• n-BlocksStudio is a programming environment which facilitate an easy way to develop applications with n-Blocks based embedded systems or Internet of Things hardware.

• The main requirement in the design of n-BlocksStudio was to enable users to develop applications without having to write code (although this may not always be possible).

• The IDE uses the Flow Based Design paradigm, using interconnected nodes to generate underlying code

• The code that is created by n-BlocksStudio runs in a soft-realtime* firmware system (similar to, but not as complex as an embedded operating system)

• Inititally, we used node-RED code base for the first prototype, but soon realized that a development from scratch using Python provided a better development roadmap

• The current n-BlocksStudio runs locally on a PC, making use of OpenGL 3D rendering for attracting visualization

• The Logic and behaviour of nodes is downloaded as Libraries from a public repository

• The public server hosts libraries written by the n-Blocks team as well as by the users, who contribute and share nodes with the n-Blocks user community

*soft-realtime means tasks are guaranteed to perform in the average time, but timing for each task is not precise – as opposed to hard-realtime, in which the time for each task is strictly met and deterministic

https://www.n-blocks.net/nmodules/lib/images/toolbar/bold.png

In computer programming, flow-based programming (FBP) is a programming paradigm that defines applications as networks of “black box” processes, which exchange data across predefined connections by message passing, where the connections are specified externally to the processes. These black box processes can be reconnected endlessly to form different applications without having to be changed internally. FBP is thus naturally component-oriented. FBP is a particular form of dataflow programming based on bounded buffers, information packets with defined lifetimes, named ports, and separate definition of connections. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow-based_programming

In computer programming, Flow-Based Programming (FBP) is a programming paradigm, discovered/invented by J. Paul Rodker Morrison in the late '60s, that uses a “data processing factory” metaphor for designing and building applications. FBP defines applications as networks of “black box” processes, which communicate via data chunks (called Information Packets) travelling across predefined connections (think “conveyor belts”), where the connections are specified externally to the processes. These black box processes can be reconnected endlessly to form different applications without having to be changed internally. FBP is thus naturally component-oriented.https://jpaulm.github.io/fbp/

• IDE to develop application with Diagrams
• No need to write code, just use nodes and connections
  • Reduced complexity
  • Modularity
  • Expandable Library of Nodes
• Friendly for
  • Makers, new firmware developers
  • Experienced embedded developers

• What is behind the Node-Diagram: Embedded C++ code
• Execution of code is managed by the underlying lightweight nBlocksStudio RTkernel

PERIOD 1mS

• [DATA BETWEEN NODES] Each connection object retrieves data from the source node (PREVIOUS CYCLE OR INITIAL VALUES) and sends them to the destination node

• [INSIDE NODE] The step Method of each node is called:
  • Actual operation is node specific, LIKE:
    • Shifting a FIFO
    • Perform calculations
    • Get from UART hardware buffer and send to a FIFO
    • Read Inputs

nBlocksStudio Server

• Contribution model and registered users
• Downloadable Nodes
• New Nodes are contributed by users and the n-Blocks team

This Diagram reads an ADC every 1000ms and sends the data in readable form to UART serial channel