[SOLVED] Serial Read thread not running while flask thread is running python

Issue

I am trying to read serial data on a raspberry pi and display it on a webpage within a Flask server

The issue that I am having is that when I run the code with both threads started, the thread that is listening for serial input is not running and only the flask server thread is running.

When running just the serial read thread, I can read what is being sent.

How can I allow both of these threads to run parallel, to allow the message to be displayed on the webpage?

Thanks

from flask import Flask, render_template, request, url_for, flash, redirect, Response
from flask_socketio import SocketIO, emit
from threading import Thread
import time
import serial

global serialMessage
serialMessage = ""

class SerialReadProgram:  
    def __init__(self):
        self._running = True
        

    def terminate(self):  
        self._running = False  

    def run(self):
        global serialMessage
        ser = serial.Serial ("/dev/ttyS0", 9600)
        print("Serial Start")
        while self._running:
            serialMessage = ser.read()              #read serial port
            time.sleep(0.03)
            data_left = ser.inWaiting()             #check for remaining byte
            serialMessage += ser.read(data_left)
            print (serialMessage) 

class FlaskServer:
    app = Flask(__name__)
    socketio = SocketIO(app=app, cors_allowed_origins='*')
    
    def __init__(self):
        self._running = True

    def terminate(self):  
        self._running = False
        
    @app.route('/', methods=('GET', 'POST'))
    def home():
        if request.method == 'POST':
            message = request.form['message']
            print(message)

        return render_template('index.html')
    
     # Handler for a message recieved over 'connect' channel
    @socketio.on('connect')
    def test_connect():
        emit('after connect',  {'data':'Connnected'})

    @socketio.on('Fetch For Data')
    def value_changed():
        global cycle
        emit('Updated Message', {'data': serialMessage}, broadcast=True)
        
    socketio.run(app, host='0.0.0.0', allow_unsafe_werkzeug=True)
   

#Create Class
SerialRead = SerialReadProgram()
#Create Thread
SerialReadThread = Thread(target=SerialRead.run) 
#Start Thread 
SerialReadThread.start()

#Create Class
Flask = FlaskServer()
#Create Thread
FlaskThread = Thread(target=Flask) 
#Start Thread 
FlaskThread.start()

Solution

Converting my comment as an answer

socketio.run creates it's own thread so don't need to run it in thread just run normal socketio server and serial in diffrent thread.

So your code will look like this

from flask import Flask, render_template, request
from flask_socketio import SocketIO, emit
from threading import Thread
import time
import serial

app = Flask(__name__)
socketio = SocketIO(app=app, cors_allowed_origins='*')

serial_message = ""

class SerialReadProgram:
    def __init__(self):
        self._running = True

    def terminate(self):
        self._running = False

    def run(self):
        global serial_message
        ser = serial.Serial("/dev/ttyS0", 9600)
        print("Serial Start")
        while self._running:
            serial_message = ser.readline().decode().strip()  # read serial port
            print(serial_message)
            time.sleep(0.03)

@app.route('/', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
def home():
    if request.method == 'POST':
        message = request.form['message']
        print(message)

    return render_template('index.html')

@socketio.on('connect')
def test_connect():
    emit('after connect', {'data': 'Connected'})

@socketio.on('Fetch For Data')
def value_changed():
    global serial_message
    emit('Updated Message', {'data': serial_message}, broadcast=True)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    serial_read = SerialReadProgram()
    serial_read_thread = Thread(target=serial_read.run)

    serial_read_thread.start()

    socketio.run(app, host='0.0.0.0', debug=True)

Answered By - Ankit Tiwari

Answer Checked By - David Goodson (WPSolving Volunteer)