JavaScript and the Internet of Things

So you've mastered JavaScript in the browser or on the server side, and you have an itch to get into hardware? In recent years, a plethora of low-cost devices that can run JavaScript code have come to market. But which ones are best for what situations? Andrew Chalkley gives you a tour of the current landscape to get you started on your JavaScript hardware adventure.

Many people start their software development careers in the frontend. Then they want to do more, often migrating to backend work. But where do you go from there when you get that itch to do something else? It’s often said that JavaScript is everywhere, and that has never been more true than it is today. Several crowdfunding efforts have spawned a new market in small, affordable electronic devices that can run JavaScript natively. JavaScript can be used to read from inputs from a wide variety of sensors and can run LEDs, displays, speakers, and all sorts of other output devices. Not only that, these devices can be used to talk to web services, which pairs nicely with your existing frontend or backend skills. For the hardware-curious developer, all the choices out there make it difficult to navigate the landscape and choose an appropriate solution for your project. Andrew Chalkley addresses the pros and cons of a number of current hardware solutions for common situations to provide you a clear path to start your JavaScript hardware adventure.