Trigger `socket.io` event from server(`node.js`),

I am trying to make a game server with node.js, socket.io.

The basic idea likes below.

Initialize socket.io instance when the server starts
Store instance in global scope, so controllers can access it
When API calls, we trigger some socket.io event in the controller or some other points

Here is the implementation I made ...

First, in server.js - entry point

let GlobalVars = require('./state/GlobalVars');
const apiRouters = require('./router');

...

app.use('/api', apiRouters);
app.get('/', (req, res) => {
    res.sendFile(`${__dirname}/test/simpleClient.html`)
});

const httpServer = http.createServer(app);
let socketIOInstance = socketIO(httpServer);
socketIOInstance.on('connection', (socket) => {
    console.log('SOCKET.IO A USER CONNECTED');
    socket.on('create', (data) => {
        console.log('SOCKET.IO create called', socket);
        socket.join(data.room);
        socketIOInstance.emit('message', 'New people joined');
    });
    socket.on('join', (data) => {
        console.log('SOCKET.IO join called', data);
    })
    socket.emit('message', 'Hi');
});
GlobalVars.socketIO = socketIOInstance; 
// Add to global, so the controllers can manage own actions like create, join ...
httpServer.listen(port, () => {
    console.log(`Server Listening on the port ${port}`);
})
...

When I access from a client, I am able to see SOCKET.IO A USER CONNECTED and Hi in the browser console.

Second, In api controller.

let GlobalVars = require('../state/GlobalVars');
...

router.post('/create', (req, res) => {
  console.log('GenerateGameSokect');
  let game = new Game();
  let gameId = game.gameId;
  // console.log('Global vars ', GlobalVars.socketIO);
  GlobalVars.socketIO.emit('create', {
    room: gameId
  });
  res.json({
    result : 'SUCCESS',
    game : game
  })
});

I imported GlobalVars which contains socketIO instance. So what I expected was, socket create event triggered from the statement GlobalVars.socketIO.emit('create', Object) but could not find message in the server logs.

I got no clue what I was missing.

The final form I pursue is something like...

When user call create API, I creates socket connection and room
API will called in HTTP protocol, but in the API, the server publishes some events. - pubsub like.

Thanks for reading my questions b. Here is full source code till now(bitbucket public)

================== EDIT ====================

I got understood (maybe...)

The user-flow I wanted was ...

The client call API
(In the server) Checking validation in API and if valid emit to socket.io
If event accepted send new status to all clients

However, creating socket.io connection in the server looks strange for me, the solution is up to the client.

New user-flow I will change

The client call a validation API
If return is valid, the client emit socket.io event. This time server only do validation, not emit socket.io
In socket event, send new status to all other users

================== EDIT #2 ====================

This is a kind of conclusion. It looks I just misunderstanding the concept of socket communication. Like answer and replies say, Socket and HTTP are totally different channels, there is no way to connect both. (At least, without open new connection from http server to socket)

If this is wrong, you could add reply, Thanks

Now I understand you. Or at least I think!

Let's put it this way: there are two (asymetric) sides on a socket, server and client. What I called, respectively, "global manager" and "socket" in my comment to your post.

const server = require('socket.io')(yourHttpServer);
// client is installed as well when `npm i socket.io`
const client = require('socket.io-client')('http://localhost:' + yourServerPort);

// `socket` is the server side of the socket
server.on('connection', (socket) => {
  // this will be triggered by client sides emitting 'create'
  socket.on('create', (data) => {
    console.log('a client socket just fired a "create" event!');
  });
});

// this will be triggered by server side emitting 'create'
client.on('create', (data) => {
  server.emit('create', {content: 'this will result in an infinite loop of "create" events!'});
});

In your /create route, when you GlobalVars.socketIO.emit('create', ...), the server-side socket handler isn't triggered, however if you have clients connected through a browser (or, like I showed above, if you connect a client socket directly from the server) then these will trigger their 'create' listener, if any.

Hope this helps you get on the right tracks!