Blynk's latest update introduces full-featured MQTT support, opening up a new realm of possibilities for IoT developers. Discover how this addition is set to transform the way you connect, control, and craft your IoT solutions.
Why does Blynk Add MQTT Support?
Standardization
MQTT is a standardized protocol in IoT, recognized for its wide adoption and support across various platforms and devices. This includes compatibility with other systems that might not support the Blynk protocol natively.
Simplify Migrations
MQTT support simplifies the migration process from other platforms using MQTT, making it easier for users to switch to Blynk without substantial changes to existing setups.
Variety
Blynk aims to eliminate the risks of lock-in by offering a range of connectivity options including the open Blynk protocol, HTTP, LoRaWAN, and now MQTT. This diversity ensures flexibility for users in their IoT projects.
When to Opt for MQTT in Your Blynk Project?
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Using Off-the-Shelf Hardware
The MQTT protocol is commonly supported in industrial and smart home appliances like Smart Thermostats, Lighting Systems, Security Cameras, Door Locks, Sensors, Hubs, Gateways, and many others. Now and on, many of these devices are flexible enough to be re-configured and work seamlessly with the Blynk IoT Platform.
Already Using MQTT
If your product development has already started with MQTT, continuing with it can streamline the process, especially in the early stages. MQTT has a wealth of libraries and tools optimized for various environments and languages. Projects that require these specialized libraries will benefit from the MQTT + Blynk IoT stack.
Using SDKs with a pre-integrated MQTT Client
If your project involves SDKs that include an MQTT client, you can effortlessly connect your devices to Blynk. Popular SDKs often come with built-in MQTT support. Porting the Blynk protocol library is no longer mandatory for “always-connected” devices.
Taking advantage of Integration Services
For those planning to use integration services like Node-RED, MQTT compatibility ensures straightforward integration, facilitating complex IoT workflows.
Getting Started with MQTT on Blynk: Key Resources
Examples
Blynk provides code samples tailored for different environments, allowing users to download and adjust them according to their project needs. All examples come with a ready-to-use, open-source blueprint that includes pre-configured dashboards for web and mobile.
- Python 3 - very easy to use on Single Board Computers (SBCs) like Raspberry Pi and some Industrial IoT gateways
- MicroPython - a fun and easy way of creating the device firmware
- Arduino / PlatformIO - a pre-configured project that supports more than 15 connectivity-enabled boards like Espressif ESP32, Raspberry Pi Pico W, Nano 33 IoT, Nano RP2040 Connect, UNO R4 WiFi, Seeed Wio Terminal, etc.
- Plain C using the Mosquitto library - for advanced use cases that require high performance, small size or system-level integration
- Lua - ready to use on OpenWrt-based routers and SBCs like Onion Omega2
- HTML5 via WebSocket - a JavaScript example that can be used right from the browser
- ESP-IDF Cellular - for Espressif ESP32 devices with a cellular modem
MQTT API Reference
You can also directly utilize the Device API for device-to-cloud communication, enabling seamless, reliable and secure data transfer, including support for managed OTA firmware updates.
What’s Next?
More examples
Our team is expanding the scope and utility of our IoT platform by developing an even broader range of examples and tutorials. Here's what you can expect in the upcoming updates:
- Node-RED - a flow-based development tool for visual programming designed to connect hardware devices, and APIs, that allows building complex IoT applications without writing code. Blynk's Node-RED example is ready for use. It will cover the IoT Gateway scenario later
- Zephyr OS - a secure, real-time operating system for IoT devices. The example will come with WiFi, Ethernet, and Cellular connectivity
- NuttX - a lightweight, modular, and portable, POSIX-compliant real-time operating system for constrained embedded systems. We’re working with NuttX core developers to provide a state-of-the-art usage example
- An advanced example for Arduino, including OTA firmware updates for a selection of device types
- C++/Qt for IoT - which allows for the development of high-performance, cross-platform IoT applications, facilitating rich user interfaces and robust application logic
Management API
In the future updates, we plan to enhance the IoT management experience by integrating access to our management API via MQTT. This will offer secure, real-time control over your IoT devices, users, organizations, and the device provisioning processes, among others. By leveraging MQTT for the management API, developers will gain the ability to perform instant updates, monitor device status in real-time, and adjust user access and organizational settings with minimal latency.
Now What?
Go ahead to explore the API docs and experiment with our code samples! And don’t forget to share your thoughts and insights, or bring your questions on our developer forum.
