How to
Node-RED is a flow-based development tool for wiring together hardware devices, APIs and online services in new and interesting ways. It provides a browser-based flow editor and a runtime built on Node.js, making it ideal for rapid prototyping of IoT and edge-computing applications.
Prerequisites
To install Node-RED locally you will need:
- Node.js: a supported LTS version (e.g. ≥16.x)
- npm: installed alongside Node.js.
- Shell access: ability to run global npm installs (e.g. via sudo on Linux).
- Optional (for native node modules): gcc and git if you plan to compile or develop custom nodes
Indien je Node-RED wilt uitbreiden met nodes die native componenten vergen (bijv. seriële poorten), zorg dan dat gcc en git geïnstalleerd zijn, of overweeg een volledige installatie in plaats van de Snap-versie
Node-RED lets you wire together the physical world, APIs and online services in unprecedented ways—turning complex integration tasks into a simple, visual flow.
1. Install via npm
The simplest way to install Node-RED is as a global npm module:
sudo npm install -g --unsafe-perm node-red
Windows users: run the same command without sudo in an Administrator prompt nodered.org.
Once complete, you’ll see output similar to:
+ node-red@1.x.x
added 332 packages from 341 contributors in 18.4s
found 0 vulnerabilities
2. Run with Docker
For an isolated setup, start Node-RED in Docker:
docker run -it -p 1880:1880 --name mynodered nodered/node-red
This pulls the official image and exposes the editor on port 1880
3. Install via Snap (Linux)
On distributions supporting Snap, you can use:
sudo snap install node-red
Note: Snap packages run in a container with limited access to system resources (e.g., GPIO, external commands). If you need full hardware access or to install nodes requiring compilation, prefer the npm method
Running Node-RED
After installation, start the runtime with:
node-red
You should see logs like:
Welcome to Node-RED
===================
...
Server now running at http://127.0.0.1:1880/
Point your browser to http://localhost:1880 to access the flow editor
Adding Additional Nodes
You can extend Node-RED by installing extra node modules. Within your user directory (default ~/.node-red), run:
npm install <npm-package-name>Or use the Palette Manager in the editor:
Open the menu → Manage palette → Install tab
Search and install modules directly nodered.org.
After installation, restart Node-RED to load the new nodes.
Adding Additional Nodes
With these steps you’re ready to build visual data flows in Node-RED. Whether you choose npm, Docker, or Snap installations, you can have the editor running in minutes. Next, consider adding the Factorynebula nodes (npm install @factorynebula/node-red-nodes) to integrate your edge devices seamlessly. Enjoy creating your first flow!
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