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Simple but powerfull Flutter navigation with riverpod and Navigator 2.0

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Riverpod navigation #

If you are interested in the motivation why the package was created and a detailed description of what problems it solves, read this MEDIUM article: Simple Flutter navigation with Riverpod.

Simple but powerful Flutter navigation with riverpod and Navigator 2.0 that solves the following: #

  • Strictly typed navigation:
    you can use navigate([HomeSegment(),BookSegment(id: 2)]); instead of navigate('home/book;id:2'); in your code
  • asynchronous navigation ...
    ... is the case when changing the navigation state requires asynchronous actions (such as loading or saving data from the Internet)
  • multiple providers ...
    ... is the case when the navigation state depends on multiple riverpod providers
  • easier coding:
    the navigation problem is reduced to manipulating the class collection
  • better separation of concerns: UI x Model (thanks to riverpod 👍):
    navigation logic can be developed and tested without typing a single flutter widget
  • nested navigation
    just use the nested riverpod ProviderScope() and Flutter Router widget

Index #

Terminology used #

Take a look at the following terms related to URL path home/book;id=2

  • string-path: e.g. home/book;id=2
  • string-segment: the string-path consists of two slash-delimited string-segments (home and book;id=2)
  • typed-segment describes coresponding string-segments (HomeSegment() for 'home' and BookSegment(id:2) for 'book;id=2')
    typed-segment is class TypedSegment {}'s descendant.
  • typed-path describes coresponding string-path ([HomeSegment(), BookSegment(id:2)])
    typed-path is typedef TypedPath = List<TypedSegment>
  • Flutter Navigator 2.0 navigation-stack is uniquely determined by the TypedPath (where each TypedPath's TypedSegment instance corresponds to a screen and page instance):
    pages = [MaterialPage (child: HomeScreen(HomeSegment())), MaterialPage (child: BookScreen(BookSegment(id:2)))]

Simple example #

Create an application using these simple steps:

Step1 - define classes for the typed-segment #

class HomeSegment extends TypedSegment {
  const HomeSegment();
  factory HomeSegment.decode(UrlPars pars) => const HomeSegment();
}

class BookSegment extends TypedSegment {
  const BookSegment({required this.id});
  factory BookSegment.decode(UrlPars pars) => BookSegment(id: pars.getInt('id'));

  final int id;
  @override
  void encode(UrlPars pars) => pars.setInt('id', id);
}

encode and decncode helps to convert typed-segment to string-segment and back.

Step2 - configure AppNavigator... #

... by extending the RNavigator class.

class AppNavigator extends RNavigator {
  AppNavigator(Ref ref)
      : super(
          ref,
          [
            /// 'home' and 'book' strings are used in web URL, e.g. 'home/book;id=2'
            /// decode is used to decode URL to HomeSegment/BookSegment
            /// HomeScreen/BookScreen.new are screen builders for a given segment
            RRoute<HomeSegment>(
              'home',
              HomeSegment.decode,
              HomeScreen.new,
            ),
            RRoute<BookSegment>(
              'book',
              BookSegment.decode,
              BookScreen.new,
            ),
          ],
        );
}

Step3 - use the AppNavigator in MaterialApp.router #

If you are familiar with the Flutter Navigator 2.0 and the riverpod, the following code is clear:

class App extends ConsumerWidget {
  const App({Key? key}) : super(key: key);

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context, WidgetRef ref) {
    final navigator = ref.read(navigatorProvider) as AppNavigator;
    return MaterialApp.router(
      title: 'Riverpod Navigator Example',
      routerDelegate: navigator.routerDelegate,
      routeInformationParser: navigator.routeInformationParser,
    );
  }
}

Step4 - configure riverpod ProviderScope ... #

... in main entry point

void main() => runApp(
      ProviderScope(
        // [HomeSegment()] as home TypedPath and navigator constructor are required
        overrides: riverpodNavigatorOverrides([HomeSegment()], AppNavigator.new),
        child: const App(),
      ),
    );

Step5 - code screen widgets #

There are two screen to code: HomeScreen and BookScreen. Extend this screens from RScreen widget.

class BookScreen extends RScreen<AppNavigator, BookSegment> {
  const BookScreen(BookSegment segment) : super(segment);

  @override
  Widget buildScreen(ref, navigator, appBarLeading) => Scaffold(
        appBar: AppBar(
          title: Text('Book ${segment.id}'),
          /// [appBarLeading] overrides standard back button behavior
          leading: appBarLeading,
        ),
        body: 
...

RScreen widget:

  • replaces the standard Android back button behavior (using Flutter BackButtonListener widget)
  • will provide appBarLeading icon to replace the standard AppBar back button behavior

This is essential for asynchronous navigation to function properly.

And that's all

See:

The link Go to book: [3, 13, 103] in the running example would not make much sense in the real Books application. But it shows the navigation to the four-screen navigation stack:

  • string-path = home/book;id=3/book;id=13/book;id=103.
  • typed-path = [HomeSegment(), BookSegment(id:3), BookSegment(id:13), BookSegment(id:103)].
  • navigation-stack (flutter Navigator.pages) = [MaterialPage (child: HomeScreen(HomeSegment())), MaterialPage (child: BookScreen(BookSegment(id:3))), MaterialPage (child: BookScreen(BookSegment(id:13))), MaterialPage (child: BookScreen(BookSegment(id:103)))].

Development and testing without GUI #

Navigation logic can be developed and tested without typing a single flutter widget:

  test('navigation model', () async {
    final container = ProviderContainer(
      overrides: riverpodNavigatorOverrides([HomeSegment()], AppNavigator.new),
    );
    final navigator = container.read(navigatorProvider);
    
    Future navigTest(Future action(), String expected) async {
      await action();
      await container.pump();
      expect(navigator.navigationStack2Url, expected);
    }

    await navigTest(
      () => navigator.navigate([HomeSegment(), BookSegment(id: 1)]),
      'home/book;id=1',
    );
    await navigTest(
      () => navigator.pop(),
      'home',
    );
    await navigTest(
      () => navigator.push(BookSegment(id: 2)),
      'home/book;id=2',
    );
    await navigTest(
      () => navigator.replaceLast<BookSegment>((old) => BookSegment(id: old.id + 1)),
      'home/book;id=3',
    );
  });

URL parsing #

Flutter Navigator 2.0 and its MaterialApp.router constructor requires a URL parser (RouteInformationParser). We use URL syntax, see section 3.3. of RFC 3986, note *For example, one URI producer might use a segment such as "name;v=1.1"..."

Each TypedSegment must be converted to string-segment and back. The format of string-segment is

<unique TypedSegment id>[;<property name>=<property value>]*, e.g. book;id=3.

encode/decode example: #

Instead of directly converting to/from the string, we convert to/from
typedef UrlPars = Map<String,String>

So far, we support the following types of TypedSegment property:
int, double, bool, String, int?, double?, bool?, String?.

class TestSegment extends TypedSegment {
  const TestSegment({required this.i, this.s, required this.b, this.d});

  factory TestSegment.decode(UrlPars pars) => TestSegment(
        i: pars.getInt('i'),
        s: pars.getStringNull('s'),
        b: pars.getBool('b'),
        d: pars.getDoubleNull('d'),
      );

  @override
  void encode(UrlPars pars) => 
    pars.setInt('i', i).setString('s', s).setBool('b', b).setDouble('d', d);

  final int i;
  final String? s;
  final bool b;
  final double? d;
}

After registering TestSegment by RRoute<TestSegment>('test',TestSegment.decode, the following URL's are correct:

  • test;i=1;b=true
  • test;i=2;b=true;d=12.6;s=abcd
  • test;i=2;b=true/test;i=2;b=true;d=12.6;s=abcd/test;i=3;b=false

Customization #

Every aspect of URL conversion can be customized, e.g.

  • support another property type (as a DateTime, providing getDateTime, getDateTimeNull and setDateTime in your own UrlPars's extension)
    See extension UrlParsEx on UrlPars in path_parser.dart.
  • rewrite the entire IPathParser and use a completely different URL syntax. Then use your parser in AppNavigator:
class AppNavigator extends RNavigator {
  AppNavigator(Ref ref)
      : super(
....
  	pathParserCreator: (router) => MyPathParser(router),
...

Place navigation events in AppNavigator #

It is good practice to place the code for all events (specific to navigation) in AppNavigator. These can then be used not only for writing screen widgets, but also for testing.

class AppNavigator extends RNavigator {
  ......
  /// navigate to next book
  Future toNextBook() => replaceLast<BookSegment>((last) => BookSegment(id: last.id + 1));
  /// navigate to home
  Future toHome() => navigate([HomeSegment()]);
}

In the screen widget, it is used as follows:

...
ElevatedButton(
  onPressed: navigator.toNextBook,
  child: Text('Book $id'),
), 
...

and in the test code as follows:

  await navigTest(navigator.toNextBook, 'home/book;id=3');

Async navigation #

Async navigation means that navigation is delayed until the asynchronous actions are performed. These actions for each screen are:

  • opening (before opening a new screen)
  • closing (before closing the old screen)
  • replacing (before replacing the screen with a screen with the same segment type)

The opening and closing actions can return an asynchronous result that can be used later when building a new screen.

Define classes for the typed-segment #

Apply a AsyncSegment mixin with appropriate type (String) to TypedSegment's.

class HomeSegment extends TypedSegment with AsyncSegment<String>{
  ....
}

class BookSegment extends TypedSegment  with AsyncSegment<String>{
  ....
}

Configure AppNavigator #

Add opening, closing or replacing actions to RRoute definition.

class AppNavigator extends RNavigator {
  AppNavigator(Ref ref)
      : super(
          ref,
          [
            RRoute<HomeSegment>(
              'home',
              HomeSegment.decode,
              HomeScreen.new,
              opening: (sNew) => sNew.setAsyncValue(_simulateAsyncResult('Home.opening', 2000)),
            ),
            RRoute<BookSegment>(
              'book',
              BookSegment.decode,
              BookScreen.new,
              opening: (sNew) => sNew.setAsyncValue(_simulateAsyncResult('Book ${sNew.id}.opening', 240)),
              replacing: (sOld, sNew) => sNew.setAsyncValue(_simulateAsyncResult('Book ${sOld.id}=>${sNew.id}.replacing', 800)),
              closing: (sOld) => Future.delayed(Duration(milliseconds: 500)),
            ),
          ],
        );
....
}

// simulates an action such as saving-to/loading-from external storage
Future<String> _simulateAsyncResult(String asyncResult, int msec) async {
  await Future.delayed(Duration(milliseconds: msec));
  return '$asyncResult: async result after $msec msec';
}

Use the result of an asynchronous action when building the screen #

...
Text('Async result: "${segment.asyncValue}"'),
...

See:

Other features and examples #

Installation of examples #

After cloning the riverpod_navigator repository, go to examples/doc subdirectory and execute:

  • flutter create .
  • flutter pub get

See the /lib subdirectory for examples.

riverpod_navigator

As you can see, changing the Input state starts the async calculation. The result of the calculations is Output state which can have app-specific Side effects. Navigator 2.0 RouterDelegate is then synchronized with navigationStackProvider

Roadmap #

I prepared this package for my new project. Its further development depends on whether the community will use it.

  • proofreading because my English is not good. Community help is warmly welcomed.
  • parameterization allowing Cupertino

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Simple but powerfull Flutter navigation with riverpod and Navigator 2.0

Repository (GitHub)
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Documentation

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License

MIT (license)

Dependencies

flutter, flutter_hooks, flutter_spinkit, hooks_riverpod, meta, riverpod_navigator_core

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