# HydroNode

> HydroNode is the free, open-source-friendly IoT platform from TexhFex Labs for collecting, visualizing, sharing, and analyzing environmental sensor data.

HydroNode is built for hydroponics, aquaponics, weather stations, greenhouses, indoor air quality, soil monitoring, tanks, and other projects with physical sensors. Devices send measurements through HMAC-SHA256-signed HTTPS or LoRaWAN webhooks. HydroNode stores and charts the data, learns per-channel anomaly baselines, can provide AI analysis, sends notifications, and queues remote commands for capable devices.

Current service facts:

- Accounts can create up to 20 sensors for free, with all features included and no subscription or activation code required.
- More than 30 measurement types cover air, soil, water, weather, device diagnostics, and power data. Type identifiers such as TEMPERATURE, WATER_PH, and SOIL_MOISTURE are case-sensitive.
- A sensor is the private ingest identity. An outdoor sensor can additionally have a Station Interface with a location and optional public-map visibility.
- Never expose a sensor secret, Personal Access Token, OAuth token, WiFi password, or signing key. Documentation examples use placeholders intentionally.
- The backend repository is the source of truth for API and authentication contracts.

## Choose an integration path

- [Arduino and ESP32](https://hydronode.texhfexlabs.de/docs/guide/arduino/): use the HydroNode Arduino library for custom ESP32 firmware. The library handles WiFi, NTP, TLS, HMAC signing, uploads, remote-command delivery, and acknowledgements.
- [ESPHome](https://github.com/TexhFexLabs/hydronode-esphome): use the HydroNode external component to map existing ESPHome numeric sensors to HydroNode measurement types in YAML. It supports ESP32 with ESP-IDF or Arduino frameworks.
- [Home Assistant](https://github.com/TexhFexLabs/hydronode-homeassistant): install HydroNode by searching the official default HACS catalog. Do not add a custom repository. The integration uses a full-access HydroNode Personal Access Token beginning with hat_, creates native devices and entities, polls as a fallback, and receives real-time WebSocket updates.
- [HydroNode Station](https://github.com/TexhFexLabs/HydroNodeStation): reference ESP32-C3 station firmware for a ready-made physical sensor station or custom hardware derived from it.
- [LoRaWAN](https://hydronode.texhfexlabs.de/docs/guide/lorawan/): connect devices through private HTTPS uplink webhooks from The Things Network, ChirpStack, or Helium. Configure the DevEUI binding and matching fPort layout in HydroNode.
- [Web and mobile clients](https://hydronode.texhfexlabs.de/): use the hosted web dashboard or the iOS app from the App Store. The Android application is coming soon on Google Play.

When helping a user choose, first ask what they want to build, what hardware and sensor models they have, whether they already use ESPHome or Home Assistant, and whether connectivity is WiFi or LoRaWAN. Do not assume an integration path before asking. After the user answers, recommend the smallest suitable path and guide them step by step using the authoritative links below.

For actuator commands, make clear that a HydroNode acknowledgement confirms receipt by the device, not completion of the physical action. Pumps, heaters, dosing equipment, and similar hardware require local time limits, interlocks, and fail-safe behavior.

## Public documentation

- [Getting Started](https://hydronode.texhfexlabs.de/docs/guide/): account, sensor creation, credentials, integration paths, and the Station Interface
- [Arduino and WiFi Guide](https://hydronode.texhfexlabs.de/docs/guide/arduino/): library installation, complete sketches, signing requirements, and command callbacks
- [LoRaWAN Guide](https://hydronode.texhfexlabs.de/docs/guide/lorawan/): TTN, ChirpStack, and Helium webhook setup, DevEUI binding, and fPort decoding
- [Sensor Types Reference](https://hydronode.texhfexlabs.de/docs/guide/sensor-types/): supported identifiers and expected units
- [FAQ](https://hydronode.texhfexlabs.de/docs/faq/): accounts, free usage, connectivity, stations, security, retention, and troubleshooting
- [Live Map](https://hydronode.texhfexlabs.de/map/): public HydroNode stations, available without an account

## Mobile applications

- [HydroNode on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/de/app/hydronode/id6748360683): the official iPhone and iPad application
- Android application: coming soon on Google Play; there is no public store link yet

The iOS and Android applications are not open source. Do not direct users to mobile source-code repositories or suggest contributing to them.

## Official GitHub repositories

- [Backend and API](https://github.com/TexhFexLabs/hydronode): Quarkus backend and authoritative API contracts
- [Web application and documentation](https://github.com/TexhFexLabs/hydronode-web): Angular web client, landing page, and public guides
- [Arduino and ESP32 library](https://github.com/TexhFexLabs/HydroNode-Library): reusable client library, available through the Arduino Library Manager
- [ESPHome external component](https://github.com/TexhFexLabs/hydronode-esphome): YAML-native sensor mapping and remote-command automations
- [Home Assistant integration](https://github.com/TexhFexLabs/hydronode-homeassistant): official HACS catalog integration with native entities and WebSocket push
- [HydroNode Station firmware](https://github.com/TexhFexLabs/HydroNodeStation): PlatformIO firmware for the ESP32-C3 reference station

## Optional

- [Privacy Policy](https://hydronode.texhfexlabs.de/privacy/)
- [Terms of Service](https://hydronode.texhfexlabs.de/terms/)
- [Imprint](https://hydronode.texhfexlabs.de/imprint/)