Node Red APK: How to Run Node-RED on Android Devices
Node-RED is a powerful and versatile programming tool that allows you to wire together hardware devices, APIs, and online services in new and interesting ways. It provides a browser-based editor that makes it easy to create and deploy flows using a wide range of nodes in the palette. But did you know that you can also run Node-RED on your Android device? In this article, we will show you how to install and use Node-RED on Android using two different methods: Termux and RedMobile. We will also show you how to use Termux API to access device hardware from Node-RED. Let's get started!
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What is Node-RED?
Node-RED is a programming tool that was originally developed by IBM as a way to simplify the development of IoT applications. It is based on Node.js, a JavaScript runtime environment that can run on various platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac OS, and Android. Node-RED uses a flow-based programming model, where you can drag and drop nodes from the palette onto the workspace and connect them with wires to create logic. Each node represents a function or an input/output device, such as a sensor, an actuator, an API, or a web service. You can also create your own nodes or install additional nodes from the online library. Node-RED has many features that make it suitable for IoT development, such as:
A graphical user interface that is easy to use and intuitive
A built-in dashboard that allows you to create user interfaces for your flows
A web server that hosts your flows and dashboard
A runtime engine that executes your flows in the background
A storage system that saves your flows in JSON format
A security system that allows you to protect your flows and dashboard with authentication and encryption
A plugin system that allows you to extend the functionality of Node-RED with custom nodes and modules
What is Termux?
Termux is an application that allows you to run Linux commands on your Android device. It is not a full-fledged Linux distribution, but rather a terminal emulator that provides access to a minimal Linux environment. You can use Termux to install various packages, such as coreutils, nano, nodejs, python, git, etc., using the apt package manager. You can also use Termux to access device hardware, such as camera, microphone, GPS, etc., using the Termux API plugins. Termux has many features that make it useful for running Node-RED on Android devices, such as:
A lightweight and fast application that does not require root access or extra permissions
A flexible and customizable terminal interface that supports keyboard shortcuts, gestures, fonts, colors, etc.
A rich set of command-line tools that can perform various tasks, such as editing files, managing processes, How to install Node-RED on Android using Termux
One of the methods to run Node-RED on Android devices is to use Termux, a terminal emulator that provides a Linux environment on your device. Termux allows you to install Node-RED and other packages using the apt package manager. Here are the steps to install Node-RED on Android using Termux:
Step 1: Install Termux app from the Play Store
The first step is to download and install the Termux app from the Google Play Store. You can find the app by searching for "Termux" or by following this link: [Termux](^1^). Once you have installed the app, open it and grant the necessary permissions.
Step 2: Update and upgrade Termux packages
The next step is to update and upgrade the Termux packages to ensure that you have the latest versions. To do this, run the following commands in the Termux terminal:
apt update apt upgrade
This may take some time depending on your internet speed and the number of packages to be updated.
Step 3: Install coreutils, nano, nodejs, and node-red packages
The third step is to install the coreutils, nano, nodejs, and node-red packages. These are required for running Node-RED and editing files. To install them, run the following commands in the Termux terminal:
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apt install coreutils apt install nano apt install nodejs apt install node-red
This may also take some time depending on your internet speed and the size of the packages.
Step 4: Run node-red command to start Node-RED
The fourth step is to run the node-red command to start Node-RED. This will launch the Node-RED server and display some information on the terminal. To run it, type the following command in the Termux terminal:
node-red
You should see something like this:
Welcome to Node-RED =================== 23 Jun 23:28:14 - [info] Node-RED version: v1.3.5 23 Jun 23:28:14 - [info] Node.js version: v14.17.1 23 Jun 23:28:14 - [info] Linux 4.9.112 arm LE 23 Jun 23:28:15 - [info] Loading palette nodes 23 Jun 23:28:18 - [info] Settings file : /data/data/com.termux/files/home/.node-red/settings.js 23 Jun 23:28:18 - [info] Context store : 'default' [module=memory] 23 Jun 23:28:18 - [info] User directory : /data/data/com.termux/files/home/.node-red 23 Jun 23:28:18 - [warn] Projects disabled : editorTheme.projects.enabled=false 23 Jun 23:28:18 - [info] Flows file : /data/data/com.termux/files/home/.node-red/flows_localhost.json 23 Jun 23:28:18 - [info] Creating new flow file 23 Jun 23:28:18 - [warn] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Your flow credentials file is encrypted using a system-generated key. If the system-generated key is lost for any reason, your credentials file will not be recoverable, you will have to delete it and re-enter your credentials. You should set your own key using the 'credentialSecret' option in your settings file. Node-RED will then re-encrypt your credentials file using your chosen key the next time you deploy a change. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 Jun 23:28:18 - [info] Starting flows 23 Jun 23:28:18 - [info] Started flows 23 Jun 23:28:18 - [info] Server now running at
Note that Node-RED is running on port 1880 by default. You can change this by editing the settings.js file in your .node-red directory.
Step 5: Access Node-RED editor from a browser
The final step is to access the Node-RED editor from a browser. You can use any browser on your device or another device on the same network. To access it, type the following URL in your browser:
If you are using another device on the same network, replace localhost with the IP the device
termux-sensor: Get information about device sensors
termux-sms-list: List SMS messages on the device
termux-sms-send: Send SMS messages from the device
termux-toast: Show a toast message on the device
termux-torch: Turn on/off device flashlight
termux-vibrate: Vibrate the device
termux-volume: Get or set device volume
termux-wifi-connectioninfo: Get information about current Wi-Fi connection
termux-wifi-scaninfo: Get information about available Wi-Fi networks
Here are the steps to use Termux API to access device hardware from Node-RED:
Step 1: Install Termux:API app and termux-api package
The first step is to install the Termux:API app and the termux-api package. The Termux:API app is a plugin that provides the interface between Termux and the device hardware. The termux-api package is a set of scripts that can run the Termux:API commands from the Termux terminal. To install them, follow these steps:
Download and install the Termux:API app from the Google Play Store. You can find the app by searching for "Termux:API" or by following this link: [Termux:API].
Open the Termux app and run the following command to install the termux-api package:
apt install termux-api
Grant the necessary permissions to the Termux:API app by following the instructions on the screen.
Step 2: Use exec node to run termux-api commands from Node-RED
The second step is to use the exec node to run termux-api commands from Node-RED. The exec node is a core node that can execute any command-line program and return its output. To use it, follow these steps:
Drag and drop an exec node from the palette onto the workspace.
Double-click on the exec node to open its properties.
In the command field, type the termux-api command that you want to run, such as termux-battery-status, termux-camera-photo, etc. You can also add any arguments or options that are supported by the command, such as file name, format, quality, etc.
In the append field, type msg.payload. This will append the input message payload to the command as an argument.
In the mode field, select either spawn or exec depending on how you want to run the command. Spawn mode will run the command asynchronously and stream its output, while exec mode will run the command synchronously and return its output as a single message.
In the output field, select either string or buffer depending on how you want to receive the output. String mode will return the output as a text string, while buffer mode will return the output as a binary buffer.
In the add payload field, select either none or append depending on whether you want to add the input message payload to the output message. None mode will return only the command output, while append mode will return the command output and the input message payload as an array.
In the add line feeds field, select either none or append depending on whether you want to add line feeds to the output message. None mode will return the output as it is, while append mode will add a line feed at the end of each line of output.
Click on the done button to save the node properties.
Here is an example of how to use the exec node to run the termux-camera-photo command and take a photo using the device camera:
// Drag and drop an inject node and an exec node onto the workspace // Double-click on the inject node and set its payload to a file name, such as photo.jpg // Double-click on the exec node and set its command to termux-camera-photo, its append to msg.payload, its mode to exec, its output to buffer, its add payload to none, and its add line feeds to none // Connect the inject node to the exec node and deploy the flow // Click on the inject node to trigger the flow // The exec node will run the termux-camera-photo command with the file name as an argument and return the photo as a buffer
You can use other nodes to process or display the output of the exec node, such as debug, file, http request, etc. For example, you can use a debug node to show the output in the debug sidebar, a file node to save the output to a file, or an http request node to send the output to a web service.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to install and use Node-RED on Android devices using two different methods: Termux and RedMobile. We have also shown you how to use Termux API to access device hardware from Node-RED. Running Node-RED on Android devices can be useful for creating IoT applications that can interact with device features and sensors. It can also be fun and educational for learning and experimenting with Node-RED and JavaScript. We hope you have enjoyed this article and learned something new. Happy coding!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about running Node-RED on Android devices:
Q: Can I run Node-RED on Android devices without Termux or RedMobile?
A: Yes, you can run Node-RED on Android devices without Termux or RedMobile by using other methods, such as Docker, Dory, or AnLinux. However, these methods may require more steps and resources than Termux or RedMobile.
Q: Can I access device hardware from Node-RED without Termux API?
A: Yes, you can access device hardware from Node-RED without Termux API by using other nodes or modules, such as android-sensors, android-camera2, android-gps, etc. However, these nodes or modules may not support all device features or sensors that Termux API does.
Q: Can I install additional nodes or modules for Node-RED on Android devices?
A: Yes, you can install additional nodes or modules for Node-RED on Android devices by using the manage palette option in the Node-RED editor or by using the npm command in the Termux terminal. However, some nodes or modules may not work properly or at all on Android devices due to compatibility issues.
Q: Can I backup or restore my flows on Android devices?
A: Yes, you can backup or restore your flows on Android devices by using the export/import option in the Node-RED editor or by copying/moving your .node-red directory in your device storage. However, you may need to adjust some settings or paths if you change your device or method of running Node-RED.
Q: Can I run Node-RED on other mobile platforms, such as iOS or Windows Phone?
A: No, you cannot run Node-RED on other mobile platforms, such as iOS or Windows Phone, because they do not support running Node.js applications natively. You may be able to run Node-RED on these platforms by using web-based services, such as Glitch or IBM Cloud, but this may not be ideal for IoT development.
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