Control the Pi Lite with Node.js $ npm install serialport $ node server.js

node-pilite.js

/*
*    Description: Control the Pi Lite via Node.js
*    Author: Fabrizio Codello (fabryz.com)
*
*    TODO: Check if writing out of bounds
*/

var SerialPort = require("serialport").SerialPort;

// http://openmicros.org/index.php/articles/94-ciseco-product-documentation/raspberry-pi/280#Using the Pi-Lite pre-loaded software
var PiLite = {
    device: "/dev/ttyAMA0",
    baudrate: 9600,
    client: null,
    init: function() {
        this.client = new SerialPort(this.device, {
            baudrate: this.baudrate
        }, false);
    },
    connect: function(callback) {
        this.init();

        this.client.open(function() {
          console.log('Connected to Pi Lite');

          callback();
        });
    },
    write: function(data) {
        // console.log('Writing: '+ data);
        this.client.write(data, function(err, results) {
            if (err) {
                console.log('Error: '+ err);
            }

            // console.log('Result: '+ results);
        });
    },
    // Set scrolling delay in ms 1 is scrolling very fast, 1000 is scrolling very slow. Default speed is 80.
    setSpeed: function(value) {
        this.write("$$$SPEED"+ value +"\r");
    },
    // (value) is a 126 character string in one's and zeros to represent each LED state (on or off)
    frameBuffer: function(value) {
        this.write("$$$F"+ value +"\r");
    },
    // Column X to Y%
    barGraph: function(column, value) {
        this.write("$$$B"+ column +","+ value +"\r");
    },
    // Create graph from an array (max 14 columns)
    chart: function(data) {
        var that = this;
        data.forEach(function(graphValue, index) {
            that.barGraph(index + 1, graphValue);
        });
    },
    // Row X (1 | 2) to Y%
    vuMeter: function(row, value) {
        this.write("$$$V"+ row +","+ value +"\r");
    },
    // Pixel set a pixel state
    // column 1 to 14
    // row    1 to 9
    // action ON,OFF,TOGGLE
    pixel: function(column, row, action) {
        this.write("$$$P"+ column +","+ row +","+ action +"\r");
    },
    // Text  display at location x,y a text character
    randomPixel: function(time) {
        var that = this;

        var timer = setInterval(function() {
            column = Math.floor(Math.random() * 15),
            row = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10);

            that.pixel(column, row, "TOGGLE");
        }, time);
    },
    // set all the pixels on or off
    all: function(value) {
        this.write("$$$ALL,"+ value +"\r");
    },
    // alias to ALL,OFF
    clear: function() {
        this.all("OFF");
    },
    // Scroll value columns left (+) or right (-)
    scroll: function(value) {
        this.write("$$$SCROLL"+ value +"\r");
    },
    // Text  display at location x,y a text character
    text: function(column, row, character) {
        this.write("$$$T"+ column +","+ row +","+ character +"\r");
    },
    // Display each character of the text after time ms, column and row are optional
    timed: function(text, time, column, row) {
        var that = this;

        column = column | 5,
        row = row | 2;

        var timer = setInterval(function() {
            character = text[0];
            text = text.substring(1);

            // Skip a turn on spaces
            if (character !== " ") {
                that.clear();
                that.text(column, row, character);
            }

            // TODO: Manually center short letters like I/J?
            //if (character == "I" || character == "I") {
            //    that.clear();
            //    that.text(column + 1, row, character);
            //}

            if (text.length <= 0) {
                // that.clear();
                clearInterval(timer);
            }
        }, time);
    }
};

exports.PiLite = PiLite;

server.js

var pilite = require('./node-pilite.js').PiLite;

pilite.connect(function() {
    pilite.clear();
    // pilite.setSpeed(500);

    pilite.randomPixel(50);
});

Hi, I'm keen to make this an npm module. Would you be happy if I did that linking to this gist to give you credit?