IoTflow: Smart Software for Connected Things

Simple, Scalable Automation Engine

IoTflow is a lightweight automation framework that helps you build reliable, production-ready IoT systems without rewriting firmware or redesigning hardware when you scale.

It connects IoTextra I/O boards, IoTsmart wireless nodes, and IoTbase gateways into one predictable system using MQTT and Node-RED.

The Problem: The Prototype-to-Production Gap

Prototyping IoT systems is easy, but scaling them into real products is not. Most projects fail or face massive costs because:

  • Prototypes rely on one-off development boards that aren't industrial-grade.
  • Firmware becomes device-specific.
  • Automation logic is tightly coupled to hardware; when you scale, the system breaks.
  • Everything must be rebuilt from scratch, wasting time and money.

Note from the Founders: We believe this waste of time outweighs any savings on cheap hardware. IoTflow was born to bridge this gap.

The Solution: Standardized Automation

IoTflow eliminates the prototype-to-production gap by standardizing how devices communicate and how automation behaves. Instead of rebuilding your system, you build once and scale with confidence. This is the main Philosophy of our project.

IoTflow is not just firmware; it is a workflow and messaging framework that defines:

What Is IoTflow?

IoTflow is not firmware and not a cloud service.

It is a cross-platform workflow and messaging framework.

“Cross-platform” means IoTflow is not tied to a specific board form factor or microcontroller architecture. The same workflow applies whether you use Arduino Nano–class boards, Raspberry Pi Pico–class boards, Adafruit Feather, Seeed Studio XIAO, or different MCU families such as STM32, Espressif (ESP32), or Raspberry RP2040/RP2350.

IoTflow defines:

  • MQTT topic structure
  • Event and state reporting
  • Command routing
  • Node-RED automation patterns
  • Multi-device behaviour

Every device follows the same rules, so your system stays predictable as it grows.

From simple triggers to complex workflows, everything follows the same structure.

Architectural Integration Paths

Depending on your project scale, IoTflow works seamlessly with our hardware series:

1. For Nodes (IoTsmart)

For small or autonomous solutions, use our IoTsmart modules (ESP32, RP2040, RP2350, etc).

  • Goal: Rapid development and software compatibility.
  • Setup: Install an IoTsmart module directly into an IoTextra I/O board. IoTflow handles the wireless communication via WiFi.

2. For Serial & Industrial Solutions (IoTbase)

For maximum integration and multi-board systems, use IoTbase carrier boards.

  • Goal: Full utilization of hardware platforms (Raspberry Pi PICO, Arduino Nano).
  • Setup: Insert your SoM into IoTbase and connect multiple IoTextra I/O modules. IoTflow configures the firmware to control these modules via GPIO or I2C.

Node-RED Made Predictable

IoTflow includes ready-to-import Node-RED examples that make professional automation easy to deploy:

  • State-change detection and event-driven logic
  • Conditional actions and delayed triggers
  • Multi-device orchestration and clean MQTT topic parsing

Compatibility: Our Node-RED nodes can be easily integrated with other platforms like Blynk.

Flows are designed to be reused, extended, and scaled.

Fig. IoTflow Node-RED Flow Example (IoTextra Combo)

MQTT at the Core

 

MQTT is the communication backbone of IoTflow.

IoTflow defines:

  • Clear topic hierarchies
  • Standard message formats
  • Event-based updates
  • Consistent command structures

Compatible with Mosquitto, EMQX, Aedes, and other brokers.

Supported Hardware

MCU & Gateway Modules

Carrier Board IoTflow (Node-RED) IoThome (Tasmota)
IoTbase PICO + Waveshare ESP32-S3-Pico 🔶 Coming Soon 🔶 Coming Soon
IoTbase PICO + Waveshare ESP32-C6-Pico 🔶 Coming Soon 🔶 Coming Soon
IoTbase PICO + RP2040 [Open] —
IoTbase PICO + RP2350 [Open] —
IoTbase NANO + Waveshare ESP32-S3-NANO [Open] [Open]
IoTbase Feather + Adafruit ESP32-C6 Feather 🔶 Coming Soon 🔶 Coming Soon
IoTbase Feather + FeatherS3[D] ESP32-S3 🔲 Planned 🔲 Planned
IoTsmart RP2040 [Open] —
IoTsmart RP2350A [Open] —
IoTsmart ESP32-S3 [Open] [Open]
IoTsmart XIAO + XIAO RP2350 🔶 Coming Soon —
IoTsmart XIAO + XIAO ESP32-S3 🔶 Coming Soon 🔶 Coming Soon
IoTsmart XIAO + XIAO ESP32-C5 🔲 Planned 🔲 Planned
IoTsmart XIAO + XIAO ESP32-C6 🔲 Planned 🔲 Planned

Legend:
  • [Open] — available, click to open
  • — — not applicable
  • 🔶 — Coming Soon
  • 🔲 — Planned

    • I/O Boards

    IoTextra Module Node-RED Blynk
    Input [Example] [Example]
    Relay2 [Example] [Example]
    SSR Small [Example] [Example]
    MOSFET2 [Example] [Example]
    Quadro 🔲 🔲
    Octal [Example] [Example]
    Octal2 [Example] [Example]
    Octal3 🔲 🔲
    Analog [Example] [Example]
    Analog2 🔲 🔲
    Analog3 [Example] [Example]
    Combo [Example] [Example]
    Combo2 🔲 🔲

    Legend:
  • [Example] — available, click to open
  • 🔶 — Coming Soon
  • 🔲 — Planned

    • All hardware behaves consistently inside IoTflow.

    Open & Documented

    Everything is open and available on GitHub:

    IoTflow Repository
    https://github.com/makethingshappy/IoTflow

    Documentation
    https://github.com/makethingshappy/IoTflow/tree/main/Documentation

    Media & Diagrams
    https://github.com/makethingshappy/IoTflow/tree/main/Media

    Why Choose IoTflow?

    ✔ Build once, scale confidently
    ✔ Eliminates the need for device-specific firmware logic
    ✔ Clean Node-RED automation
    ✔ Predictable MQTT structure
    ✔ Open hardware and software
    ✔ Designed for real products

    Get Started

    Stop rebuilding your IoT projects. Start building systems that last.

    ·         View on GitHub

    ·         Read the Docs

    ·         Try the Node-RED Examples