Build Node-RED

Create a disabled Node-RED flow for one manual probe or a five-second read-only live view.

GROUP 04Create field-tool filesGitHub source ↗

WHAT YOU GET

A clear result you can inspect

It creates `node-red/flow.json` and a short `README.md`. Probe mode runs the approved plan once from one manual button. Final mode can run the same plan every five seconds after you review and enable the disabled flow. Both modes write `capture.json` and expose the latest values at `/modbus-dashboard`.

HOW IT RUNS

01 · GUIDESKILL.mdprocess + safety

02 · EXECUTEscripts/run.pybundled local Python

Generates and checks the complete flow JSON. The flow sends one request at a time and waits for a response or timeout before it continues. Probe mode is a manual one-time run. Final mode adds one five-second poll trigger, but the flow remains disabled until you enable it. The read-only dashboard uses Node-RED core HTTP nodes and cannot start a read, write, or scan.

FILES AND REQUIREMENTS

Know what the skill creates and what you must install

The plugin includes the skill instructions and generator source. It does not install Python, field tools, or their packages.

OUTPUTFiles this skill creates

Import into Node-REDnode-red/flow.json

The disabled, read-only flow. Probe mode has one manual trigger. Final mode has one five-second live-poll trigger.

Read before usenode-red/README.md

Connection settings, mode behavior, the capture path, and safe enable steps.

Keep with the flownode-red/manifest.json · node-red-result.json

The map and read-plan hashes, generated status, and holds.

Created after a runcapture.json

The raw responses and exact point details used by Analyze Capture.

Open in a browser/modbus-dashboard

A read-only HTML view of the latest capture rows and run state. It is an endpoint in flow.json, not a separate file.

DEPENDENCIESInstalled separately

Plugin filesincluded

SKILL.md, the Python wrapper, and the generator source.

Python 3.11+install separately

Required to run the bundled generator. Plugin installation does not install Python.

Node-REDinstall separately

Required to import and run flow.json.

node-red-contrib-modbusinstall separately

Required by the generated Modbus nodes. The native test used Node-RED 5.0.4 and module 5.60.1.

Dashboard nodesincluded

The browser view uses Node-RED core HTTP nodes. It does not require the optional Node-RED Dashboard package.

Direct repository use: Run python3 -m pip install -e . from the cloned repository. Plugin installation does not run this command.

WHERE IT FITS

Use it for one specialist stage

This skill supports one focused stage. Start it directly only when that stage is the result you need.

EXAMPLE REQUEST

Ask for the result in your own words.

Use this example as a starting point. Replace the file names and details with your own.

CODEX$build-node-red

CLAUDE CODE/modbus-skills:build-node-red

CURSOR + OTHER CLIENTSUse the client’s native skill invocation.

$build-node-red

Build a final Node-RED flow from `reviewed-map.json` and `read-plan.json`. Keep it disabled by default, poll the approved plan every five seconds after I enable it, save `capture.json`, and include the read-only `/modbus-dashboard` view.

GitHub source ↗