Provides command-line applications for managing runtime configuration and deployment tasks.
- Component Discovery - Facilitates browsing and searching for shared nodes and pre-built flows to accelerate development.
- Modular Development Tools - Supports modular development through reusable subflows and custom nodes that simplify the maintenance of complex automation logic.
- Packageable Tooling Modules - Enables bundling flow logic into reusable, distributable modules for sharing across projects.
- Message Schema Definitions - Defines standardized schemas for message types and content formats to ensure compatibility.
- Pluggable Storage Drivers - Allows registration of custom storage backends for runtime data, context, and library assets.
- Workflow Automation Nodes - Provides integration nodes for visual workflow automation platforms to connect with external services and hardware.
- Development Discussions - Provides forums for architectural and implementation collaboration among project contributors.
- Boot & Startup Management - Manages the initialization and automatic startup of services on host operating systems.
- Functional Extensions - Supports modular extensions for adding custom behaviors and integration capabilities to the visual programming environment.
- Workflow Extenders - Provides frameworks for modifying core application behavior and extending the visual palette with custom nodes.
