Blog
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FlowFuse 2.22: FlowFuse Expert for node editing, FlowFuse Broker schema autodetection, Improved Snapshots Interface, eCharts enablement, and FlowFuse Dashboard Updates
FlowFuse 2.22 provides more powerful development by bringing the FlowFuse Assistant to more nodes, supports operational maturity with automatic FlowFuse Broker schema detection, and enhances the developer experience with an improved Snapshots interface, support for more powerful visualizations, a better Device Agent Installer experience, Dashboard updates, and more! Take a look:
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Download Node-RED for Production: Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi (2026)
Installing Node-RED is straightforward. Install Node.js, run a command, and you're ready for visual programming in industrial automation. The real challenge begins when it must run across production lines, connect to PLCs, and stay operational 24/7.
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Query Your Database with Natural Language Using FlowFuse Expert
Getting data from your database used to mean writing SQL queries. Not anymore. The FlowFuse Expert now lets you ask for what you want in plain English and automatically generates the SQL for you in query node.
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Integrating LoRaWAN with FlowFuse
LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a low-power wireless protocol designed for IoT devices that need to transmit small amounts of data over long distances. FlowFuse is a platform that provides a visual programming interface for connecting IoT devices and services.
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Poka Yoke (Poke Yoke, Bokayoke) Explained: Definition, Examples, Types (2026)
Every day, skilled operators make mistakes that cost thousands. A component installed backwards. A critical step skipped during rush orders. A measurement misread at shift's end.
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What is 5S Checklist: Definition, Benefits, Implementation, and Template
Manufacturing environments face increasing pressure to eliminate waste, improve safety, and maintain quality standards. Disorganized workspaces contribute to production delays, safety incidents, and quality defects that directly impact operational performance. The 5S methodology addresses these challenges through systematic work area organization, but implementation requires consistent evaluation and measurement. A 5S checklist provides the structured framework necessary to assess, maintain, and improve work area organization standards across manufacturing operations.
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IT vs OT: Key Differences, Security Risks, and IT/OT Convergence
IT vs OT explained for manufacturing (2026). Learn the key differences, security risks, and how to securely converge IT and OT systems without downtime or safety issues.
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Preventive Maintenance in Manufacturing: Avoid Multi-Million Dollar Equipment Failures
At 2:47 AM on a Tuesday, a $15 bearing brought down a $2 million production line.
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How to Create a Pareto Chart for Manufacturing Data
In the first part of this series, we explored the foundational principles of the Pareto Chart, understanding how this powerful tool can help manufacturing teams quickly identify and focus on the "vital few" problems that have the biggest impact. We learned that by combining a bar graph and a cumulative percentage line, a Pareto Chart provides a clear visual roadmap to prioritize quality issues, equipment downtime, or other key performance indicators.
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FlowFuse API for Industry: Automating Node-RED Instances, Devices, and CI/CD Tasks
FlowFuse includes an API that lets you manage Node-RED instances, edge devices, and deployments directly from your scripts or applications. While most people use the web interface, the API is a great option if you want to automate tasks or connect FlowFuse with other tools.
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Pareto Chart & Diagram: What It Is, Formula, Examples & Manufacturing Applications
A Pareto Chart helps manufacturing teams cut through the chaos when problems arrive in clusters—defects, delays, downtime, and customer complaints all competing for attention. With limited resources and time, how do you decide which fire to put out first?
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FlowFuse 2.21: AI-Assisted SQL, Low-Code Custom Nodes, and Remote Instance Performance Insights
It's been a very busy release and we have many great new features available on FlowFuse that will provide a better Node-RED development experience, makes it easier to develop and interface with your Unified Namespace, provide more insight into Remote Instance performance and new low-code tooling for building your own custom Node-RED nodes.
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Orchestrating Virtual Power Plants: How Low-Code Platforms Bridge the Gap
Our electric grid is changing. For a century, it operated as a one-way street: large, centralized power plants generated electricity and pushed it downstream to homes and businesses. But today, that model is shifting. Rooftop solar panels, home batteries, and electric vehicles (EVs) are turning that one-way street into a dynamic, two-way intersection.
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Save with FlowFuse Annual Billing – Now Available!
We're excited to announce that FlowFuse customers can now choose annual billing for their Starter and Pro plans! Starting today, when you choose to pay for a full year upfront, you'll get one month completely free.
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Building Historical Data Dashboard with FlowFuse Tables
In Industrial IoT, tracking data over time is crucial. Whether you’re monitoring temperature changes throughout the day, spotting machine downtime, or analyzing production trends across shifts, a historical data dashboard helps you see important patterns clearly.
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Winning Through Open-Source Software in Manufacturing Digitalization
The manufacturing sector is in an interesting situation. It's caught between a future with immense promise and a present with high complexity. The promised ROI of digital transformation (DX) is into the trillions of dollars globally over the next decade. For manufacturers, this is more than just an opportunity for incremental improvement; it is a fundamental shift to competitiveness.
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OPC UA Tutorial: Advanced Monitoring with Subscriptions, Alarms, and Historical Data
In our previous tutorial, we covered OPC UA basics—connecting to servers, reading tags, and writing values. Now it's time for the features that make OPC UA truly powerful in production.
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FlowFuse's New Database: The Easiest Way to Store Industrial IoT Data
FlowFuse recently introduced a beta release built-in database service to their platform, making it easier than ever to store Industrial IoT data. In a typical setup, you would need to provision a database, manage connection strings and credentials, configure nodes, and handle security settings. The goal of this new feature is to simplify or even eliminate those steps entirely. In this article, you will learn how it works and how to get started.
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The Evolution of Business Automation: Why Pricing Models Matter
The automation landscape is evolving rapidly, and recent industry developments have sparked important conversations about how businesses should evaluate their automation platforms. N8N’s recent shift from workflow-based to execution-based pricing — positioned as removing limits — has received mixed reactions from the community, with many growing businesses finding the reality more complex. As pricing models change across the industry, now is the perfect time to reflect on what truly matters when choosing the right automation solution for your needs.