# Workbench

Connectware ships with a running Node-RED ([https://nodered.org](https://nodered.org/)) application.

To start working with the prototyping Node-RED Workbench, on the navigation panel click `Services` and on the sidebar, click `Node Red Workbench`. This will open the running Node-RED editor for the Workbench in another browser tab.

<figure><img src="/files/pyHw7LwKKYKyMXYNFgGu" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
However, this Node-RED workbench is not intended to be used in production-ready services but rather for quick and easy prototyping tests. In deployments where Node-RED should be used in production, the recommended setup is to create a service commissioning file which installs a Node-RED container as [Cybus::Container resource](/1-8-0/documentation/services/service-commissioning-files/structure-of-service-commissioning-files/resources/cybus-container.md) on its own. This way, the authors of the service have the full control over the versioning and life cycle of the Node-RED instance.
{% endhint %}

Further instructions on how to work with Node-RED can be found here: <https://nodered.org/docs>

For connecting the Node-RED flow to the Connectware API, Connectware can be reached by using the server name `connectware` both for MQTT (1883) and HTTPS (443) connections.

<figure><img src="/files/X0r3rFpYw0RdH8h0uzCn" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Additionally, when subscribing or publishing to the Connectware server, a suitable `username` and `password` has to be set manually in the Node-RED workbench. You need to ensure that the given user has sufficient permissions (or suitable roles) in order to access the topics in question. See also [User Management](/1-8-0/documentation/user-management.md).

<figure><img src="/files/bPIUBnx4azMR6A5dLzWg" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.cybus.io/1-8-0/documentation/workbench.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.