HydroponicOne combines DIY hydroponic automation with industrial-grade security features rarely seen outside professional IoT setups. It integrates an ESP32 microcontroller running custom firmware with a full TypeScript backend and a React dashboard, all designed for self-hosted, real-time monitoring and control of hydroponic systems. The standout here is the RSA-2048 signed over-the-air (OTA) firmware update mechanism for the ESP32 — a solid security approach that makes firmware delivery trustworthy in a homegrown environment.
Full-stack hydroponic automation with secure IoT telemetry
At its core, HydroponicOne is a full-stack system spanning embedded firmware, backend services, and a frontend dashboard. The embedded layer runs on ESP32 hardware programmed in C++/Arduino, interfacing with sensors that measure pH, electrical conductivity (EC), water level, temperature, and humidity in the hydroponic setup.
This sensor data is transmitted securely over MQTT with TLS encryption, feeding telemetry into the backend. The backend is written in TypeScript using Fastify as the HTTP server framework, Prisma as an ORM for PostgreSQL, and Socket.io to enable real-time WebSocket communication with the frontend. Sensor telemetry is stored as time-series data in InfluxDB, optimized for such workloads, while configuration and system state reside in PostgreSQL.
On the frontend, a React 19 dashboard provides a local-first, real-time interface that communicates over WebSockets. This design avoids cloud dependencies, allowing the system to operate entirely offline if needed, which is crucial for privacy and reliability in home automation.
The system automates actuators such as dosing pumps, grow lights, circulation pumps, and ventilation fans via smart relays, closing the control loop between sensor data and environmental adjustments.
Secure OTA updates and real-time insights as core technical strengths
The most technically interesting aspect is the RSA-2048 signed OTA update mechanism implemented for the ESP32 firmware. Secure OTA updates are a tough problem in DIY IoT contexts, often left unprotected or relying on less robust methods. Using RSA signatures to verify firmware integrity before applying updates brings a production-grade security model into a hobbyist-friendly project.
This approach prevents unauthorized or corrupted firmware from being installed on the devices, which is critical in systems that control physical equipment and environmental conditions.
On the backend, the architecture cleanly separates telemetry ingestion, state management, and real-time dashboard communication. Using MQTT with TLS ensures encrypted transport of sensor data. The choice of InfluxDB for storing time-series sensor readings is appropriate given its performance for this workload, while PostgreSQL handles relational data like device configurations.
The React dashboard communicates via Socket.io WebSockets, enabling instantaneous updates without polling. The local-first design reduces dependency on external cloud services, which benefits privacy-conscious users and scenarios with limited or no internet connectivity.
Tradeoffs include the complexity of managing multiple data stores (InfluxDB and PostgreSQL) and maintaining secure MQTT infrastructure with TLS. The RSA-signed OTA updates add an additional layer of complexity but raise the security bar significantly compared to typical DIY projects.
Quick start with prerequisites and installation steps
Before getting started, ensure you have the following prerequisites installed:
- Node.js (v20+ recommended)
- PostgreSQL (v14+)
- InfluxDB (v2.0+)
- MQTT Broker (such as Mosquitto or HiveMQ)
- ESP32 Development Board
- PlatformIO IDE
Once prerequisites are in place, follow these steps:
# 1. Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/40rbidd3n/Hydro0x01.git
cd HydroponicOne
# 2. Setup backend
cd backend
npm install
cp .env.example .env
From here, you would configure your .env file with connection details for PostgreSQL, InfluxDB, and the MQTT broker. The README in the repo provides further details on environment variables and seeding the database.
The firmware development and flashing process involves the ESP32 firmware written in C++/Arduino, managed with PlatformIO. The RSA-signed OTA update process requires you to generate keys and sign firmware images accordingly, which the project documentation covers.
Who should consider HydroponicOne and final thoughts
HydroponicOne suits developers and hobbyists interested in building a secure, self-hosted hydroponic automation system that avoids cloud dependencies. Its industrial-grade RSA-signed OTA updates provide a level of security that’s uncommon in DIY projects, making it a good fit for anyone serious about protecting their device firmware.
The project’s architecture is comprehensive and well-structured, but it does introduce complexity with multiple databases and secure MQTT setup. Users should be comfortable with managing backend infrastructure and embedded development to fully leverage this system.
If you are looking for a turnkey hydroponics solution without the need to dig into code or infrastructure, this may not be the easiest start. However, as a learning platform or foundation for a secure, extensible automation system, HydroponicOne offers solid code quality, clear separation of concerns, and thoughtful integration of security best practices.
Overall, it’s a noteworthy example of bringing production-level IoT security into the DIY hydroponics space, worth exploring if these priorities align with your project goals.
→ GitHub Repo: 40rbidd3n/Hydro0x01 ⭐ 471 · TypeScript