Hands-on Design Patterns with React Native

This is the code repository for Hands-On Design Patterns with React Native, published by Packt.

Every example is standalone, see Setup and Running guidelines.

Author note

Frameworks and libraries come and go. Design patterns usually stay for longer. In this book, we do a mix of learning React Native and design patterns relevant to this ecosystem. When it comes to React, the essential knowledge about design patterns is spread all over the place. Sometimes it's buried in proprietary code bases. This book brings it to you. I call them idea patterns: hands-on design patterns, which are explained on a real working examples. In this book we use React Native, but you can successfully take most of those patterns to web development in React, or even other frameworks, such as Angular or Vue. Hopefully you will use this knowledge to build well thought-out and easy-to-maintain code bases. Good luck with this endeavor!

Mateusz Grzesiukiewicz

Setup

Install Git https://git-scm.com/downloads
1. Windows users in installator please always choose "next" unless you know what you are doing.
Install Node.js 8.X.
1. Linux/Mac:
  1. Install nvm https://github.com/creationix/nvm#install-script
  2. Linux/Mac Install Node.js using nvm $ nvm install 8.11.4
2. Windows: install Node.js with executable file.
  1. Install Node.js 8.X https://nodejs.org/en/download/
Install yarn https://yarnpkg.com/
Install watchman https://facebook.github.io/watchman/docs/install.html
Install the create-react-native-app CLI

$ npm install -g create-react-native-app

Run projects

Open terminal
Download code files from GitHub repository. GitHub repository link: https://github.com/Ajdija/hands-on-design-patterns-with-react-native Example terminal command downloading the code:

$ git clone https://github.com/Ajdija/hands-on-design-patterns-with-react-native.git

Go to the example folder and install dependencies. Example folders are located in src directory within downloaded code files directory. You need to change directory to the specific Example directory. For instance:

$ cd ./src/Chapter_1_React_component_patterns/Example_1_Hello_World
$ yarn install --pure-lockfile

--pure-lockfile is used to ensure all dependencies are installed based on the yarn.lock file I checked-in. You may omit it to install latest dependencies but those may include breaking changes and the build may fail.

Linux and Mac users should change the Node.js version to the expected one using the below command.

$ nvm use

Further steps depend on the hardware you have and the emulator you want to use.

Run on iOS

Install XCode
If running Examples from chapter 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 then you need to run the below command in terminal to bring up a local server. If you skipped the setup process above then remember to navigate to the respective example directory first.

$ yarn run server

Example run of Example 1 in Chapter 6 on macOS with Android and iPhone simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1NDMOkpxQ0 (remember to keep the terminal/console tab with "yarn run server" running)

Run on terminal

$ yarn run ios

or below command and after the packager starts choose "I" on keyboard.

$ yarn run start

The yarn run start allows you to run both Android and iPhone simulators at the same time. Example run of Example 1 in Chapter 6 on macOS with Android and iPhone simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1NDMOkpxQ0 (If you are testing examples from Chapter 6 and later, remember to keep the terminal/console tab with "yarn run server" running)

If running Examples from chapter 10 or chapter 11 then you may also use storybook version.

$ yarn run ios:storybook

If having troubles then see Frequently asked questions section.

Run on Android

Install Java JDK, go to this page and select JDK: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html
Install Android Studio and config one Android Virtual Device (Android Studio AVD)
1. Install Android Studio https://developer.android.com/studio/
2. You may need to "Install missing platform(s) and sync project. https://i.stack.imgur.com/nZHpF.png
3. Install virtual device https://www.dev2qa.com/how-to-create-android-virtual-device-avd-in-android-studio/
4. If you struggle with virtual device configuration (AVD) then follow this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsAPy2yxZCs (If you do not see API 28, then choose any other that you have available)
5. Some of you may not see options from the above guide, if so follow this fixes: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/47173708/why-avd-manager-options-are-not-showing-in-android-studio
6. If your virtual device has issues starting because of "emulation requires hardaware acceleration" then follow this solution https://stackoverflow.com/questions/29136173/emulator-error-x86-emulation-currently-requires-hardware-acceleration
If running Examples from chapter 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 then you need to run the below command in terminal to bring up a local server. If you skipped the setup process above then remember to navigate to the respective example directory first.

$ yarn run server

Example run of Example 1 in Chapter 6 on macOS with Android and iPhone simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1NDMOkpxQ0

Open emulator
Run on terminal

$ yarn run android

If you see message: "Error running adb: No Android device found" then you have not configured Android Virtual Device (AVD) in step 1 above. Follow this video for step by step guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsAPy2yxZCs

If running Examples from chapter 10 or chapter 11 then you may also use storybook version.

$ yarn run android:storybook

If having troubles then see Frequently asked questions section.

Run on a real phone

Install Expo

Installation guide

You will need Expo XDE for your desktop. Also install respective iOS or Android application from the above link.

Open Expo XDE

Choose Open existing project... and navigate to example directory.

The build will run and feedback will be displayed on the console.

When the build finishes send yourself a link to the app. I prefer to use share button at the top and send myself link in an email that I open on the device.

You may need to be connected to the same WiFi on the computer and a phone. Public WiFi may not work.
If still experiencing problems try the steps from this link: https://facebook.github.io/react-native/docs/running-on-device

FAQ

Bootstrap note

All of the examples from this book were bootstrapped with Create React Native App. The most recent version of Create React Native App guide is available here.

fatal: unable to checkout working tree / Unable to create file [...].xcscheme filename too long

Some files have too long filenames for your specific (most likely Windows) system. Proceed as if everything was all right.

I see the app but it says "Network request failed"

If you are running examples from chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 you should also start the server first.

$ yarn run server

Websocket connection error

Sometimes you need to close emulator and then rerun either yarn run ios or yarn run android. CTRL+R / CMD+R may give you the old app in some circumstances so closing the emulator and rerunning the command is the quickest fix.

Storybook is not showing, instead I see a regular app.

Sometimes you need to close emulator and then run either yarn run ios:storybook or yarn run android:storybook. CTRL+R / CMD+R may give you the old app in some circumstances so closing the emulator and rerunning the command is the quickest fix.

Error: Cannot find module './'

If you have below error in Chapter 11 then remove node_modules and run yarn again.

$ rimraf ./build
module.js:540
    throw err;
    ^

Error: Cannot find module './'

Chapter 5, example 4 is not working on Android

MobX newest version does not work with Android. I'm waiting until they fix the problem and then will update this codebase. Monitor this issue to get latest updates.