Nodlyn is a visual automation platform for building, testing, and running workflows that connect IoT devices, APIs, industrial protocols, and business systems — without writing boilerplate integration code.
This knowledge base documents platform features and workflow components. Property names match the labels you see in the Studio Inspector panel.
How Nodlyn works
A workflow is a directed graph: a trigger starts execution, then each node passes data to the next. You design workflows in Studio, validate them, and activate them for production. Operators monitor runs in the Jobs panel.
- Design — drag nodes from the palette, configure settings in the Inspector.
- Test — run Dry Run to simulate side effects safely.
- Activate — move through the workflow lifecycle so triggers and schedules go live.
- Operate — review history, variables, and approvals in the Jobs panel.
- Deploy — optionally export a runtime agent for on-prem or edge hosts. Monitor from Studio, Cloud, or the agent dashboard — see Runtime Monitoring.
On-prem, cloud, and edge
Nodlyn runs where your data and devices live:
- Studio (on-prem) — full palette including Modbus, serial, local files, Matter, Zigbee, CAN Bus.
- Cloud — hosted execution for HTTP, webhooks, SaaS connectors, and cloud-ready workflows.
- Runtime agent — headless exported workflow for factory PCs, gateways, or air-gapped sites.
What you will find in this wiki
Tutorials
Step-by-step guides that walk through real workflows — from your first canvas to edge deployment and external event ingress. Start with Your First Workflow.
Features
Platform capabilities: lifecycle, Dry Run, Jobs panel, Discovery, AI Assistant, roles, runtime export, and more. These pages explain how the product behaves, not individual node settings.
Components
Reference for palette nodes — triggers, conditions, transforms, HTTP, MQTT, variables, and industrial connectors. Each page lists Inspector properties, outputs, and common patterns.
Global variables and placeholders
Reuse configuration across workflows with {{$var.key}} in node settings, or with Read Variable / Write Variable nodes. See Global Variables for the full guide. Manage values under Jobs → Variables.
Next steps
- Your First Workflow — hands-on Studio walkthrough.
- Global Variables — shared config with
{{$var.key}}. - Cron Schedule — recurring triggers.
- Dry Run — safe testing before production.
- Template Library — 246+ starter workflows.
- Runtime Export — headless agents, USB portable, workflow bundles.
- Custom Components — .NET plugins for your own nodes.
- Device Discovery — find devices on your network.
- Getting Started with Nodlyn — product overview and who it is for.
- Your First Workflow — hands-on Studio tutorial.