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Currently, graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are used in a large number of embedded projects. GUIs allow users to interact with digital devices through graphical elements like icons and other indicators present on the screen. Good GUIs are important for embedded devices, as they improve ease of use and help users to understand a device’s operation more readily.

In the current market, there are many tools to create GUIs, such as Electron, a framework for creating native applications with web technologies like JavaScript, HTML and CSS. In this blog post, we will install Electron on a Toradex Colibri iMX6 module, run some basic sample programs to evaluate the software and lastly, develop a basic GUI using Node.js, JavaScript, HTML and CSS.

This article is meant for anyone who wishes to quickly start developing an embedded Linux web application with access to the hardware GPIO, so that the user can control and/or monitor a system remotely. The application developed here, is based on the Colibri VF61 CoM (Computer on Module) by Toradex + the Iris Carrier Board, and a PCB with LEDs and switches. The main goals are to walk the reader through the process of developing Node code for accessing the GPIO via filesystem, building a simple yet user-friendly UI, and using the Express framework for hosting a minimal webserver that communicates with the client-side application by AJAX calls.