add string returns for metrics and properties

files/web/node_server/package.json

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "express": "^4.18.2",
     "socket.io": "^4.7.2",
-    "redis": "^4.6.7"
+    "redis": "^4.6.7",
+    "node-fetch": "^2.6.7" 
   }
 }

files/web/node_server/server.js

@@ -1,32 +1,63 @@
 // server.js
-const http = require('http');
+const http   = require('http');
 const express = require('express');
 const { createClient } = require('redis');
 const { Server } = require('socket.io');
+const fetch  = require('node-fetch');   // npm i node-fetch@2
 
-const app = express();
+const app    = express();
 const server = http.createServer(app);
-const io = new Server(server);
+const io     = new Server(server);
 
-// Serve static files (index.html)
+// ---------- Socket.io ----------
+io.on('connection', async socket => {
+  console.log('client connected:', socket.id);
+
+  // Call the external API every time a client connects
+  try {
+    const resp = await fetch('http://192.168.37.1:5000/start_timer', {
+      method: 'GET'
+    });
+
+    const data = await resp.json();
+    console.log('API responded to connect:', data);
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('Failed to hit start_timer endpoint:', err);
+  }
+
+  // Listen for tableRendered event from the client
+  socket.on('tableRendered', async () => {
+    console.log('Client reported table rendered - starting timer');
+    try {
+      const resp = await fetch('http://192.168.37.1:5000/start_timer', {
+        method: 'GET'
+      });
+      const text = await resp.text();
+      console.log('Timer endpoint responded:', text);
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('Failed to hit start_timer:', err);
+    }
+  });
+});
+
+// Serve static files (index.html, etc.)
 app.use(express.static('public'));
 
 // ---------- Redis subscriber ----------
-const redisClient = createClient({
-  url: 'redis://192.168.37.1:6379'
-});
+const redisClient = createClient({ url: 'redis://192.168.37.1:6379' });
+
 redisClient.on('error', err => console.error('Redis error', err));
 
 (async () => {
   await redisClient.connect();
 
-  
   const sub = redisClient.duplicate(); // duplicate to keep separate pub/sub
   await sub.connect();
-// Subscribe to the channel that sends host stats
+
+  // Subscribe to the channel that sends host stats
   await sub.subscribe(
     ['host_metrics'],
-    (message, channel) => {            // <-- single handler
+    (message, channel) => {
       let payload;
       try {
         payload = JSON.parse(message); // message is a JSON string
@@ -34,20 +65,13 @@ redisClient.on('error', err => console.error('Redis error', err));
         console.error(`Failed to parse ${channel}`, e);
         return;
       }
-
       io.emit(channel, payload);
     }
   );
 
-  sub.on('error', err => console.error('Subscriber error', err));  
+  sub.on('error', err => console.error('Subscriber error', err));
 })();
 
-// ---------- Socket.io ----------
-io.on('connection', socket => {
-  console.log('client connected:', socket.id);
-  // Optional: send the current state on connect if you keep it cached
-});
-
 // ---------- Start ----------
 const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;
 server.listen(PORT, () => {