What is a Flow?
A flow is an automation program that runs on your Raspberry Pi via Node-RED. It defines which sensors to read, which actuators to control, what logic connects them, and how data gets published to the cloud.
The Configurator is LoopString's visual editor for building these flows without writing code.
Quick Start: Temperature Monitoring
This walkthrough creates a simple flow that reads a DS18B20 temperature sensor and displays it on your dashboard.
Step 1: Open the Configurator
From the dashboard sidebar, click Configurator. If this is your first time, the guided setup wizard will walk you through the basics.
Step 2: Select a Device
Choose the Raspberry Pi you want to deploy to from the device dropdown.
Step 3: Create a Room
Rooms are logical groups for organizing sensors and actuators. Click Add Room and name it (e.g., "Living Room").
Step 4: Add a Sensor
Click Add Part in your room. Browse the parts library and select DS18B20 Temperature Sensor. The part includes:
- A pre-built Node-RED template for reading the sensor
- Default polling interval (10 seconds)
- Cloud publishing configuration
Step 5: Review the Flow
The Flow Editor shows a visual diagram of your automation. For a simple temperature sensor, you will see:
- An inject node (timer) triggering every 10 seconds
- A sensor read node
- A cloud publish node that writes to Firebase RTDB
Step 6: Deploy
Click the Deploy button. This sends the flow to your Pi via Firebase RTDB:
- The browser writes the flow JSON to the RTDB deploy command path
- The Pi agent detects the new command and downloads the flow
- Node-RED restarts with the new flow
- The deploy status updates in real time in the Configurator
Deployment typically takes 5-10 seconds.
Step 7: Verify on Dashboard
Switch to your Dashboard. Within one polling interval (10 seconds), you should see:
- A SensorStat card showing the current temperature
- A sparkline showing the trend over the last few minutes
- The ability to set alarm thresholds on the reading
Using Templates
For common setups, LoopString provides project templates that pre-configure rooms, sensors, actuators, and control logic:
- Basic Environment Monitor — Temperature and humidity with alerts
- Grow Room Controller — Full climate control with PID loops
- Aquaponics System — pH, EC, temperature with dosing pumps
Access templates from the Configurator by clicking New Project > Start from Template.
Next Steps
- Understanding the Dashboard to explore your data
- Wiring Flows to connect sensors to actuators
- Using Templates for pre-built configurations