DIY Module Displays Nothing

[hokie-bird]

@sdetweil cant thank you enough for taking the time to do that, WOW!

Here’s what I’ve learned. I subbed your LyrionNowPlaying.js in for mine, and results were exactly the same: “No song currently playing” at startup for a second or two, vanishes and never returns despite music starting/stopping. Then I subbed your node_helper.js for mine (with your module.js file and .png) and BOOM! your data and image appeared! Granted, it would appear for 4 seconds or so, disappear for 1-2, then re-appear but progress! So, safe to assume its somehow something in my node_helper? Here’s the latest, and again wildly grateful for your help.

node_helper.js

const NodeHelper = require('node_helper');
const request = require('request');

module.exports = NodeHelper.create({

    start: function() {
        console.log("Starting node_helper for: " + this.name);
        this.nowPlaying = { 
            artist: "", 
            song: "",
            timeRemaining: "",
            duration: 0, 
            position: 0,
            coverArt: "" 
        }; 
        this.sendSocketNotification('LYRION_NOW_PLAYING_RESULT', this.nowPlaying); // Send initial empty state
    },

    socketNotificationReceived: function(notification, payload) {
        if (notification === 'GET_LYRION_NOW_PLAYING') {
            this.getLyrionNowPlaying(payload);
        }
    },

    getLyrionNowPlaying: function(payload) {
        const { lyrionServer, playerName } = payload;
        const options = {
            url: `${lyrionServer}/jsonrpc.js`,
            method: 'POST',
            headers: {
                'Content-Type': 'application/json'
            },
            body: JSON.stringify({
                "id": 1,
                "method": "slim.request",
                "params": [playerName, ["status", "-", 1, "tags:artist"]] 
            })
        };

        request(options, (error, response, body) => {
            if (error) {
                console.error(`MMM-LyrionNowPlaying: Error connecting to Lyrion server: ${error}`);
                this.sendSocketNotification('LYRION_NOW_PLAYING_RESULT', { error: `Error connecting to Lyrion server: ${error}` });
                return;
            }

            if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
                console.error(`MMM-LyrionNowPlaying: Received unexpected status code from Lyrion server: ${response.statusCode}`);
                this.sendSocketNotification('LYRION_NOW_PLAYING_RESULT', { error: `Received unexpected status code from Lyrion server: ${response.statusCode}` });
                return;
            }

            try {
                const data = JSON.parse(body);
                console.log("Raw Data:", data); 

                if (!data.result) {
                    console.error(`MMM-LyrionNowPlaying: Invalid response from Lyrion server: Missing 'result' in response`);
                    this.sendSocketNotification('LYRION_NOW_PLAYING_RESULT', { error: `Invalid response from Lyrion server: Missing 'result' in response` });
                    return;
                }

                if (!data.result.mode || data.result.mode !== 'play') { 
                    this.nowPlaying = { 
                        artist: "", 
                        song: "",
                        timeRemaining: "",
                        duration: 0, 
                        position: 0,
                        coverArt: "" 
                    }; 
                    this.sendSocketNotification('LYRION_NOW_PLAYING_RESULT', this.nowPlaying); // Send "no song" notification immediately
                    return; 
                }

                // Handle cases where playlist_loop might be missing or empty
                let artist = "Unknown Artist";
                let song = "Unknown Song";

                if (data.result.playlist_loop && data.result.playlist_loop[0]) {
                    artist = data.result.playlist_loop[0].artist || "Unknown Artist";
                    song = data.result.playlist_loop[0].title || "Unknown Song"; 
                }

                this.nowPlaying = {
                    artist: artist,
                    song: song,
                    duration: data.result.duration || 0, 
                    position: data.result.time || 0,
                    coverArt: `${lyrionServer}/music/current/cover.jpg?player=${playerName}` 
                }; 

                this.nowPlaying.timeRemaining = this.formatTime(this.nowPlaying.duration - this.nowPlaying.position);

                this.sendSocketNotification('LYRION_NOW_PLAYING_RESULT', this.nowPlaying); 

            } catch (err) {
                console.error(`MMM-LyrionNowPlaying: Error parsing Lyrion API response: ${err}`);
                this.sendSocketNotification('LYRION_NOW_PLAYING_RESULT', { error: `Error parsing Lyrion API response: ${err}` });
            }
        });
    },

    formatTime: function(seconds) {
        const minutes = Math.floor(seconds / 60);
        const remainingSeconds = seconds % 60;
        return `${minutes}:${remainingSeconds.toString().padStart(2, '0')}`;
    }
});

[sdetweil]

@hokie-bird not sure, but two things

1. the sendSocketNotification() in start should be removed , the browser side is not up yet.

2. you are sending requests for playing info 1/second,
   can the server handle multiple concurrently?
   how long is the response time ?

i would change that to 5 seconds to test,
you can change it in config.js

[hokie-bird]

Thank you again @sdetweil

I implemented both of your changes (removing sendSocketNotification() in start and 5 second refresh interval) and it seems the refresh interval is what is impacting the display. At 1 second, basically nothing, but at 5 seconds I get a 5 second display, then maybe a 2 second disappearance and then a 5 second display repeating pattern. (Which is somewhat interesting as the browser console is reporting accurate data every 1 second, despite nothing being displayed.) Not sure how to get a constant/non-disappearing display (when music is playing) while still getting an accurate reflection/countdown of the time remain, but I’ll experiment with that.

Of course, suggestions welcome. And thanks again.

[sdetweil]

@hokie-bird you are also asking for a 4 second transition on the changes w updateDom(…)

so 2 seconds fade out and 2 seconds fade in

this.updateDom(this.config.fadeSpeed);
and you are interrupting the fade with another updateDom

[hokie-bird]

It was the fade! when I switch the fade to 0, even the refresh of 1 seconds works and displays perfectly. @sdetweil you are brilliant!

Thank you!