Introduction to ViaText Node
Table of Contents
Introduction to ViaText Node#
NOTE: This project is still very young in development.
ViaText Node is the hardware side of the ViaText system — an ESP32-based LoRa communication device that pairs directly with the ViaText Core (Linux) software.
Together, they form a complete off-grid, text-based communication system:
- ViaText Core runs on your Linux computer. It handles CLI commands, message routing, and serial communication.
- ViaText Node runs on your TTGO LoRa32 V2.1 board (ESP32). It listens for packets from the Core, executes them, and handles the radio transmission layer.
Build like it’s 1986. Communicate like it’s 2086.
Simplicity · Portability · Autonomy
What the Node Does#
Ultimately it is a communicator with other nodes (that is, other people running ViaText on their communicators in the local area). Computers could be desktops or small linux systems such as Raspberry Pi or otherwise.
ViaText Node acts as a translator between human-readable TLV commands and LoRa radio packets. It stores its configuration in NVS memory, responds to diagnostic requests, and optionally displays its status on a tiny OLED screen.
Each node can operate alone, in mesh with others, or as part of a small relay network.
All communication happens over serial (USB) or radio — no phone, no Wi-Fi, no cloud.
Core Relationship#
| Component | Role | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| ViaText Core | Command dispatcher and serial manager | Linux |
| ViaText Node | Firmware handling LoRa messaging and parameters | ESP32 TTGO LoRa32 V2.1 |
| Link | SLIP-framed TLVs over USB serial | /dev/ttyUSB* |
When you issue commands like --ping or --get id from the Core, they are encoded, sent over serial, and interpreted by the Node firmware — which then replies with clean, script-friendly responses.
Features#
- Simplicity – Human-readable messaging protocol, no Protobuf or JSON.
- Portability – Built for TTGO LoRa32 V2.1 (ESP32) with OLED and battery.
- Autonomy – Operates fully off-grid; can store messages and run headless.
- Linux-Friendly – Fully controllable through
/dev/ttyUSB*using the ViaText Core CLI.
See the project on GitHub.
License#
MIT License. Written for clarity, portability, and long-term resilience.