Xbox Controller Integration

Introduction

This documentation provides guidance on integrating an Xbox controller into a React app. The integration includes handling joystick inputs, button presses, and updating application state accordingly.

Prerequisites

• Xbox controller connected to your computer.
• An electron project integrating react

Getting Started

Installation

You shouldn’t need to install anything if you set up the project correctly.

Usage

1. Create a Gamepad Component:

   Create a React component (e.g., GamepadComponent.js) to handle Xbox controller events:

   // GamepadComponent.js
   import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
   
   const GamepadComponent = () => {
     // State to store the index of the connected controller
     const [gamepadIndex, setGamepadIndex] = useState(-1);
   
     // Handle connection and disconnection of the controller
     const handleGamepads = () => {
       const controller = navigator.getGamepads().findIndex(gamepad => gamepad != null);
       if(controller >= 0) {
         setGamepadIndex(controller);
         handleControllerButtons();
         handleControlerAxes();
       }
       else{
         setGamepadIndex(null);
       }
     };
   
     // Handle joystick inputs
     const handleControlerAxes = () => {
       // Logic to handle joystick inputs and update application state
       // ...
     };
   
     // Handle button presses
     const handleControllerButtons = () => {
       // Logic to handle button presses and update application state
       // ...
     };
   
      //Set up an interval to check the inputs
      useEffect(() =>{
        const interval = setInterval(handleGamepads, 150);
       
        return () => {
          clearInterval(interval);
        }
      });
   
     return (
       <div>
         {/* Display information or controls based on gamepad state */}
       </div>
     );
   };
   
   export default GamepadComponent;
   

Features

Joystick Inputs

• The app detects joystick movements and calculates direction and speed.
• The handleControlerAxes function updates the application state accordingly.

Button Presses

• The app handles button presses on the Xbox controller.
• The handleControllerButtons function updates the application state based on button presses.

Additional Features

• Customize button actions based on your application requirements.

Tips and tricks

To see the gamepad objects use this command in the developer tools console

  navigator.getGamepads()

Here you can learn what inputs you can use

References

Youtube Video I learned from