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Published 8 years ago • verified publisherworkiva.comDart 3 incompatible• Latest: 5.4.1
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A library for building statically-typed React UI components using Dart.

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OverReact #

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A library for building statically-typed React UI components using Dart.

Using it in your project #

If you are not familiar with React JS

Since OverReact is built atop React JS, we strongly encourage you to gain familiarity with it by reading this React JS tutorial first.

  1. Add the over_react package as a dependency in your pubspec.yaml.

    dependencies:
  over_react: "^1.1.1"

  2. Add the over_react transformer to your pubspec.yaml.

    transformers:
  - over_react
  # Reminder: dart2js should come after any other transformers that touch Dart code
  - $dart2js

    Our transformer uses code generation to wire up the different pieces of your component declarations - and to create typed getters/setters for props and state.

  3. Include the native JavaScript react and react_dom libraries in your app’s index.html file, and add an HTML element with a unique identifier where you’ll mount your OverReact UI component(s).

    <html>
  <head>
   <!-- ... -->  
  </head>
  <body>
    <div id="react_mount_point">
      // OverReact component render() output will show up here.
    </div>
    
    <script src="packages/react/react.js"></script>
    <script src="packages/react/react_dom.js"></script>
    <script type="application/dart" src="your_app_name.dart"></script>
    <script src="packages/browser/dart.js"></script>
  </body>
</html>

    Note: When serving your application in production, use packages/react/react_with_react_dom_prod.js file instead of the un-minified react.js / react_dom.js files shown in the example above.

  4. Import the over_react library (and associated react libraries) into your_app_name.dart, and initialize React within your Dart application. Then build a custom component and mount / render it into the HTML element you created in step 3.

    import 'dart:html';
import 'package:react/react.dart' as react;
import 'package:react/react_dom.dart' as react_dom;
import 'package:react/react_client.dart';
import 'package:over_react/over_react.dart';

main() {
  // Initialize React within our Dart app
  react_client.setClientConfiguration();
     
  // Mount / render your component. 
  react_dom.render(FooComponent()(), querySelector('#react_mount_point'));
}

  5. Run pub serve in the root of your Dart project.

Running tests in your project #

When running tests on code that uses our transformer (or any code that imports over_react), you must run your tests using Pub.

  1. Add the test/pub_serve transformer to your pubspec.yaml after the over_react transformer.

    transformers:
  - over_react
  - test/pub_serve:
      $include: test/**_test{.*,}.dart
  - $dart2js

  2. Use the --pub-serve option when running your tests:

    $ pub run test --pub-serve=8081 test/your_test_file.dart

    Note: 8081 is the default port used, but your project may use something different. Be sure to take note of the output when running pub serve to ensure you are using the correct port.

Anatomy of an OverReact component #

If you are not familiar with React JS

Since OverReact is built atop React JS, we strongly encourage you to gain familiarity with it by reading this React JS tutorial first.

The over_react library functions as an additional "layer" atop the Dart react package which handles the underlying JS interop that wraps around React JS.

The library strives to maintain a 1:1 relationship with the React JS component class and API. To do that, an OverReact component is comprised of four core pieces that are each wired up to our Pub transformer using an analogous annotation.

  1. UiFactory
  2. UiProps
  3. UiState (optional)
  4. UiComponent

UiFactory #

UiFactory is a function that returns a new instance of a UiComponent’s UiProps class.

@Factory()
UiFactory<FooProps> Foo;

UiProps #

UiProps is a Map class that adds statically-typed getters and setters for each React component prop. It can also be invoked as a function, serving as a builder for its analogous component.

@Props()
class FooProps extends UiProps {
  // ...
}

UiProps as a Map

@Factory()
UiFactory<FooProps> Foo;

@Props()
class FooProps extends UiProps {
  String color;
}

@Component()
class FooComponent extends UiComponent<FooProps> {
  // ...  
}

void bar() {
  FooProps props = Foo();

  props.color = '#66cc00';

  print(props.color); // #66cc00
  print(props);       // {FooProps.color: #66cc00}
}

/// You can use the factory to create a UiProps instance 
/// backed by an existing Map.
void baz() {
  Map existingMap = {'FooProps.color': '#0094ff'};
  
  FooProps props = Foo(existingMap);
  
  print(props.color); // #0094ff
}

UiProps as a builder

@Factory()
UiFactory<FooProps> Foo;

@Props()
class FooProps extends UiProps {
  String color;
}

@Component()
class FooComponent extends UiComponent<FooProps> {
  ReactElement bar() {
    // Create a UiProps instance to serve as a builder
    FooProps builder = Foo();

    // Add props
    builder.id = 'the_best_foo';
    builder.color = '#ee2724';
  
    // Invoke as a function with the desired children
    // to return a new instance of the component.
    return builder('child1', 'child2');
  }

  /// Even better... do it inline! (a.k.a fluent)
  ReactElement baz() {
    return (Foo()
      ..id = 'the_best_foo'
      ..color = 'red'
    )(
      'child1', 
      'child2'
    );
  }
}

See fluent-style component consumption for more examples on builder usage.

UiState #

UiState is a Map class (just like UiProps) that adds statically-typed getters and setters for each React component state property.

@State()
class FooState extends UiState {
  // ...
}

UiState is optional, and won’t be used for every component.

UiComponent #

UiComponent is a subclass of react.Component, containing lifecycle methods and rendering logic for components.

@Component()
class FooComponent extends UiComponent<FooProps> {
  // ...
}
  • This component provides statically-typed props via UiProps, as well as utilities for prop forwarding and CSS class merging.
  • The UiStatefulComponent flavor augments UiComponent behavior with statically-typed state via UiState.

Accessing and manipulating props / state within UiComponent

  • Within the UiComponent class, props and state are not just Maps. They are instances of UiProps and UiState, which means you don’t need String keys to access them!
  • newProps() and newState() are also exposed to conveniently create empty instances of UiProps and UiState as needed.
  • typedPropsFactory() and typedStateFactory() are also exposed to conveniently create typed props / state objects out of any provided backing map.
@Component()
class FooComponent extends UiStatefulComponent<FooProps, FooState> {
  @override
  getDefaultProps() => (newProps()
    ..color = '#66cc00'
  );
    
  @override
  getInitialState() => (newState()
    ..isActive = false
  );

  @override
  componentWillUpdate(Map newProps, Map newState) {
    var tNewState = typedStateFactory(newState);
    var tNewProps = typedPropsFactory(newProps);

    var becameActive = !state.isActive && tNewState.isActive;
    
    // Do something here!
  }
  
  @override
  render() {
    return (Dom.div()
      ..style = {
        'color': props.color,
        'fontWeight': state.isActive ? 'bold' : 'normal'
      }
    )(
      (Dom.button()..onClick = _handleButtonClick)('Toggle'),
      props.children
    );
  }
  
  void _handleButtonClick(SyntheticMouseEvent event) {
    _toggleActive();
  }
  
  void _toggleActive() {
    setState(newState()
      ..isActive = !state.isActive
    );
  }
}

Fluent-style component consumption #

In OverReact, components are consumed by invoking a UiFactory to return a new UiProps builder, which is then modified and invoked to build a ReactElement.

This is done to make "fluent-style" component consumption possible, so that the OverReact consumer experience is very similar to the React JS / "vanilla" react-dart experience.

To demonstrate the similarities, the example below shows a render method for JS, JSX, react-dart, and over_react that will have the exact same HTML markup result.

  • React JS:

    render() {
  return React.createElement('div', {className: 'container'},
    React.createElement('h1', null, 'Click the button!'),
    React.createElement('button', {
      id: 'main_button',
      onClick: _handleClick
    }, 'Click me')
  );
}

  • React JS (JSX):

    render() {
  return <div className="container">
    <h1>Click the button!</h1>
    <button
      id="main_button"
      onClick={_handleClick}
    >Click me</button>
  </div>;
}

  • Vanilla react-dart:

    render() {
  return react.div({'className': 'container'}, 
    react.h1({}, 'Click the button!'),
    react.button({
      'id': 'main_button',
      'onClick': _handleClick
    }, 'Click me')
  );
}

  • OverReact:

    render() {
  return (Dom.div()..className = 'container')(
    Dom.h1()('Click the button!'),
    (Dom.button()
      ..id = 'main_button'
      ..onClick = _handleClick
    )('Click me')
  );
}

    Let’s break down the OverReact fluent-style shown above

    render() {
  // Create a builder for a <div>,
  // add a CSS class name by cascading a typed setter,
  // and invoke the builder with the HTML DOM <h1> and <button> children.
  return (Dom.div()..className = 'container')(
  
    // Create a builder for an <h1> and invoke it with children.
    // No need for wrapping parentheses, since no props are added.
    Dom.h1()('Click the button!'),
    
    // Create a builder for a <button>,
    (Dom.button()
      // add a ubiquitous DOM prop exposed on all components,
      // which Dom.button() forwards to its rendered DOM,
      ..id = 'main_button'
      // add another prop,
      ..onClick = _handleClick
    // and finally invoke the builder with children.
    )('Click me')
  );
}

DOM components and props #

All react-dart DOM components (react.div, react.a, etc.) have a corresponding Dom method (Dom.div(), Dom.a(), etc.) in OverReact.

ReactElement renderLink() {
  return (Dom.a()
    ..id = 'home_link'
    ..href = '/home'
  )('Home');
}

ReactElement renderResizeHandle() {
  return (Dom.div()
    ..className = 'resize-handle'
    ..onMouseDown = _startDrag
  )();
}
  • OverReact DOM components return a new DomProps builder, which can be used to render them via our fluent interface as shown in the examples above.
  • DomProps has statically-typed getters and setters for all "ubiquitous" HTML attribute props.
    • The domProps() function is also available to create a new typed Map or a typed view into an existing Map. Useful for manipulating DOM props and adding DOM props to components that don’t forward them directly.

Component Formatting #

NOTE: At this time, we do not recommend using dartfmt, as it greatly decreases the readability of components built using OverReact's fluent-style.

We have a long-term goal of writing our own formatter that extends from dartfmt to make it possible for our fluent-style to remain readable even after the formatter executes.

Since using dartfmt results in unreadable code, we have documented the following formatting best-practices that we strongly recommended when building components using the over_react library.

  • ALWAYS place the closing builder parent on a new line.

    Good:

    (Button()
  ..skin = ButtonSkin.SUCCESS
  ..isDisabled = true
)('Submit')

    Bad:

    (Button()
  ..skin = ButtonSkin.SUCCESS
  ..isDisabled = true)('Submit')

  • ALWAYS pass nested components as variadic children when keys are not specified, on a new line with a 2 space indentation.

    Good:

    Dom.div()(
  Dom.span()('nested component'),
  Dom.span()('nested component')
)

    Bad:

    // Nested component is not on a new line
Dom.div()(Dom.span()('nested component'))

// Nested component has a continuation indent
Dom.div()(
    Dom.span()('nested component'),
)

// Nested components are within a list instead of
// being passed in as variadic children.
Dom.div()([
  Dom.span()('nested component'),
  Dom.span()('nested component')
])

  • AVOID specifying more than one cascading prop setter on the same line.

    Good:

    (Dom.div()
  ..id = 'my_div'
  ..className = 'my-class'
)()

    Bad:

    (Dom.div()..id = 'my_div'..className = 'my-class')()

Building custom components #

Now that we’ve gone over how to use the over_react package in your project, the anatomy of a component and the DOM components that you get for free from OverReact, you're ready to start building your own custom React UI components.

  1. Start with one of the component boilerplate templates below.

  1. Fill in your props and rendering/lifecycle logic.

  2. Consume your component with the fluent interface.

  3. Run the app you’ve set up to consume over_react

    $ pub serve

    That’s it! Code will be automatically generated on the fly by Pub!

Check out some custom component demos to get a feel for what’s possible!

Component Boilerplate Templates #

  • Component Boilerplate

    import 'dart:html';
import 'package:react/react.dart' as react;
import 'package:react/react_dom.dart' as react_dom;
import 'package:react/react_client.dart';
import 'package:over_react/over_react.dart';
  
@Factory()
UiFactory<FooProps> Foo;
  
@Props()
class FooProps extends UiProps {
  // Props go here, declared as fields:
  bool isDisabled;
  Iterable<String> items;
}
  
@Component()
class FooComponent extends UiComponent<FooProps> {
  @override
  Map getDefaultProps() => (newProps()
    // Cascade default props here
    ..isDisabled = false
    ..items = []
  );
  
  @override
  render() {
    // Return the rendered component contents here.
    // The `props` variable is typed; no need for string keys!
  }
}

  • Stateful Component Boilerplate

    import 'dart:html';
import 'package:react/react.dart' as react;
import 'package:react/react_dom.dart' as react_dom;
import 'package:react/react_client.dart';
import 'package:over_react/over_react.dart';
  
@Factory()
UiFactory<BarProps> Bar;
  
@Props()
class BarProps extends UiProps {
  // Props go here, declared as fields:
  bool isDisabled;
  Iterable<String> items;
}

@State()
class BarState extends UiState {
  // State goes here, declared as fields:
  bool isShown;
}
  
@Component()
class BarComponent extends UiStatefulComponent<BarProps, BarState> {
  @override
  Map getDefaultProps() => (newProps()
    // Cascade default props here
    ..isDisabled = false
    ..items = []
  );
  
  @override
  Map getInitialState() => (newState()
    // Cascade initial state here
    ..isShown = true
  );
  
  @override
  render() {
    // Return the rendered component contents here.
    // The `props` variable is typed; no need for string keys!
  }
}

  • Flux Component Boilerplate

    import 'dart:html';
import 'package:react/react.dart' as react;
import 'package:react/react_dom.dart' as react_dom;
import 'package:react/react_client.dart';
import 'package:over_react/over_react.dart';
  
@Factory()
UiFactory<BazProps> Baz;
  
@Props()
class BazProps extends FluxUiProps<BazActions, BazStore> {
  // Props go here, declared as fields.
  // `actions` and `store` are already defined for you!
}
  
@Component()
class BazComponent extends FluxUiComponent<BazProps> {
  getDefaultProps() => (newProps()
    // Cascade default props here
  );
  
  @override
  render() {
    // Return the rendered component contents here.
    // The `props` variables is typed; no need for string keys!
    // E.g., `props.actions`, `props.store`.
  }
}

  • Stateful Flux Component Boilerplate

    import 'dart:html';
import 'package:react/react.dart' as react;
import 'package:react/react_dom.dart' as react_dom;
import 'package:react/react_client.dart';
import 'package:over_react/over_react.dart';
  
@Factory()
UiFactory<BazProps> Baz;
  
@Props()
class BazProps extends FluxUiProps<BazActions, BazStore> {
  // Props go here, declared as fields.
  // `actions` and `store` are already defined for you!
}

@State()
class BazState extends UiState {
  // State goes here, declared as fields.
}
  
@Component()
class BazComponent extends FluxUiStatefulComponent<BazProps, BazState> {
  getDefaultProps() => (newProps()
    // Cascade default props here
  );
  
  @override
  Map getInitialState() => (newState()
    // Cascade initial state here
  );
  
  @override
  render() {
    // Return the rendered component contents here.
    // The `props` variables is typed; no need for string keys!
    // E.g., `props.actions`, `props.store`.
  }
}

Component Best Practices #

  • ALWAYS write informative comments for your component factories. Include what the component relates to, relies on, or if it extends another component.

    Good:

    /// Use the `DropdownButton` component to render a button
/// that controls the visibility of a child [DropdownMenu].
///
/// * Related to [Button].
/// * Extends [DropdownTrigger].
/// * Similar to [SplitButton].
///
/// See: <https://link-to-any-relevant-documentation>.
@Factory()
UiFactory<DropdownButtonProps> DropdownButton;

    Bad:

    /// Component Factory for a dropdown button component.
@Factory()
UiFactory<DropdownButtonProps> DropdownButton;

  • ALWAYS set a default / initial value for props / state fields, and document that value in a comment.

    Why? Without default prop values for bool fields, they could be null - which is extremely confusing and can lead to a lot of unnecessary null-checking in your business logic.

    Good:

    @Props()
DropdownButtonProps extends UiProps {
  /// Whether the [DropdownButton] appears disabled.
  /// 
  /// Default: `false`
  bool isDisabled;

  /// Whether the [DropdownButton]'s child [DropdownMenu] is open
  /// when the component is first mounted.
  /// 
  /// Determines the initial value of [DropdownButtonState.isOpen].
  /// 
  /// Default: `false`
  bool initiallyOpen;
}

@State()
DropdownButtonState extends UiState {
  /// Whether the [DropdownButton]'s child [DropdownMenu] is open.
  /// 
  /// Initial: [DropdownButtonProps.initiallyOpen]
  bool isOpen;
}

@Component()
DropdownButtonComponent 
    extends UiStatefulComponent<DropdownButtonProps, DropdownButtonState> {
  @override
  Map getDefaultProps() => (newProps()
    ..isDisabled = false
    ..initiallyOpen = false
  );

  @override
  Map getInitialState() => (newState()
    ..isOpen = props.initiallyOpen
  );
}

    Bad:

    @Props()
DropdownButtonProps extends UiProps {
  bool isDisabled;
  bool initiallyOpen;
}

@State()
DropdownButtonState extends UiState {
  bool isOpen;
}

@Component()
DropdownButtonComponent 
    extends UiStatefulComponent<DropdownButtonProps, DropdownButtonState> {
  // Confusing stuff is gonna happen in here with 
  // bool props that could be null.
}

  • AVOID adding props or state fields that don't have an informative comment.

    Good:

    @Props()
DropdownButtonProps extends UiProps {
  /// Whether the [DropdownButton] appears disabled.
  /// 
  /// Default: `false`
  bool isDisabled;

  /// Whether the [DropdownButton]'s child [DropdownMenu] is open
  /// when the component is first mounted.
  /// 
  /// Determines the initial value of [DropdownButtonState.isOpen].
  /// 
  /// Default: `false`
  bool initiallyOpen;
}

@State()
DropdownButtonState extends UiState {
  /// Whether the [DropdownButton]'s child [DropdownMenu] is open.
  /// 
  /// Initial: [DropdownButtonProps.initiallyOpen]
  bool isOpen;
}

    Bad:

    @Props()
DropdownButtonProps extends UiProps {
  bool isDisabled;
  bool initiallyOpen;
}

@State()
DropdownButtonState extends UiState {
  bool isOpen;
}

Common Pitfalls #

Below you’ll find some common errors / issues that new consumers run into when building custom components.

Don’t see the issue you're having? Tell us about it.

null object does not have a method 'call'

ⓧ Exception: The null object does not have a method 'call'.

This error is thrown when you call a @Factory() function that has not been initialized due to the over_react transformer not running, you’ll get this error.

Make sure you’ve followed the setup instructions.

404 on .dart file #

ⓧ GET http://localhost:8080/src/your_component.dart
ⓧ An error occurred loading file: http://localhost:8080/src/your_component.dart

When the over_react transformer finds something wrong with your file, it logs an error in Pub and causes the invalid file to 404. This ensures that when the transformer breaks, pub build will break, and you’ll know about it.

Check your pub serve output for errors.

Contributing #

Yes please! (Please read our contributor guidelines first)

Versioning #

The over_react library adheres to Semantic Versioning:

  • Any API changes that are not backwards compatible will bump the major version (and reset the minor / patch).
  • Any new functionality that is added in a backwards-compatible manner will bump the minor version (and reset the patch).
  • Any backwards-compatible bug fixes that are added will bump the patch version.

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Publisher

verified publisherworkiva.com

Metadata

A library for building statically-typed React UI components using Dart.

Homepage
Repository (GitHub)
View/report issues

License

unknown (license)

Dependencies

analyzer, barback, react, source_span, transformer_utils, w_flux

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