An Arduino sketch for @Palleas' Big Red Button

BigRedButton.ino

/* BigRedButton.ino Arduino Sketch
 *
 * Notes for @Palleas:
 *    One post of the Big Red Button should be connected to a digital
 *    pin, in this case pin 8, of the Arduino.
 *    The other post of the Big Red Button should be connected to one
 *    of the Arduino's GND pins.
 * 
 * WARNING: Crosstalk or a weird power glitch _could_ send a false signal.
 * It's probably a good idea to have the monitoring service on the computer
 * require something like a 5-second button press to confirm any destructive
 * actions.
 *    
 * Here's a good candidate for a Big Red Button:
 *    http://www.digikey.ca/product-detail/en/GPB556A05BR/CW158-ND/2349753
 */

// Select the pin that we connect one side of the Big Red Button to.
static const int pin = 8

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);         // Start the Serial port at 9600 baud.
  pinMode(8, INPUT_PULLUP);   // Set the pin to an input and tie it to +5V.
}

void loop() {
  
  // When the button is pressed, it closes the connection between the digital
  // pin and the GND pin, pulling the value of the pin from +5V (logic-1) to
  // 0V (logic-0).
  
  if (pin == 0) {
    // OMG! BUTTON PRESS DETECTED!
    // Send a unique string over the Serial port.
    Serial.println("OH NOES BALEET ALL THE THINGS 0xDEADBEEF YAY!!1!");
  }
  
}