Microflow

Create interactive prototypes that connect your designs to real hardware.

Microflow helps designers and creators build interactive prototypes by connecting digital designs (like those in Figma) to physical microcontrollers (like Arduino boards). No coding required—just drag, drop, and connect.

What is Microflow?

Microflow is a visual tool that lets you create interactive experiences without writing code. Think of it like connecting building blocks: you drag components onto a canvas, connect them together, and your prototype comes to life.

Who is it for?

• Designers who want to test interactions with real hardware
• Prototypers building interactive installations
• Creators exploring the intersection of digital and physical design
• Anyone who wants to make their designs interactive without learning to code

What's included?

Microflow consists of two main tools that work together:

1. Microflow Studio

A desktop application where you create your interactive prototypes using a visual, flow-based interface. Simply drag and drop components, connect them together, and see your prototype come to life.

Get started: Download the latest version from the releases page

2. Microflow Hardware Bridge (Figma Plugin)

A Figma plugin that connects your Figma designs to Microflow Studio. This lets you control your physical hardware directly from your Figma prototypes.

Get started: Install the Figma plugin from the Figma Community

Getting Started

1. Download Microflow Studio from the releases page
2. Install the Figma plugin from the Figma Community
3. Connect your microcontroller (like an Arduino) to your computer
4. Start creating! Check out the documentation for tutorials and guides

Learn More

For detailed guides, tutorials, and examples, visit the full documentation.

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For Developers

The sections below are for developers who want to contribute to or modify Microflow.

Running the project locally

This project uses a monorepo structure (all code in one repository) and Yarn workspaces to manage dependencies.

Microflow Studio

1. Run yarn install to install all dependencies
2. Run yarn dev to start the development server

Note about Firmata: Microflow Studio automatically installs Firmata (communication software) on your microcontroller when you connect it. For supported boards, it uses version 2.5.X for TouchDesigner compatibility. All other boards use version 2.4.X.

Microflow Hardware Bridge (Figma Plugin)

1. Run yarn install to install all dependencies
2. Run yarn dev:plugin to start the development server

Contributing

Want to help improve Microflow? Check out the wiki to get started contributing.

Building for macOS

To build the application for macOS, you'll need to follow the code signing steps. We use the import-codesign-certs action for certificate management.