Flowise: Free Low-Code Tool for Lightning-Fast LLM Workflows

Flowise is an innovative open-source project that revolutionizes the creation and management of Large Language Model (LLM) workflows through an intuitive drag-and-drop user interface (UI). This powerful tool empowers both developers and non-technical users to effortlessly build, deploy, and scale LLM-based applications without the need for in-depth knowledge of the underlying technical complexities.

Key Features

• Open-source and free: Flowise is available to everyone at no cost, promoting accessibility and community-driven development.
• Low-code approach: The drag-and-drop UI simplifies the process of creating complex LLM workflows.
• User-friendly: Designed for both technical and non-technical users, making AI application development more inclusive.
• Customizable: Allows for the creation of tailored LLM orchestration flows and AI agents.
• Scalable: Supports the deployment and scaling of LLM-based applications with ease.

Getting Started with Flowise

Installation

Before you begin, ensure that your system has Node.js version 18.15.0 or higher installed. To set up Flowise, follow these steps:

1. Install the Flowise command-line tool globally using npm:

npm install -g flowise

Launching Flowise

2. Start the Flowise service with the following command:

npx flowise start

3. For added security, you can specify a username and password when starting the service:

npx flowise start --FLOWISE_USERNAME=user --FLOWISE_PASSWORD=1234

4. Once launched, open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000 to access the Flowise UI.

Docker Deployment Options

For those preferring containerized deployments, Flowise offers Docker support with two main options:

Using Docker Compose

1. Navigate to the docker folder in the project’s root directory.
2. Create a copy of the .env.example file and rename it to .env.
3. Start the service using Docker Compose:

docker-compose up -d

4. Access Flowise at http://localhost:3000.
5. To stop the containers, use the command:

docker-compose stop

Using a Docker Image

Alternatively, you can build and run a Docker image directly:

1. Build the local Docker image:

docker build --no-cache -t flowise .

2. Run the image:

docker run -d --name flowise -p 3000:3000 flowise

3. To stop the container:

docker stop flowise

Developer’s Guide

For those interested in contributing to or customizing Flowise, the project is structured into three main modules:

• server: The Node.js backend that provides API logic.
• ui: The React-based frontend.
• components: Third-party node integrations.

Setting Up the Development Environment

1. Install PNPM:

npm i -g pnpm

2. Clone the Flowise repository:

git clone https://github.com/FlowiseAI/Flowise.git

3. Navigate to the repository directory:

cd Flowise

4. Install dependencies for all modules:

pnpm install

5. Build the codebase:

pnpm build

6. Start the application:

pnpm start

You can now access the application at http://localhost:3000.

Development Build

For a development environment with hot-reloading:

1. Create .env files in both packages/ui and packages/server, specifying VITE_PORT and PORT respectively (refer to .env.example in each directory).
2. Run the development server:

pnpm dev

This will automatically reload the application at http://localhost:8080 when code changes are made.

Additional Resources

For more detailed information and comprehensive guides, visit the official Flowise Documentation. This resource provides in-depth explanations of features, tutorials, and best practices for leveraging Flowise to its full potential.

Conclusion

Flowise represents a significant step forward in democratizing AI application development. By providing a user-friendly, low-code platform for creating LLM workflows and AI agents, it opens up new possibilities for innovation across various industries. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a curious enthusiast, Flowise offers the tools and flexibility to bring your AI-powered ideas to life.

Remember to always refer to the official GitHub repository for the most up-to-date information on features, updates, and community contributions. As an open-source project, Flowise continues to evolve with the collective expertise and creativity of its global user base.