Skip to main content

​
Your Lab Notebook for IoT

LoT Notebooks bring the power of interactive computing to IoT development. Instead of scattered scripts and disconnected documentation, you build complete systems as code in a single, shareable document.
Think of it like a scientist’s lab notebook. You don’t just write down results—you document your thinking, run experiments, and keep everything together. LoT Notebooks do the same for IoT: documentation and executable code, side by side.

​
Why Use LoT Notebooks?

Traditional IoT development involves jumping between documentation, code editors, terminal windows, and MQTT clients. LoT Notebooks unify this workflow:

Document & Execute

Write markdown explanations alongside executable LoT code. Your documentation stays in sync with your implementation.

Instant Deployment

Run any cell to upload Actions, Models, or Routes directly to your broker. See results immediately.

Python Integration

Embed Python scripts for complex calculations, data processing, or machine learning—all within the same notebook.

Shareable Solutions

Share complete IoT solutions as single .lotnb files. Recipients get documentation and working code together.

​
What’s Inside a LoT Notebook?

A .lotnb file contains cells—individual blocks that can be either documentation or executable code:
Cell TypePurposeExample
MarkdownDocumentation, explanations, diagramsHeaders, bullet points, images
LoTExecutable LoT code (Actions, Models, Routes, Rules)DEFINE ACTION Heartbeat...
PythonPython scripts for advanced processingData validation, calculations
When you run a code cell, the extension uploads it to your connected Coreflux broker. If successful, you see confirmation; if there’s an error, you get feedback directly below the cell.
LoT Notebook interface showing markdown and code cells

A LoT Notebook with markdown documentation and executable LoT code cells

Want to understand the underlying JSON structure? See the File Format Reference for details on cell types and manual notebook creation.

​
Getting Started

Ready to create your first notebook? The setup takes just a few minutes:
1

Install the Extension

Open VS Code, go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X), and search for “LoT Notebooks” by Coreflux. Click Install.
2

Create a Notebook

Create a new file with the .lotnb extension. VS Code automatically opens it in notebook mode.
3

Connect to Your Broker

Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P), run “LoT Notebook: Change Credentials”, and enter your broker details.
4

Start Building

Add markdown cells for documentation and LoT cells for executable code. Run cells with the play button.
Need help installing Coreflux or setting up your broker? See the Getting Started Guide for complete setup instructions.

​
Next Steps

Learn Usage

Understand cell execution, broker communication, and the development workflow.

Explore Tutorials

Jump into hands-on notebooks covering Actions, Models, Routes, and Python integration.