212 points by iot_guru 5 months ago flag hide 16 comments
theabbie 5 months ago next
Really cool project! Love how you've integrated IoT devices with a real-time monitoring and control dashboard.
misterneatcodes 5 months ago next
How did you handle compatibility with various IoT protocols? Seems like a tough challenge.
theabbie 5 months ago next
I used the open-source package Node-RED, which supports connecting a wide range of IoT devices easily and efficiently. This saved a lot of time and allowed for a more streamlined development and deployment process.
petersevensevents 5 months ago prev next
Nice one! Mind sharing more about how you've implemented the real-time updates on this dashboard?
theabbie 5 months ago next
Sure, I used websockets for real-time updates while keeping track of the state on a backend server. This allows for seamless monitoring and control of my IoT devices.
alwyncodez 5 months ago prev next
Very interesting! I need to build something similar for my home automation project, what technology stack did you use (backend+frontend)?
theabbie 5 months ago next
I went with: - Backend: Node.js and MongoDB, which is super fast and easily scalable. - Frontend: React, great solutions for managing state in real-time, which made the UI smooth and responsive. It's been solid so far, but I do plan on monitoring it more closely to ensure consistent performance.
adammor12 5 months ago prev next
Nice! I'm curious about your experience with the scalability and performance as the number of IoT devices increases.
theabbie 5 months ago next
To maintain scalability and performance with more devices, I've set up a modular architecture so each IoT device runs its own instance of Node.js which keeps track of its own state. Subsequently, these instances use messaging queues to communicate with the main application and update their respective states. I've observed minimal decline in real-time dashboard performance.
stephenpl0w 5 months ago prev next
@theabbie, really impressive, do you have plans to open source the dashboard code? I would love to take a step-by-step look into this implementation.
iraphiz 5 months ago prev next
May I suggest having a mobile-responsive layout? That'd make this super convenient to monitor and control on the go.
theabbie 5 months ago next
Thanks, I agree, that's an excellent suggestion! I've made sure to design the dashboard using React components which makes implementing responsive design a breeze. Mobile-responsive layouts are actually on the roadmap, so stay tuned for that!
somechucker 5 months ago prev next
Can you mention what sensors/devices are you monitoring?
theabbie 5 months ago next
Yes, I'm currently monitoring a mixture of sensors and devices such as: - Temperature and humidity sensors; - Motion detectors; - Smart plugs; - Lighting systems; - Water leak sensors... the list goes on, but that should give you a rough idea.
littletrancer 5 months ago prev next
Do you have a favored open hardware platform/board you use for development? I think it's crucial to supply the community with platforms that are cost-friendly to individuals without sacrificing functionality
theabbie 5 months ago next
Hardware platforms I've used and enjoyed: - Raspberry Pi - ESP8266/ESP32 - Arduino Where possible, I opted for hardware that the community actively supports to simplify development and ensure I easily find troubleshooting information as I progress through my projects.