plugin-iot-rules

Architect serverless framework plugin that defines IoT Topic Rules and associated Lambdas triggered by the Rules

This plugin enables your arc.codes app to define IoT Topic Rules that allow your IoT Devices to trigger arc Lambda functions.

Each IoT Rule defines an event rule that triggers a custom Lambda function. The Rule employs a SQL-like syntax to specify which messages published from your IoT devices trigger which Lambda functions.

Installation

1. Install this plugin: npm i @copper/plugin-iot-rules

2. Then add the following line to the @plugins pragma in your Architect project manifest (usually app.arc):

    @plugins
    copper/plugin-iot-rules
   

3. Add a new @rules pragma, and add any number of IoT rules by giving each a name as the first word (the following characters are allowed in names: [a-zA-Z0-9_-]). This name is will form part of the name of the custom Lambda function that will be triggered by this rule. Follow the name with a SQL query which will trigger the Lambda (see the IoT SQL Reference). For example:

    @rules
    connect-device SELECT * FROM '$aws/events/presence/connected/+'
    disconnect-device SELECT * FROM '$aws/events/presence/disconnected/+'
    report-device-state SELECT clientid() as clientId, principal() as principalIdentifier, state.reported as state from '$aws/things/+/shadow/update'
   

4. Run arc create to generate your IoT Rule Lambda functions (under src/rules) based on the rules you added to your app.arc file under the @rules pragma.

5. Edit each rule Lambda's index.js file, just as you would any classic arc @http, @events, etc. function.

Sample Application

There is a sample application located under sample-app/. cd into that directory, npm install and you can run locally via arc sandbox or deploy to the internet via arc deploy.

Testing Locally

This plugin extends arc sandbox to provide a local development experience:

1. Kick up the local development environment by running the sandbox: arc sandbox (note the additional message logged out by Sandbox informing you of an additional local IoT service starting up).
2. Load up http://localhost:3333 - the JSON array at the bottom of the page lists out all IoT events received on the IoT Rule Topic. It should initially be empty.
3. With sandbox running, press the "i" key to trigger an IoT Rule. You will be prompted to choose an IoT Rule (the sample app contains only a single rule), then to enter a JSON object as a payload to deliver to the rule.
4. Reload http://localhost:3333 - your JSON payload should be listed at the bottom of the page.

Testing the Deployed Version

The sample application is ready deploy to staging via arc deploy. Then:

1. Load the URL of your deployed app; note the JSON array at the bottom of the page and the objects it contains (if this is the first time you have deployed, it will be empty).
2. Head to the IoT Core Console's MQTT Test Page (sometimes, soon after deployment, this test console will not be ready as a red banner will inform you; if you find that, give it a few minutes and refresh the page). From the IoT Core page on AWS, click the "Test" menu link on the left.
3. Click "Publish to a topic."
4. In the topic input field, enter 'hithere' (it should match the FROM clause of the @rules section of app.arc). Optionally, customize the message payload.
5. Load the deployed URL of the app, and a list of all messages sent to the hithere topic should be displayed.

Contributing

Thanks for considering contributing to this project! Check out the contribution guidelines for details.