# Introduction to RED-Node\[Question\]
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296
**Category:** General
**Created:** [31 May 2022 10:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296 "2022-05-31T10:53:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@baptiste2k8](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/baptiste2k8)
#### Post date: [31 May 2022 10:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/1 "2022-05-31T10:53:04Z")
I am new here and trying to learn as much as I can. Firstly, I want to know more about this tool. could anyone help me with the answers to the following questions:
Free and Open Source:
Implementation Programming Language :
IoT Layers which can be tested:
Testing Method: White-Box or Black-Box?
API Integration: REST or SOAP?
Testing Level: Unit ?, Integration?, System? or Acceptance?
Standards if any:
Protocols:
Thank you.
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### Author:  [@zenofmud](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/zenofmud)
#### Post date: [31 May 2022 11:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/2 "2022-05-31T11:35:41Z")
I recommend watching this playlist: [Node-RED Essentials](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyNBB9VCLmo1hyO-4fIZ08gqFcXBkHy-6). The videos are done by the developers of node-red. They're nice & short and to the point. You will understand a whole lot more in about 1 hour. A small investment for a lot of gain.
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [31 May 2022 13:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/3 "2022-05-31T13:27:36Z")
Welcome to the forum.
_Free and Open Source:_ Yes, completely.
_Implementation Programming Language :_ Node.js (JavaScript)
_IoT Layers which can be tested:_ Not sure what you mean by this. However, Node-RED started life as a tool for testing and demonstrating IoT in IBM.
_Testing Method: White-Box or Black-Box?_ Sorry, what do you mean by this?
_API Integration: REST or SOAP?_ Yes. But REST is the most common approach. MQTT and other message queuing services are also commonly used for integration.
_Testing Level: Unit ?, Integration?, System? or Acceptance?_ Again, not clear what you are asking. Not sure that this is really a Node-RED feature any more than any other programming environment, it is more a matter of development process.
_Standards if any:_ Again not terribly clear what you are wanting from this question. Node-RED is a low-code programming platform based on Node.js and ExpressJS (a node.js web server). It will probably support any standard you like. It already uses standards around HTTP(S), TLS, MQTT, TCP, UDP, Websockets and more.
_Protocols:_ Yes! 😉 Pretty much anything you like, some mentioned above.
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### Author:  [@baptiste2k8](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/baptiste2k8)
#### Post date: [31 May 2022 13:56 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/4 "2022-05-31T13:56:29Z")
Thank you very much!
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### Author:  [@baptiste2k8](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/baptiste2k8)
#### Post date: [9 June 2022 14:00 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/5 "2022-06-09T14:00:59Z")
I want to get started with creation of flows.... what could be the best place to start with?
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [9 June 2022 14:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/6 "2022-06-09T14:19:43Z")
Pick something that you want to get done that is relatively self-contained and have a go.
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### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [9 June 2022 15:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/7 "2022-06-09T15:06:33Z")
I recommend watching this playlist: [Node-RED Essentials](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyNBB9VCLmo1hyO-4fIZ08gqFcXBkHy-6). The videos are done by the developers of node-red. They're nice & short and to the point. You will understand a whole lot more in about 1 hour. A small investment for a lot of gain.
Also, try the [tutorials](https://nodered.org/docs/tutorials/) and [cookbook](https://cookbook.nodered.org/)
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### Author:  [@MecatronicaMADE](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/MecatronicaMADE)
#### Post date: [9 June 2022 17:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/8 "2022-06-09T17:25:54Z")
> [@baptiste2k8](#):
>
> Testing Method: White-Box or Black-Box?
As is a Open-Source project, you can use a White-Box testing method!
If you are testing code in an application where you used libraries, all of this have very documentartion. Also, Node-RED has debugger tools as [node-red-debugger](https://github.com/node-red/node-red-debugger) where you can:
- set breakpoints on node inputs or outputs
- pause the runtime manually or when a message arrives at a breakpoint
- once paused you can:
- inspect the queued up messages
- step forward individual messages
- drop messages
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### Author:  [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)
#### Post date: [9 June 2022 17:47 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/9 "2022-06-09T17:47:15Z")
Here's a link to a very simple project I made for my IoT students last week.
No hardware is needed just core nodes plus Worldmap node.
Enjoy.
> [@Show the current position of the International Space Station (ISS)](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/show-the-current-position-of-the-international-space-station-iss/63106):
>
> This is a spin-off from a question I answered for someone on the forum recently. I thought it would make a great fill-in exercise for any of my IoT students who have a few minutes to spare towards the end of a session of my IoT Club. Here's a screen-shot of a simple dashboard - I'm sure most people could improve it. [ISS\_flow] [{"id":"7969e7f53683abdf","type":"debug","z":"a9b12d67e974b017","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"t…
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### Author:  [@baptiste2k8](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/baptiste2k8)
#### Post date: [10 June 2022 05:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/10 "2022-06-10T05:35:28Z")
Thank you!
Very interesting! You mean, I can do End-to-End black-box testing for IoT system with debugging option?
I can test the device Layer, Network Layer, Cloud Layer and Application Layer?
Also need to check how it can be expended to cater for white-box testing as well.
Thank you.
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### Author:  [@paulkeates](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/paulkeates)
#### Post date: [10 June 2022 11:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/11 "2022-06-10T11:53:59Z")
Hi,
Are you asking how to use Node-RED **for** these types of testing:
- White-Box or Black-Box
- API Integration: REST or SOAP
- Testing Level: Unit
- Integration
- System
- Acceptance
OR are you asking what SDLC / testing methodologies are used during the creation of Node-RED itself?
I can explain how we use Node-RED to perform all those types of testing against large corporate applications / systems if that's what you are asking? node-RED is the perfect test automation 'engine' that we use for all of that + more.
Cheers,
Paul
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### Author:  [@baptiste2k8](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/baptiste2k8)
#### Post date: [10 June 2022 12:34 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/12 "2022-06-10T12:34:23Z")
Thank you Paul!
Yes. I need to know all those details plus future directions. Any integration with any other IoT testing tool is also important to me.
Regards,
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### Author:  [@paulkeates](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/paulkeates)
#### Post date: [10 June 2022 13:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/13 "2022-06-10T13:32:01Z")
Hi,
I'm still unsure which of the two alternatives I offered you want answered...
1. How is Node-RED tested
2. How to use Node-RED as a test automation engine
Cheers,
Paul
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### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [24 June 2022 13:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/introduction-to-red-node-question/63296/14 "2022-06-24T13:32:44Z")
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