rpi-ws281x

A lightweight Node.js wrapper for controlling WS281x / NeoPixel LED strips using a Raspberry Pi. Built on top of the C library from jgarff/rpi_ws281x.

Installation

$ npm install rpi-ws281x --save

Usage

var ws281x = require('rpi-ws281x');

// One time initialization, assumes an 8 pixel strip
ws281x.configure({ leds: 8 });

// Create my pixels
var pixels = new Uint32Array(8);

// Set first three pixels to red, green and blue
// Colors are packed as 0xWWRRGGBB or 0x00RRGGBB (if RGB only)

pixels[0] = 0x00FF0000;
pixels[1] = 0x0000FF00;
pixels[2] = 0x000000FF;

// Render pixels to the Neopixel strip
ws281x.render(pixels);

Methods

This module is simple and only has three methods configure(), render() and reset().

Configure

configure(options) — Configures the ws281x strip. Must be called once and before anything else.

The options parameter may have the following properties:

Render

render(pixels) - Renders pixels specified to the strip.

Reset

reset() - Resets configuration and turns all pixels off.

It's good practice to call reset() before exiting your program to ensure all LEDs are turned off cleanly.

Examples

Filling the Neopixel strip with a color

var ws281x = require('rpi-ws281x');

class Example {
    constructor() {
        this.config = {};

        // Number of leds in my strip
        this.config.leds = 169;

        // Use DMA 10 (default 10)
        this.config.dma = 10;

        // Set full brightness, a value from 0 to 255 (default 255)
        this.config.brightness = 255;

        // Set the GPIO number to communicate with the Neopixel strip (default 18)
        this.config.gpio = 18;

        // Specify RGB sequence
        this.config.stripType = 'grb';

        // Set gamma correction to 2.2 
        this.config.gamma = 2.2;

        // Configure ws281x
        ws281x.configure(this.config);
    }

    run() {
        // Create a pixel array matching the number of leds.
        // This must be an instance of Uint32Array.
        let pixels = new Uint32Array(this.config.leds);
        let leds = this.config.leds;

        // Set pixels to a gradient from black to red
        for (let i = 0; i < leds; i++) {
            let red = (i / leds) * 255;
            let green = 0;
            let blue = 0;
            let color = (red << 16) | (green << 8) | blue;
            pixels[i] = color;
        }
        // Render to strip
        ws281x.render(pixels);
    }
}

var example = new Example();
example.run();

Walking a pixel through the strip

var ws281x = require('rpi-ws281x');

class Example {

    constructor() {
        // Current pixel position
        this.offset = 0;

        // Set my Neopixel configuration
        this.config = {leds:169, stripType : 'grb', gpio:18};

        // Configure ws281x
        ws281x.configure(this.config);
    }

    loop() {
        var pixels = new Uint32Array(this.config.leds);

        // Set a specific pixel
        pixels[this.offset] = 0xFF0000;

        // Move on to next
        this.offset = (this.offset + 1) % this.config.leds;

        // Render to strip
        ws281x.render(pixels);
    }

    run() {
        // Loop every 100 ms
        setInterval(this.loop.bind(this), 100);
    }
};

var example = new Example();
example.run();

Walking a pixel with pixel mapping

var ws281x = require('rpi-ws281x');

class Example {

    constructor() {
        // Current pixel position
        this.offset = 0;

        // Set my Neopixel configuration
        // By setting width and height instead of number of leds
        // you may use named pixel mappings.
        // Serpentine is a common mapping for matrices.
        this.config = { width: 13, height: 13, stripType: 'grb', gpio: 18, dma: 10, map: 'serpentine' };

        // Configure ws281x
        ws281x.configure(this.config);
    }

    loop() {
        var leds = this.config.width * this.config.height;
        var pixels = new Uint32Array(leds);

        // Set a specific pixel
        pixels[this.offset] = 0xFFFFFF;

        // Move on to next
        this.offset = (this.offset + 1) % leds;

        // Render to strip
        ws281x.render(pixels);
    }

    run() {
        // Loop every 50 ms
        setInterval(this.loop.bind(this), 50);
    }
};

var example = new Example();
example.run();

Notes and Compatibility

⚠️ Important: Disable onboard audio on Raspberry Pi Zero / Zero 2 W to avoid DMA conflicts. Run sudo raspi-config, then navigate to Advanced Options → Audio → Disable.

Tested on Raspberry Pi Zero W and Zero 2 W with Node.js versions 16–20 and WS2811/WS2812B (RGB) strips.

See also

• jgarff/rpi_ws281x — Original C library.
• Adafruit NeoPixel Guide

Changelog

2025-10-22 — Updated documentation.
2025-10-18 — Removed transitions and added colorTemperature and rawRGBW to config. Still experimental.
2025-10-17 — Fixed bugs using transitions for RGBW-stips.
2025-10-12 — Added transitions in configure().
2025-10-07 — Updated documentation and examples.
2025-10-06 — Added gamma correction via jgarff’s C-library and support for RGBW strips.

License

MIT — feel free to use, fork and improve.