NTK

NETLab Toolkit JavaScript Version

NTK (the NETLab Toolkit) is a visual authoring system for designers, developers, makers, researchers and students who want to design and build tangible Internet of Things projects. With a simple drag and drop interface, connect sensors, actuators, media and networks with the smart widgets. Concepts can be prototyped quickly, encouraging iteration, experimentation and testing by sketching in hardware.

NTK works with the original Arduino and newer Linux embedded systems like the Intel Edison. And NTK can be easily adapted to do new things. The Code widget allows users to add custom Javascript. And with a bit more expertise, users can create their own, reusable widgets.

Go ahead, Drag and Drop the Internet of Things.

Installation instructions below. For more information and documentation, please see the project website.

http://netlabtoolkit.org/

Sign up for NTK news here:

http://netlabtoolkit.org/join/

Installation

If you only want to run NTK, there are double-clickable app and command line versions, and there is a simple installation procedure:

http://netlabtoolkit.org/download/
http://www.netlabtoolkit.org/install-ntk/

For development purposes, use the below installation process:

Node, NPM (one time only)

You must first install node and npm if you have not already done so.

• Mac or Windows - Install Node and NPM from the official Node.js website, using their standard installer (we've tested up to v4.2.2)
• Linux – You most likely have Node/NPM already installed but can also install via your distribution's [https://nodejs.org/en/download/package-manager/](package manager).
• If you are on Raspberry Pi, then you probably have an outdated version of Node. Here's a nice & easy upgrade method: https://github.com/DonaldDerek/rPi-cheat-sheet

If you are on a Mac, you may need to install the Xcode command line tools by installing Xcode (free from the Mac app store).

Dependencies (one time only)

You will also need to install command-line tools: Ruby, bower, SASS, and the require.js build tool if you do not have them already:

npm install -g bower
npm install -g requirejs

sudo gem update --system
sudo gem install sass

NOTE: On Mac OS X El Capitan v10.11, there's an issue with installing gems. For the above use:

sudo gem update --system -n /usr/local/bin
sudo gem install -n /usr/local/bin sass

Ref: sass/sass#1768

Current Build System for NTK

To install the build system and source for this version of NETLab Toolkit:

git clone https://github.com/netlabtoolkit/ntk.git
cd ntk
bower install
npm install
npm run build

Note: if you are running Linux, you will have to set proper permissions on your Arduino in order to use it. For instance:

# Linux users only
sudo chmod a+rw /dev/ttyUSB0

Starting the server

To run NTK as a standard command-line application:

npm start

Note: if you've made any changes or this is the first time you are running it, you should rerun "npm run build" before "npm start".

To run NTK as a live-reload development server, run grunt by:

npm run dev

To Build a Distributable Application

After installing bower, SASS, requirejs build tool, etc. as noted above, run these commands to build:

npm run package

This will place the distributable builds in a folder named "packaged" in the main NTK directory.

Creating a New Widget

See this page for details: http://www.netlabtoolkit.org/documentation/create-your-own-widget/