Node-RED: A Live Demonstration of a Cross-Platform, Web-Based Visual Programming Environment

This walk-through that builds a simple control application demonstrates the capabilities and use of the open-source Node-RED web-based, visual programming environment.

Developed by IBM’s Emerging Technology Services team and now part of the OpenJS Foundation, Node-Red is a cross-platform, browser-based visual programming environment. It is based on the concept of "flows", where the output of "nodes" or functional blocks may connect to the input of one or more other nodes.

The graphic approach makes it easy to understand program logic and lends itself particularly well to control applications. After a brief discussion of other control technologies, a simple demonstration using some of the most common functional blocks will be created to show how it works in practice.

While Javascript experience is helpful to understand the example, the very small amount needed demonstrates why Node-RED is a "low-code" solution.