MakeShift Serial Communication Library

This library manages connections and communications between a nodejs runtime and a MakeShift device. It provides access to MakeShift device inputs in the form of node Events

Installation

npm install @eos-makeshift/serial

If you'd like to install it globally as a cli tool, you can pass the -g or --global flag to the install command.

Usage

This library comes with a cli executable as well as a library that can be called in nodejs environments. Currently it relies on serialport to function, so it is not easily usable in a website without some serious fiddling.

From the CLI

Calling commandline monitoring tool (assuming it is not installed globally):

npx makeshift-monitor --help

If it is installed globally, it should be available to call directly:

makeshift-monitor --help

Use as javascript library

The TL;DR verison:

// kitchen sink of do stuff
import { 

  // core functionality
  PortAuthority,
  Ports,
  startAutoScan,

  // available events
  PortAuthorityEvents, 
  DeviceEvents,
  
  // logging utilities
  setLogLevel,
  setPortAuthorityLogLevel
  
} from '@eos-makeshift/serial'

setLogLevel('all')
setPortAuthorityLogLevel('all')

let makeShiftPortId;

function runsWhenPressed() {
  // chicken chicken chicken
  console.log('chicken chicken chicken')
}

function handlePortOpen (fp) {
  const makeShiftFp = Ports[fp.portId].fingerPrint
  makeShiftPortId = makeShiftFp.portId

  Ports[makeShiftPortId].on(DeviceEvents.BUTTON[4].PRESSED, runsWhenPressed)
}

// Listen for connection event and attach the handler
PortAuthority.on(PortAuthorityEvents.port.opened, handlePortOpen)

// After event handling is set up, start autoscan to find a MakeShift device
startAutoScan()

Import and set up event handlers:

import { 
  PortAuthority,
  PortAuthorityEvents, 
  Ports,
} from '@eos-makeshift/serial'

PortAuthority.on(PortAuthorityEvents.port.opened,
  // Ports[portId] is accessible at the time this callback function runs
  (fp) => {
    const newPortFingerPrint = Ports[fp.portId].fingerPrint
    console.dir(fp)
  }
)

Scan for ports:

import { startAutoScan } from '@eos-makeshift/serial'

startAutoScan()

By default, the library logs events into the terminal, you can turn this off or set different levels with setLogLevel() and setPortAuthorityLevel()

import {
  setLogLevel,
  setPortAuthorityLogLevel
} from '@eos-makeshift/serial'

setLogLevel('none')
setPortAuthorityLogLevel('none')

Adding callbacks for dial turn events:

import { 
  Ports, 
  DeviceEvents 
} from '@eos-makeshift/serial'
// Three different events for dials

// state: number
// NOTE: the id is obtained from watching PortAuthorityEvents 
// or calling getPortFingerPrintSnapShot()
Ports[id].on(Events.DIALS[0].DECREMENT, (state) => {
  console.log(state)
})

Ports[id].on(Events.DIALS[0].INCREMENT, (state) => {
  console.log(state)
})

Ports[id].on(Events.DIALS[0].CHANGED, (state) => {
  console.log(state)
})

Callback examples for button press events:

import { Ports, Events, startScan } from '@eos-makeshift/serial'
// state: boolean
// Two different events for buttons (what's a half A-press!?)
Ports[id].on(Events.BUTTONS[0].PRESSED, (state) => {
  console.log(state)
})
Ports[id].on(Events.BUTTONS[0].RELEASED, (state) => {
  console.log(state)
})

How it Works, kinda

@eos-makeshift/serial scans serial ports and sends events out as it detects and tries to connect to MakeShift devices that are plugged in via USB.

Functions

The library has a number of functions (startAutoScan(), scanOnce(), etc.) for somewhat fine-grained control over its behaviour. Once loaded, it will not do anything until a scan function is called. As the library is mostly event-driven, manually starting device scanning allows the opportunity to set up event handlers for PortAuthority.

PortAuthority

This is an EventEmitter, it sends out events as ports are opened and closed. Check PortAuthorityEvents for the full list.

...It's technically possible to map stuff to PortAuthorityEvents.port.opened and play a game by plugging and unplugging a MakeShift, but it is probably not recommended.

Port

A port is opened for every MakeShift device as long as the library is set to autoscan. Once a port is opened, it can be accessed directly through the Ports import with its portId.

Port IDs are currently randomly generated on creation, but the goal is to move to Teensy serial numbers depending on the results cross-platform testing*.

Ports are EventEmitters and they will emit DeviceEvents when buttons are pressed on the device they are attached to. By calling the Ports[<id>].on() function, pretty much any code can be set to run for any MakeShift event.

* Every teensy comes with a unique serial number, however different platforms have slightly different outputs for serialport.list() and the consistency of getting the same serial hasn't been tested yet.