Ask HN: IOT devices – what language to choose? • Hacker News Board

Ask HN: IOT devices – what language to choose?

#1

Post by dartwing » Sun, Feb 12, 2017, 2:20 PM UTC

Guys, what language do you use for IOT devices? Is it C/C++ only?

When we look at something small like connected sensor - will it have enough power to support runtime for Java/JavaScript/C#?

Re: Ask HN: IOT devices – what language to choose?

#2

Post by logronoide » Sun, Feb 12, 2017, 2:27 PM UTC

I have worked and invested in M2M and IIOT companies, and I think the most effective languages are:

- C

- Python

- Lua

Since new devices are more powerful and full OS can now be used, JavaScript is growing. Also, in the past J2ME was available, but it was a pain in the a.

Re: Ask HN: IOT devices – what language to choose?

#3

Post by dartwing » Sun, Feb 12, 2017, 2:32 PM UTC

logronoide wrote: post #2

I have worked and invested in M2M and IIOT companies, and I think the most effective languages are: - C - Python - Lua Since new devices are more powerful and full OS can now be used, JavaScript is growing. Also, in the past J2ME was available, but it was a pain in the a .

Thank you! For small sensor, what new device would allow full OS and JavaScript development? What would be consequences of that choice? Shorter battery life?

Re: Ask HN: IOT devices – what language to choose?

#4

Post by fulafel » Sun, Feb 12, 2017, 2:38 PM UTC

Here's a JS that can run on small (64k ram) devices: http://duktape.org/

They also link to other small-footprint JS implementations.

Re: Ask HN: IOT devices – what language to choose?

#5

Post by dartwing » Sun, Feb 12, 2017, 2:45 PM UTC

fulafel wrote: post #4

Here's a JS that can run on small (64k ram) devices: http://duktape.org/ They also link to other small-footprint JS implementations.

Interesting! Looking... Does it have file system API? It it similar to NodeJS?

Re: Ask HN: IOT devices – what language to choose?

#6

Post by fulafel » Sun, Feb 12, 2017, 3:31 PM UTC

dartwing wrote: post #5

fulafel wrote: post #4

Here's a JS that can run on small (64k ram) devices: http://duktape.org/ They also link to other small-footprint JS implementations.

Interesting! Looking... Does it have file system API? It it similar to NodeJS?

No filesystem API, it's quite different from NodeJS.

(NodeJS sits on top of a full featured unix operating system, so it can do all kinds of fancy things)

Re: Ask HN: IOT devices – what language to choose?

#7

Post by dartwing » Sun, Feb 12, 2017, 3:34 PM UTC

fulafel wrote: post #6

dartwing wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting! Looking... Does it have file system API? It it similar to NodeJS?

No filesystem API, it's quite different from NodeJS. (NodeJS sits on top of a full featured unix operating system, so it can do all kinds of fancy things)

Got it, thank you, sir.