The Internet of Things phenomenon is all around us: it is made up of everyday objects we use at home, work, or on the street; the difference is that all of these objects and devices are now computerised. They have network connectivity and embedded software, can communicate with phones and other devices, receive and send data, and can be controlled by a user.

Today, we’ll look at some of the most popular IoT tools for building these smart devices.

An Overview of IoT Tools

IoT development entails combining hardware components and software programmes so that the final product can monitor specific values, collect and transfer data, analyse given data, and cause the physical device to act accordingly. Developing such systems is a significant challenge.

Furthermore, because the Internet of Things has already evolved into its own industry, the demand for dependable and comprehensive developer toolkits has increased. IoT hardware devices (boards, SoM, SoC, sensors, gateways, trackers, and more), IoT app development platforms, IoT operating systems (e.g., Embedded Linux), and programming languages are examples of IoT development tools.

The Best IoT Tools and Devices

Let’s take a quick look at the 15 most popular tools for IoT projects right now.

• Arduino
• Flutter
• Kinoma
• Tessel 2
• M2MLabs Mainspring
• Raspberry Pi OS (ex. Raspbian)
• Node-RED
• Eclipse IoT
• SiteWhere
• DeviceHive
• Home Assistant
• OpenRemote
• ThingsBoard
• Milesight DeviceHub
• Zetta

1. Arduino

Arduino is the market leader in the production of electronic devices and software for them. Microcontroller boards, modules, shields, and kits are among the hardware

options available from Arduino. Hardware specifications are appropriate for developing projects such as robotics and home automation.

Software products are represented by:

• The Arduino IDE – an open-source prototyping platform that allows you to easily write code that is compatible with any Arduino board.
• Arduino Cloud — a unified platform that enables IoT device wireless communication, as well as remote control and data collection.
• IoT Cloud Remote – an dashboard-creation application for controlling cloud-connected devices.
• Web Editor – a browser-based application for coding.

2. Fluttering

Flutter, a programmable processor core, is another hardware product for IoT solutions. The board is based on Arduino and includes a powerful ARM processor, battery charging, and a security chip. With a long-range wireless transmitter, this board is ideal for sensor wireless networks.

Flutter provides:

• the Fundamental control module
• the Pro command module
• complete packages (Quick Start Kit, Vehicle Control Kits)
• boards for accessories (the Bluetooth adapter, the Breakout, the Remote Control, the Explorer)
• a solar panel, a cylindrical battery, and various other components
• 3D-printed components for your device

3. Kinoma

Marvell Technology, Inc.’s software engineers have created a line of open-source Kinoma software and hardware products for the Internet of Things and embedded solutions. Marvell Technology, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of memory devices, microcontrollers, telecom equipment, and semiconductor devices.

Kinoma Create – hardware prototyping platform for IoT devices. It runs JavaScript and includes an SD card, a speaker, a microphone, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. It allows devices to communicate with cloud platforms using the WebSocket internet protocol.

Kinoma Studio – an integrated development environment (IDE) that includes a hardware simulator and sensor library to help developers build robust applications.

Kinoma Connect – an Android and iOS app that supports IoT devices.

4. Tessel 2

Tessel 2 — a programmable microcontroller that supports JavaScript, Node.js libraries, and other languages — can also be used to create connected devices. It runs Linux and provides access to numerous NPM modules with full functionality.

Because of a built-in module and USB ports, Tessel 2 can be expanded with external hardware (sensors, peripherals). It also has Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, a MediaTek router, 64MB of RAM, and 32MB of Flash storage. Command-line tools make prototyping easier.

5. M2MLabs Mainspring

The M2MLabs Mainspring framework makes it simple to create machine-to-machine applications. This Java-based open-source framework is widely used for developing fleet management apps and remote monitoring projects. It allows for flexible device configuration and a reliable connection between machines. M2MLabs Mainspring allows for rapid app prototyping. Furthermore, a scalable Apache Cassandra database ensures long-term data storage and retrieval.

6. Raspberry Pi Operating System (ex. Raspbian)

The official operating system for the Raspberry Pi hardware is Raspberry Pi OS, formerly known as Raspbian. A 32-bit version is currently available, with a 64-bit version under active development. This is a free Debian-based operating system. Raspberry includes basic programmes and utilities to enable the hardware to function, but it also compiles thousands of packages and pre-compiled software for simple installation.

7. Node-RED

Node-RED is a free programming tool based on Node.js that is designed to integrate and automate the interaction of distributed IoT hardware and software systems. It works best in Linux environments, but it can also be installed on Android and Windows (Windows only requires a Linux subsystem). Node-RED includes pre-built repositories, MQTT interfaces, logic sets, and format parsers, as well as the ability to write custom components.

Node-capabilities RED’s can be expanded by integrating it with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, IBM) and other third-party systems.

8. Eclipse IoT

The Eclipse project hosts a diverse set of open-source projects for IoT development. They include, among other things, software development platforms, frameworks, services, standards, tools for creating digital twins, fog computing and edge computing solutions, and many others. Eclipse IoT projects are built around the Lua programming language, which is thought to be a good fit for Internet of Things projects.

9. SiteWhere

SiteWhere is an open-source multi-tenant platform for developing, deploying, and supporting industrial IoT applications. The Docker framework, Kubernetes, microservices, and Apache Kafka are among the technologies used by the platform. SiteWhere enables large data transfer, storage, processing, and integration, as well as device management and event handling. SitePlatform can be deployed locally or to cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, and GCP.

10. DeviceHive

The DeviceHive platform provides end-to-end IoT services such as:

• prototyping and mass production
• Any device can be connected using MQTT, REST API, or WebSockets.
• integration with third-party systems and cloud platforms
• real-time data analytics utilising the best data solutions available, such as Apache Spark and Kafka

DeviceHive supports public, private, and hybrid cloud deployment models, as well as a container-based architecture managed by Kubernetes and libraries written in a variety of languages. This scalable and device-independent platform can be used to implement IoT projects of any complexity.

11. Home Assistant

Home Assistant is an all-in-one home automation software package. This centralised control and security system integrates smart home devices. Home Assistant provides convenient mobile applications that allow you to remotely manage your devices and receive notifications if something goes wrong. This tool’s functionality can also be expanded by integrating it with other apps.

12. OpenRemote

OpenRemote is a platform for developing and managing IoT monitoring applications. The tool is primarily used in smart city and mobility, energy management, and asset management.

OpenRemote is available under either an open-source or a commercial licence. Its team also offers a variety of services ranging from concept development to implementation and product maintenance.

13. ThingsBoard

To connect devices and handle data from them, the ThingsBoard IoT platform employs MQTT, CoAP, and HTTP protocols. Configurable dashboards, charts, maps, and widgets provide robust real-time visualisation of your data that you can share with partners. You can also use the built-in editor to create custom widgets.

ThingsBoard Rule Engine allows you to create rule chains and event-based workflows that are tailored to your specific use case requirements.

Multiple tenants and millions of devices can be supported by the platform. Cloud and on-premises deployment options are available. A monolithic architecture is appropriate for a small project, while a microservices architecture is appropriate for a highly scalable project.

14. Milesight DeviceHub

Milesight is a global leader in surveillance cameras, AI systems, IoT hardware, and software. DeviceHub is one of the company’s most important software solutions. This is a connectivity suite that allows for the deployment of multiple devices, real-time monitoring, and remote upgrades. You can get detailed reports on monitored devices and take action with DeviceHub. The platform is available in both cloud and on-premises configurations.

15. Zetta

Zetta is an API design platform for IoT devices. Based on Node.js, the platform combines reactive programming, WebSockets, and REST APIs. A Zetta server can run in the cloud or on local hardware such as the Raspberry Pi or the Intel Edison.

Because of abstractions and direct access to protocols and conventions, the development process is streamlined. Visualization tools enable continuous

monitoring of device behaviour and prompt response to anomalies. Zetta allows you to build data-intensive mobile, device, and cloud applications as well as integrate smaller systems into a single coherent system.

Conclusion

The Internet of Things industry continues to grow rapidly, creating new business opportunities all the time. The number of tools for developing IoT solutions is also increasing. We’ve only listed a few of the most popular tools currently in use in the hopes that our list will help you make an informed decision for your project.

FAQ

What exactly is the Internet of Things (IoT)?

The Internet of Things refers to physical objects that contain embedded software and are linked to the internet. Their job entails monitoring conditions, collecting, transferring, and analysing data, as well as performing physical actions based on the data. IoT devices are being used in a variety of industries, including logistics, agriculture, and healthcare.

What is the role of an IoT solution provider?

IoT providers create hardware, write software (firmware, middleware, end-user apps, UI/UX), connect to cloud platforms and other devices, and process data. Some businesses provide end-to-end services, while others specialise in specific stages.

What are some of the advantages of implementing the Internet of Things (IoT)?

IoT systems provide numerous benefits to a variety of industries. Companies use them to boost productivity, more efficiently allocate resources, cut costs, make working conditions safer, increase customer satisfaction, and discover new business opportunities.

What are some examples of Internet of Things devices?

IoT devices include wearables, smart home appliances, GPS vehicle trackers, home security systems, and industrial robotics.

What technologies are used in Internet of Things products?

Communication technologies such as network protocols (MQTT, ZigBee, Thread) and connectivity options are required for IoT products to function (Bluetooth, Cellular, Wi-Fi). Furthermore, IoT systems make use of cutting-edge technologies like cloud computing, edge computing, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI).