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Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 113 views

Introduction

As a developer, moving a project from a development system to a production system can be a daunting task. It requires careful planning, execution, and testing to ensure a smooth transition. In this article, we will discuss the challenges of moving a project to a new platform, specifically with Node-RED and virtual thermostats. We will explore the issues that arise when moving from a development system to a production system and provide potential solutions to overcome these challenges.

Background

For the past year, I have been running a development system on Windows 10 for a project involving 7 virtual thermostats. The project is now ready to be moved to a production system running on a Raspberry Pi 5. The Raspberry Pi 5 is a popular single-board computer that is widely used for IoT projects due to its affordability, ease of use, and flexibility.

Initial Setup

When I first set up the production system on the Raspberry Pi 5, I encountered an issue with Amazon prompting me to register the devices to my existing account. I successfully registered the devices, but this led to a new problem. The node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home package, which I use to manage my virtual thermostats, now considers me to have 14 devices instead of 7. This is because the package is duplicating the devices from the development system, causing it to stop working on both the development and production projects.

Understanding the Issue

The issue arises from the way the node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home package handles devices. When you move a project from a development system to a production system, the package duplicates the devices from the development system, causing it to consider you as having more devices than you actually have. This is a common issue when working with IoT projects, especially when using packages that manage devices.

Potential Solutions

There are several potential solutions to overcome this issue:

1. Use a Different Package

One solution is to use a different package that manages devices. There are several packages available that can manage devices, such as node-red-contrib-smart-home. These packages may not have the same features as node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home, but they can provide a similar functionality.

2. Configure the Package

Another solution is to configure the package to ignore the duplicated devices. This can be done by modifying the package's configuration file or by using a custom configuration file. However, this solution may require advanced knowledge of the package and its configuration.

3. Use a Custom Solution

A third solution is to use a custom solution to manage devices. This can be done by creating a custom package or by using a different programming language to manage devices. However, this solution may require significant development time and expertise.

4. Upgrade to the Pro Version

Finally, one solution is to upgrade to the pro version of the node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home package. The pro version may provide additional features and support for managing devices, which can help to overcome the issue of duplicated devices.

Conclusion

Moving a project from a development system to a production system can be a challenging task, especially when working with IoT projects. The issue of duplicated devices can arise when using packages that manage devices, such as node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home. However, there are several potential solutions to overcome this issue, including using a different package, configuring the package, using a custom solution, or upgrading to the pro version. By understanding the issue and exploring these potential solutions, developers can ensure a smooth transition from a development system to a production system.

Recommendations

Based on the discussion above, here are some recommendations for developers working with IoT projects:

Use a different package: Consider using a different package that manages devices, such as node-red-contrib-smart-home.
Configure the package: Modify the package's configuration file or use a custom configuration file to ignore duplicated devices.
Use a custom solution: Create a custom package or use a different programming language to manage devices.
Upgrade to the pro version: Consider upgrading to the pro version of the node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home package for additional features and support.

Future Work

Future work on this project will focus on exploring the potential solutions in more detail and implementing a custom solution to manage devices. The goal is to create a robust and scalable system that can handle the demands of a production system.

References

Node-RED: A visual programming tool for IoT projects.
node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home: A package for managing virtual thermostats.
Raspberry Pi 5: A single-board computer for IoT projects.

Appendix

The following is a list of resources used in this article:

Node-RED documentation: https://nodered.org/docs/
node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home documentation: https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home
Raspberry Pi 5 documentation: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/
Moving Project to a New Platform: Q&A =====================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the challenges of moving a project from a development system to a production system, specifically with Node-RED and virtual thermostats. We explored the issues that arise when moving from a development system to a production system and provided potential solutions to overcome these challenges. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to moving a project to a new platform.

Q: What is the main challenge of moving a project to a new platform?

A: The main challenge of moving a project to a new platform is ensuring that the project continues to work as expected on the new platform. This can be a daunting task, especially when working with IoT projects that involve multiple devices and complex configurations.

Q: What is the issue with node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home?

A: The issue with node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home is that it duplicates devices from the development system, causing it to consider you as having more devices than you actually have. This can lead to errors and issues with the project.

Q: What are some potential solutions to overcome the issue with node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home?

A: Some potential solutions to overcome the issue with node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home include:

Using a different package that manages devices
Configuring the package to ignore duplicated devices
Using a custom solution to manage devices
Upgrading to the pro version of the package

Q: What are some best practices for moving a project to a new platform?

A: Some best practices for moving a project to a new platform include:

Testing the project thoroughly on the new platform
Ensuring that all dependencies are up-to-date
Configuring the project to work with the new platform
Monitoring the project for any issues or errors

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when moving a project to a new platform?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when moving a project to a new platform include:

Not testing the project thoroughly on the new platform
Not ensuring that all dependencies are up-to-date
Not configuring the project to work with the new platform
Not monitoring the project for any issues or errors

Q: How can I ensure that my project continues to work as expected on the new platform?

A: To ensure that your project continues to work as expected on the new platform, you should:

Test the project thoroughly on the new platform
Ensure that all dependencies are up-to-date
Configure the project to work with the new platform
Monitor the project for any issues or errors

Q: What are some resources available for learning more about moving a project to a new platform?

A: Some resources available for learning more about moving a project to a new platform include:

Node-RED documentation: https://nodered.org/docs/
node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home documentation: https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-virtual-smart-home
Raspberry Pi 5 documentation: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/