Setting up Node-RED¶
If you are using our custom image, please skip the section below. Node-RED is already set up on your Raspberry Pi.
Setting up Node-RED on Raspberry Pi¶
The easiest way to set up Node-RED on your Raspberry Pi is to use this command:
$ bash <(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/node-red/raspbian-deb-package/master/resources/update-nodejs-and-nodered)
You will also need to install some useful nodes as well:
$ sudo npm install -g node-red-dashboard
$ sudo npm install -g node-red-contrib-python3-function
$ sudo npm install -g node-red-contrib-web-worldmap
Setting up Node-RED on a Server¶
The benefit of running Node-RED on a Raspberry Pi is that you can create flows that control the SenseHAT. However, sometimes it is easier to have it run on a server. To do this, you need to, first, make sure you have node.js set up on the server. You can use this command to check:
$ node --version
If you are running node.js version 6.x and above, you are ready to install Node-RED. Otherwise, go to the official node.js download page to install the LTS version.
npm will be automatically installed with node.js. On Linux systems, you can run the following command to install Node-RED.
$ sudo npm install -g node-red
$ sudo npm install -g node-red-dashboard
$ sudo npm install -g node-red-contrib-python3-function
$ sudo npm install -g node-red-contrib-web-worldmap
On Windows systems, you can start a command line window with administrative privileges: Start Menu -> Windows System -> right click on Command Line and select run as administrator. Then, run the following commands:
$ npm install -g node-red
$ npm install -g node-red-dashboard
$ npm install -g node-red-contrib-python3-function
$ npm install -g node-red-contrib-web-worldmap
Setting Up Node-RED on the Cloud¶
There are also benefits running Node-RED on a Cloud Platform. The Node-RED official websites have exellent instructions on setting up Node-RED on different cloud platforms. We recommend that you use the IBM Bluemix platform since IBM has better support for Node-RED.
Running Node-RED¶
To launch the Node-RED web-based flow editor, go to http://127.0.0.1:1880 in your browser.