Run JavaScript if a file is created

ooom416354

Hi all, this is unrelated to the existing Mirror project but I am hoping someone can help.

I have a text file which I am outputting to my Pi from my phone using Tasker. For arguments sake lets say this file is test.txt. I would like to find a way to run a filewatcher to check to see if this file is available and then run some JavaScript code which will update values on my PHP page once the file is found.
I am very new with JavaScript and am not sure of the best approach to do this.

Any help is appreciated!

KirAsh4

Why so convoluted? If you’re already using PHP on your page, just have it check for the existence of the file. No need to involve JS to do file system actions, just have it refresh the page at a set interval, let PHP take care of the rest.

ooom416354

Thanks for your reply, I’m more of a database developer so I’m really not sure how to do certain things using PHP or JavaScript. So I have a PHP page which I load and in that page it calls references some JS files. Would I add the file_exists check in the php page directly, then if it does exist, call the new JS file which will contain the info I want displayed if the file exists? Again sorry for these questions, I’m trying to learn as I go.

KirAsh4

I’d need more information to be able to give you a better answer. Not sure why you’re using JS to store data. Traditionally when data is being transmitted from one device to another, or even stored, one does that in something designed for it, with keys and values, just like a database does. I would store stuff in JSON files. Then you can write a very simple routine in PHP that:

checks for the existence of that file
check s to see if the file is newer than the last time it checked
if the above is true, read the file and parse the JSON and spit it out to the browser
if the time stamp on the file hasn’t changed, either do nothing, or display something else

One could assume if the last read found a valid file, and the next read it’s the same file, just display the same information. Unless you don’t want to display stale information, then display something else.

ooom416354

@KirAsh4 I’m actually not storing any data into the file, it’s more like an “OK” file. What I’m trying to do is output a file to the Pi via Tasker when I hit a specific location in my commute home (I have this part working). From there I want to call a function that I have already written in JavaScript which looks up the train status from the MTA (NYC’s transit system). The idea is to run this function only when the file is output so that my wife can see which train I’m on and what the ETA will be. Currently I have the function running whenever there are delays but the problem is that it lists every train and not the specific one I am on. I’d like to have it so it just appears once the text file is output. Thanks again for your help!

KirAsh4

What specifically is the ‘OK’ file’s contents? If nothing, and all the script is doing is ‘does file xyz exist’, then how is your wife to know what train you’re on?

Personal opinion: what you are trying to do is so easily done using an IFTTT recipe: ‘IF THEN ’ Or do a number of other things.

I’m a huge proponent of using the right tools for the task. While I can certainly see the desire to do it the way you are wanting to, it relies on her needing to watch the mirror, whereas something like a simple text she can receive anywhere.

ooom416354

@KirAsh4 the file wouldn’t have anything in it, it simply would trigger the mirror to display the current train status. The only reason I haven’t just sent a text directly from my phone when I hit a location is because there is no way for me to send the actual trains ETA (and if you’ve rode the MTA before it is always late). I was thinking I could display the results of my mta JS module (which does a JSON pull to their api getting the trains ETA) on the screen only when the file becomes available, thus having to avoid her looking at the mirror showing every trains ETA and only displaying my train. If you have any other suggestions I’d definitely like to try them out; like I said I’m doing this more to learn as well. Thanks!

KirAsh4

Ok, so if I’m understanding you correctly, your setup is:

you have a JS script that, which given a trigger, will reach out to the MTA’s API and pull in the train’s ETA
your phone, through Tasker, will send a notification (in the form of a file creation) to the rpi (which is exposed to the internet?)

What you want is, once that file is created, a message gets displayed on the mirror with the train’s ETA.

What am I missing?

ooom416354

@KirAsh4 Yup! That’s exactly what the setup is. The Pi is exposed to the internet via SSH on port 22, I changed the password to something pretty obscure but may look into additional security.

Right now the JS script is running every 5 minutes and presenting the ETA for the train that is currently running closest to the actual time of the day. Problem here is that information clearly isn’t important because I’m at work and not in transit. I was trying to make it more robust in that I am able to use Tasker to ping cell towers and once I am in a specific location, output the file to the Pi to then trigger the script. Of course, if there is a better way I’d absolutely look into that, it was just my first thought on how to accomplish it.

KirAsh4

Have the script check for the date stamp on the file. Have Tasker just 'touch' the existing file. The script needs to store the date stamp when it checks the file. Something like this:

// pseudo code, it won't brew coffee
var prev_datestamp = 0;
var expire_time = 15 * 60 * 1000; // 15 minutes

// run every five minutes
if (file exists) {
  if (file.datestamp > previous_datestamp) {
    // train is on the way, quick, hide the money, hide the poker table
    // oh, refresh the mirror too
    previous_datestamp = file.datestamp;
  } else if (now > file.datestamp + expire_time) {
    // it's been 15 minutes, be afraid, be very afraid
    // clear mirror message
  }
}