Node‑RED is a low‑code, flow‑based visual programming tool (built on Node.js) that lets you wire together hardware, APIs, databases and services to build event‑driven integrations and dashboards easily. It serves as a powerful tool for building Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications, enabling easy integration of hardware, APIs, and cloud services. Node-Red supports key industrial protocols like MQTT, Modbus, and OPC UA for easy data exchange with PLCs, sensors, and machine control systems.
Node‑RED is open‑source under the Apache 2.0 licence and free to use even commercially. The Apache License 2.0 is a permissive open‑source software licence that lets you freely use, modify, distribute the code (even commercially) while requiring attribution, license text inclusion, and granting patent rights
Focus on key industrial protocols like OPC UA and MQTT, as these are foundational to modern IIoT and data integration projects
Under development