ioBroker

ioBroker is a modular, event‑driven integration platform that orchestrates heterogeneous IoT devices and services. At its core it exposes two logical databases—objects (meta‑data, configuration) and states (runtime values)—and relies on a publish/subscribe mechanism to propagate changes across adapters. The platform is built around the principle that any system can be represented as a set of objects and states, enabling seamless interoperability without vendor lock‑in.

Technical Stack

• Runtime: Node.js (≥12) on any OS that supports it (Linux, Windows, macOS, ARM).
• Primary Database: In‑memory JavaScript objects persisted to disk via a lightweight JSON/SQLite backend; optional Redis for distributed caching and message brokering.
• Adapter Execution: Each adapter instance runs in its own Node.js process, isolated via the OS. This design isolates failures and allows independent scaling of adapters based on memory footprints (≈10–60 MB per instance).
• Communication: Zero‑MQ style event bus under the hood, but exposed through a simple REST/WS API for external clients.

Core Capabilities

• Adapter Ecosystem: Over 600 adapters covering protocols such as MQTT, HTTP, Zigbee, KNX, Modbus, and many proprietary APIs. Adapters are published as npm packages (iobroker.<name>) and can be written in any language that can open a TCP socket to the controller.
• State & Object API: getObject, setState, subscribeForeignObjects and similar calls allow fine‑grained control over data flow.
• Event Bus: onStateChange and publish enable reactive programming patterns across adapters.
• Web UI & REST: A single‑page React admin panel plus a JSON‑based REST API for programmatic access.
• Security Hooks: TLS termination, JWT support for the web UI, and role‑based ACLs on objects/states.

Deployment & Infrastructure

• Self‑Hosting: The controller can run on a Raspberry Pi, Docker host, or cloud VM.
• Containerization: Official Docker images (iobrokerjs-controller) expose environment variables for Redis URI, logging level, and adapter auto‑start lists.
• Scalability: While a single controller is sufficient for most home setups, multiple controllers can be chained via Redis clustering to distribute load and provide high availability.
• Resource Constraints: Memory is the primary limiter; careful adapter selection and pruning of unused adapters keep RAM usage low.

Integration & Extensibility

• Plugin System: Adapters are the primary extension point; developers can fork existing adapters or create new ones following the iobroker.adapter template.
• Webhooks & Scripting: Built‑in JavaScript scripting engine (ioBroker.vis and ioBroker.automation) allows custom logic without external services.
• External APIs: The controller exposes a WebSocket endpoint for real‑time data, and the REST API can be wrapped by custom middleware or consumed by third‑party dashboards.

Developer Experience

• Documentation: Comprehensive guides on the official site, an active forum, and GitHub issues for adapters.
• CLI Tooling: iobroker command provides instance management, logs, and configuration export/import.
• Community: A vibrant ecosystem of adapter maintainers and a dedicated discussion board ensure rapid issue resolution.

Use Cases

1. Smart Building Automation – Centralized control of HVAC, lighting, and security systems via adapters for KNX, BACnet, and Zigbee.
2. Energy Management – Real‑time metering from smart meters, combined with historical logging and analytics.
3. Ambient Assisted Living – Sensors (motion, temperature) feed into a dashboard that triggers alerts or automations for elderly care.
4. Industrial Process Monitoring – Modbus and OPC UA adapters feed sensor data into ioBroker, where custom scripts generate alarms or feed into MES systems.

Advantages

• Language‑agnostic adapters: Any system can be connected without rewriting core logic.
• Low licensing cost: Open source under MIT; no vendor lock‑in or subscription fees.
• Rapid prototyping: The in‑memory database and event bus allow developers to iterate quickly on logic before deploying to production.
• Strong community backing: Frequent updates, security patches, and a rich adapter catalog reduce integration effort.

Overall, ioBroker offers developers a lightweight yet powerful framework to glue together disparate IoT ecosystems, providing fine‑grained control over data flow while remaining highly portable and secure.