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Why ThingsPanel？

Introduction to ThingsPanel 1.0

ThingsPanel is a lightweight, easy-to-use, component-based open-source IoT application support platform. It aims to reduce development work and accelerate the construction of IoT projects through reusable components.

The main plugin categories of ThingsPanel include:

  • Device Models: Integration of thing models and charts.
  • Device Templates: Integration of device models and access services.
  • Protocol Components: Enable direct device connectivity.
  • Third-Party Components: Integrate devices via third-party platforms.
  • Dashboard Cards: Extend dashboard display capabilities.
  • Visualization Components: Enhance big-screen visualization.
  • Dependent Components: Industry-specific solution building blocks.

With the reusability of these components, development efficiency is significantly improved.

Product Use Cases​

  • Unified device management
  • IoT middle platform
  • Backend for equipment vendors

Problems Solved​

  • Hobbyists: Open architecture unleashes creative potential.
  • Integrators: One platform to deliver all intelligent projects.
  • Solution Providers: Save time and cost to quickly meet business needs.
  • Device Manufacturers: Focus only on making devices; no need to handle software.
  • End Customers: One platform for device integration and IoT data operations.

Unique Advantages​

  • Ease of Use: Simplifies IoT, making it easier to understand.
  • Compatibility: Supports a variety of protocols, reducing expansion costs.
  • Componentization: Open architecture, diverse components, rapid assembly.

User Value​

  1. Significantly Increased Efficiency

    • Reusable plugin components boost development efficiency by 2–10×
    • Rapid application construction shortens delivery from months to weeks
    • Standardized templates eliminate 80% of repetitive work

  2. Substantially Lower Costs

    • Over 50% reduction in development manpower
    • Over 70% reduction in maintenance expenses
    • Plugin reuse avoids redundancy, saving infrastructure costs

Feature Overview​

  • Multi-Tenant Management: Super admin, tenant account management, user-level device and data access
  • Device Integration: Project creation, grouped device management, push status monitoring, plugin access, gateway/sub-device support, Modbus RTU/TCP, TCP protocol, GB28181 cameras, custom device services
  • Monitoring Dashboards: Device monitoring charts, configurable as menus or homepage, support multiple dashboards
  • Device Models: Define data models, Web/App charts, export to JSON
  • Device Templates: Bind attributes/functions, protocol configs, automation, alerts, metadata, settings, device credentials
  • Device Map: Filter by project, group, or type
  • Visualization: Visual editor, open architecture, prebound charts, custom graphics, loosely coupled system; supports SCADA, big screens, 3D, Three.js
  • Product Management: Product creation, batch management, QR codes, manual activation, pre-registration
  • Firmware Upgrade: Add firmware, create upgrade tasks, upgrade reports
  • Automation: Scene linking, scene logs, scheduled triggers, device triggers, multiple trigger modes
  • Alarm Information: Filter alarms by project/group and time
  • Notification System: SMS, email, call, webhook support
  • System Logs: IP access logs, device operation logs
  • App Management: Plugin management, plugin generator, installation, app marketplace
  • Protocol Access: Define custom protocol configuration and access parameters
  • Third-Party Integration: Connect devices via third-party platforms
  • User Management: Casbin-based RBAC, page/project permissions, multiple roles
  • Rule Engine: Forward data, receive and transform device data, handle protocols, real-time data computation
  • Data Gateway: OpenAPI, system integration, IP/data range restrictions, read authorization
  • System Settings: Change logo, system title, theme styles
  • IoT App: Built with Uniapp; scan to add devices, view metrics, switch projects/groups, manual control, control strategy, logs, account management, SMS login
  • Dependent Plugins: Used for industry solutions; built on device plugins and other data/functions, visual invocation, iframe embedding, plugin reuse

Tech Stack​

  • Golang: Excellent concurrency performance, cost-effective, suitable for edge devices
  • Vue.js (v3): Easy to learn and use
  • Node.js (v16.13): Free, open-source, cross-platform

Databases​

  • PostgreSQL: Large community, low cost
  • TimescaleDB: Time-series DB plugin for PostgreSQL
  • TDengine: High-performance time-series DB (China-made)
  • Cassandra: Distributed key-value storage
  • TDSQL-PostgreSQL: Tencent's distributed PostgreSQL DB
  • PolarDB-PostgreSQL: Alibaba Cloud's high-performance distributed DB
  • KingBase: KingbaseES from China

Web Server​

  • Nginx: High-performance web server

MQTT Broker​

  • GMQTT: High-performance message queue
  • VerneMQ: High-performance distributed MQTT broker

Cache​

  • Redis: NoSQL cache database