Customizable Node-red alternative
Tags: nodered, iot, node, javascript
Published: 2021-04-07 22:31:16

[Total.js Flow](https://www.totaljs.com/flow/) is part of **Total.js Platform** and it's direct alternative to Node-red without any dependencies. Total.js Flow is fully open-source under **MIT license**.

- [Flow: Website](https://www.totaljs.com/flow/)
- [Flow: Documentation](https://docs.totaljs.com/flow/)
- [GitHub: Flow](https://github.com/totaljs/flow/)
- [GitHub: Flow components](https://github.com/totaljs/flowcomponents/)
- [Total.js Twitter](https://twitter.com/totalframework)
- [Download: Flow example](https://github.com/totaljs/emptyproject-flow/)

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## Beautify UI

**Total.js Flow** offers a beautiful and slick user interface with nice features like:

- Real-time traffic indicator
- Real-time statistics
- Visual error handling
- Supports zooming
- Dark/Light theme

![Flow real-time traffic indicator](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/tjlilw0ls4fo6k8w1axw.gif)

![Flow error handling](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/4jvimgv5rbdtdnijchw4.gif)
 
## No 3rd party dependencies and with power saving

The core of Total.js Flow is without any 3rd party dependencies, so the maintenance is effortless. You can provide Flow for several years without any problem on various devices. Total.js Flow doesn't limit you, and Flow components can contain any module from NPM. We create Total.js Flow from scratch, and we optimized it for saving CPU and memory consumption.

## Stability

Total.js Flow is stable for several years, and the Total.js Flow is part of many great projects.

![Flow stability](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/thy467iybvdgtz1vseak.jpg)

![Google Home in Total.js Flow](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/2f2ny6hwlzkgoozo1cp6.gif)
 
## Works offline

Total.js Flow is fully optimized for working offline without any internet connection. So you can provide Total.js Flow directly for example in IoT devices.

## Crash mode

Total.js Flow supports crash mode or pausing of the entire designed Flow just in time. The crash mode will ensure that after crashing, the instance will automatically pause the Flow due to analyses of all problems.

## Launch modes

Total.js Flow supports three types of Flow modes:

- `bundle` (default) launches UI designer and backend Flow services
- `client` runs only UI designer, but you need to specify URL address for backend Flow services (UI designer will connect external server)
- `server` runs only backend Flow services without UI designer

## Amazing performance

**Total.js Flow** offers excellent performance that can handle hundreds of requests per second.

{% youtube 1adE_nQOq50 %}

## Many useful components

We have prepared a lot of functional components. You can easily install existing components or create your own. You can easily change the default behavior of **Total.js Flow** by adding your link to templates with the [Flow components](https://github.com/totaljs/flowcomponents) or templates with predefined Flow designs. You can change the default configuration anytime.

## Creating components

- [GitHub repository: Flow components](https://github.com/totaljs/flowcomponents)

We have prepared a tool for creating Flow components. You can create Flow components without Flow, our test tool simulates Flow, and you can quickly test component functionality. Clone the repository above and learn from existing Flow components, you can start with `tutorial` component.

## Tutorials

- [Video tutorials on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Total.js+Flow+tutorials)
- [Tutorials](https://blog.totaljs.com/tutorials/?q=flow)

## Customization

We have prepared a particular version of Flow called Total.js FlowStream which can be fully customized/optimized for various cases. You can provide FlowStream in Cluster or Cloud, and it can be optimized for accessing of multiple users (with possibility to implement various permissions) and much more.

- [FlowStream example](https://github.com/totaljs/flowstream/)

![Total.js FlowStream](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/jzry65c154461zim5k15.png) 

## Try Total.js Flow in Cloud

Start with [Total.js Flow](https://www.totaljs.com/flow/) in [Total.js Cloud](https://www.totaljs.com/cloud/) in two minutes:

{% youtube ppL8FfFmvVY %} 

## Great support

Join [Total.js Telegram](https://t.me/totaljs) or write us on [Total.js Messenger](https://platform.totaljs.com). We are ready to help you with the development or customizing of apps with the Total.js Flow. Our company offers [professional support services for companies](https://www.totaljs.com/support/).

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- [Flow: Website](https://www.totaljs.com/flow/)
- [Flow: Documentation](https://docs.totaljs.com/flow/)
- [GitHub: Flow](https://github.com/totaljs/flow/)
- [GitHub: Flow components](https://github.com/totaljs/flowcomponents/)
- [Total.js Twitter](https://twitter.com/totalframework)
- [Download: Flow example](https://github.com/totaljs/emptyproject-flow/)