Expressions - Operations Engine

Welcome to the EasyEdge Operations Engine, a system meticulously engineered for the demanding world of real-time data processing and automation at the edge. In the realm of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), data is not just information; it is the lifeblood of efficiency, safety, and intelligence. The ability to act upon this data instantaneously, right where it is generated, is what separates a reactive system from a truly intelligent one.

This engine was born from a simple yet profound philosophy: to provide automation engineers and developers with a tool that is not only powerful but also elegant and intuitive. It is designed to transform raw, often chaotic, data streams into meaningful actions, perform complex calculations on the fly, and automate intricate workflows with unparalleled precision and speed. We place the full power of data transformation directly into your hands, eliminating the need for cumbersome external scripts or complex, multi-layered software solutions.

The Heart of Automation: The Computation String

The core of this entire system is the Computation String. This is a versatile, free-text field where you will define the logic for every Operation. It is far more than a simple input box; it is a command line for your data, a canvas for your logic.

Whether you need to perform a simple data transfer from one sensor to an actuator, calculate a new analytical value from multiple disparate readings, parse a complex JSON message from a cloud service, or decode a cryptic hexadecimal register from a PLC, the Computation String is where your logic takes shape. It is a unified environment where standard mathematics, advanced string manipulation, and complex conditional logic coexist and interact seamlessly.

The Principle of Immutability

A fundamental rule of the Operations Engine is that dynamic functions are pure and do not have side effects. This means they never modify their input operands.

For example, $trim(a) does not change the value of operand a. Instead, it reads the value of a, performs the trim operation, and returns a new, modified string as its result. This result is then used in the broader expression. This principle guarantees that your operations are predictable and that data flows in one direction, preventing unexpected changes to your system's state.

Who is This Expressions Manual For?

This manual is crafted for the architects of modern industrial systems:

• Automation Engineers who need to implement complex control logic and data-driven workflows without leaving the configuration environment.

• IIoT Developers who require a robust, high-performance engine for edge-side data processing and event handling.

• System Integrators looking for a flexible tool to bridge the gap between different devices and protocols through powerful data transformation.

• Data Analysts who wish to perform real-time calculations and data cleansing at the source, ensuring high-quality data streams for higher-level analytics.

How to Use This Manual

This manual is designed to be both a comprehensive tutorial and a detailed reference guide. It is structured to guide you from fundamental concepts to the most advanced capabilities of the engine.

The manual is structured as follows:

• Mathematical Expressions: Covers the foundation of all numeric calculations, including operators and the rich library of built-in mathematical and bitwise functions.

• Dynamic Functions ($functions): A detailed exploration of the special, built-in functions designed for advanced data manipulation, string processing, and conditional logic.

• The Power of Symbiosis: Explains how mathematical expressions and dynamic functions are designed to work together, allowing you to combine them into powerful, single-line commands.

• Nested Functions and Expressions: Unlocks the engine's most advanced feature—the ability to recursively nest functions and expressions to solve highly complex problems with elegant simplicity.

• Practical Use Cases: A collection of detailed, real-world industrial scenarios that demonstrate how to apply these concepts to solve practical challenges, from generating formatted alarm messages to decoding complex device registers.

Master the concepts within this manual, and you will master the art of edge data automation.