Serial port not working?

Question

I made a program that sends out data to my arduino which detects what was sent and then turns on the correct pin according to what key is pressed.

When using the arduino software from my windows computer the arduino sketch works fine, I can make each pin turn on and off by sending either W A S Or D.

When sending via node the RX light on the arduino flashes but nothing else happens.

Can anyone help?

Node.js program:

var httpServer = require('http').createServer(function(req, response){ /* Serve your static files */ })
httpServer.listen(8080);

var nowjs = require("now");
var everyone = nowjs.initialize(httpServer);

everyone.now.logStuff = function(msg){
    console.log(msg);
}

var SerialPort = require('serialport2').SerialPort;
var assert = require('assert');

var portName;

if (process.platform == 'win32') {
  portName = 'COM4';
} else if (process.platform == 'darwin') {
  portName = '/dev/cu.usbserial-A800eFN5';
} else {
  portName = '/dev/ttyUSB0';
}

var readData = '';
var sp = new SerialPort();

sp.on('close', function (err) {
  console.log('port closed');
});

sp.on('error', function (err) {
  console.error("error", err);
});

sp.on('open', function () {
  console.log('port opened... Press reset on the Arduino.');
});

sp.open(portName, {
  baudRate: 9600,
  dataBits: 8,
  parity: 'none',
  stopBits: 1,
  flowControl: false
});

everyone.now.forward = function() {
sp.write("w");
}

everyone.now.back = function() {
sp.write("s");
}

everyone.now.left = function() {
sp.write("a");
}

everyone.now.right = function() {
sp.write("d");
}

sp.on('data', function(data) {
  console.log(data.toString());
});

Arduino Program:

void setup(){
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.write("READY");
  //Set all the pins we need to output pins
  pinMode(8, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(9, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(10, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(11, OUTPUT);
}

void loop (){
  if (Serial.available() > 0) {

    //read serial as a character
    char ser = Serial.read();
    Serial.write(ser);
    //NOTE because the serial is read as "char" and not "int", the read value must be compared to character numbers
    //hence the quotes around the numbers in the case statement
    switch (ser) {
      case 'w':
        move(8);
        break;
      case 's':
        move(9);
        break;
      case 'a':
        move(10);
        break;
      case 'q':
        move(10);
        move(8);        
        break;
      case 'd':
        move(11);
        break;
      case 'e':
        move(11);
        move(8);
        break;
    }
  }
}

void move(int pin){
  Serial.print(pin);  
  digitalWrite(pin, HIGH);
  delay(1);
  digitalWrite(pin, LOW);
}

Answer 1

I recently dabbled into this. The Arduino automatically resets when it receives serial communication from most things other than the Arduino IDE. This is why you can send from the IDE but not node.js.

I have an Uno and put a capacitor between Reset and Ground.Here's a page with some good info on the subject.
Good luck. http://arduino.cc/playground/Main/DisablingAutoResetOnSerialConnection