https://github.com/TwP/pixelbot

Tasty integration of neopixels and web services
https://github.com/TwP/pixelbot

Last synced: 15 days ago
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Tasty integration of neopixels and web services

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/TwP/pixelbot
• Owner: TwP
• Created: 2015-12-13T02:37:42.000Z (over 8 years ago)
• Default Branch: master
• Last Pushed: 2016-01-20T20:59:31.000Z (over 8 years ago)
• Last Synced: 2024-02-24T18:36:47.474Z (4 months ago)
• Language: Ruby
• Size: 554 KB
• Stars: 2
• Watchers: 2
• Forks: 0
• Open Issues: 0
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md

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• awesome-stars - TwP/pixelbot - Tasty integration of neopixels and web services (Ruby)

README

        
# What is this?

A small ruby web service for controlling

[NeoPixels](https://www.adafruit.com/category/168) attached to a

[RaspberryPi](http://www.raspberrypi.org).

# Is it any good?

Yes.

# How do I run it?

Clone the repository to your RaspberryPi, and install all the dependencies:

```sh

git clone https://github.com/TwP/pixelbot.git

cd pixelbot

script/bootstrap

```

Open the `pixelbot.yml` file in your favorite editor and set the number of

`leds` to the number of NeoPixels you have connected to your RaspberryPi. Set

the `gpio` pin number to match the GPIO pin where the NeoPixels are connected to

your RaspberryPi. Please read the [RaspberryPi NeoPixel guide](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixels-on-raspberry-pi/overview)

from Adafruit for all the details on setting up your NeoPixel circuit.

To start the web service run:

```sh

sudo script/pixelbot

```

Enjoy the blinkenlights!

# It won't run!

Yes it will.

The [ws2811](https://github.com/jgarff/rpi_ws281x) driver is using direct memory

addressing (DMA) via `/dev/mem` to control the NeoPixels. Only the root user has

permission to read and write to this hardware device. So any time your work with

NeoPixels, your code will need to be run as the super user.

# But I don't have a RaspberryPi

You're in luck!

When running on an architecture other than `linux-arm` (the RaspberryPi

architecture), a fake LEDs class is used to simulate the NeoPixels. This set of

fake LEDs is provided by the [pixel_pi](https://github.com/TwP/pixel_pi) gem,

and the fake LEDs are automatically used where needed.

The fake LEDs are displayed in the terminal using a UTF-8 fisheye "◉" character,

and the fake LEDs are colorized using the [rainbow]() gem. So you can work with

the LEDs even when a RaspberryPi is not handy.

![](/public/images/pixelbot.gif)