Testing a Node-RED Script Outside of Node-RED

Introduction:

Node-RED is a powerful platform for building IoT and automation applications. It allows you to create custom nodes that process and manipulate data within a flow. However, before deploying these nodes to your Node-RED instance, it’s often helpful to test them in an isolated environment. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of testing a Node-RED script outside of Node-RED. This will enable you to verify the logic of your custom node and ensure it functions as expected before integration.

Step 1: Install Required Libraries

Before you can begin testing your Node-RED script outside of Node-RED, make sure you have all the necessary dependencies installed in your project folder. To do this, navigate to your project folder in your terminal and run the following command:

npm install

This command will install any required Node.js packages listed in your project’s `package.json` file.

Step 2: Create a Test Script

Next, create a standalone test script in your project folder that uses the logic from your Node-RED script. Here’s an example of a test script:

const myNodeREDScript = require(‘./index.js’); // Adjust paths accordingly