Gpiozero Flow

frumiousirc

A key feature about data-flow programming that seems too often missed is that it is (or can be) hierarchical. Define a subgraph of atomic nodes as itself a node with its ports formed from as-yet unconnected ports of its atomic constituents. Compose yet higher subgraphs of subgraphs and atomic nodes. Package all this in some way. This is directly analogous to syntactic programming where functions aggregate other function calls and all that packaged into a library with an API.

codetiger

This is amazing work. I've used GPIOZero in my RPi projects before. In the future, you can introduce conditional operators in the flow. It can become a complete coding platform. See JSONLogic UI for similar implementation: https://github.com/GoPlasmatic/datalogic-rs Disclaimer: I am the maintainer of the datalogic-rs project

arto

FYI, the general paradigm here is named flow-based programming (FBP): https://github.com/flux-doctrine/awesome-fbp

amelius

Somehow these visual programming tools never seem to get much traction. Are there any exceptions?

effnorwood

I am totally pressed. What now?

luciana1u

the problem is every visual programming tool eventually reaches the point where you need a 'code node' and then everyone just writes code

hn5nw0vcqg

Good stuff, keeping it

faangguyindia

I had a similar thought while building a visual workout programming system for bodybuilding. One thing I keep running into is that workout programs are essentially state machines progression rules, deloads, conditional branches, different exercise substitutions, autoregulation etc... That made me wonder whether a visual programming model would make these systems more approachable. I'm still unconvinced, though. Unlike automation workflows where the graph itself reveals the logic, I'm not sure what the right visual abstraction is for training programs without making them even more overwhelming. So far i've a workout programming language and bunch of sample programs and an app which can help you execute these workout plans, all free ofc: https://symbiote-studio.macrocodex.app/?builtin=gzclp

pseudosavant

I think this looks like a great idea for the kind of automation people often use GPIOs for. I wonder what the complexity would be to make gpiozero that is compatible with Pi Pico 2 or ESP32 devices? A full Linux OS can be overkill for just controlling some GPIOs. That said, a Pi Zero 2 W is only marginally larger than a Pico 2.

greatony

i think there are two patterns of programming: control flow, and data flow. this visual programming tool is actually a data flow approach. the good part is, it will be easier to express simple logic. as a tradeoff, it will be awkward to express complex logics