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Node-RED

Low-code programming for event-driven applications.

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Node-RED is a flow-based programming tool for building event-driven applications that collect, transform and visualize real-time data. Originally developed by IBM's Emerging Technology Services team and now part of the OpenJS Foundation, it targets low-code automation tasks ranging from home automation to industrial control systems.

It provides a browser-based flow editor for wiring together flows from a palette of nodes, with one-click deployment to the runtime. JavaScript functions can be written in a rich text editor, and a built-in library stores reusable functions, templates and flows. Flows are stored as JSON for import, export and sharing, with an online flow library available. The runtime is built on Node.js and can run on low-cost edge hardware such as the Raspberry Pi, as well as in the cloud. The palette can be extended with community-contributed nodes.

Node-RED is open source and distributed via npm, with documentation, APIs and a forum available. It is suited to individual users and teams working on event-driven applications across home, edge and industrial contexts.

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