# ReactN [![Tweet](https://img.shields.io/twitter/url/http/shields.io.svg?style=social)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=ReactN%20offers%20global%20state%20management%20baked%20into%20React!&url=https://github.com/CharlesStover/reactn&via=CharlesStover&hashtags=react,reactjs,javascript,typescript,webdev,webdevelopment) [![version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/reactn.svg)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/reactn) [![minzipped size](https://img.shields.io/bundlephobia/minzip/reactn.svg)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/reactn) [![downloads](https://img.shields.io/npm/dt/reactn.svg)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/reactn) [![build](https://api.travis-ci.com/CharlesStover/reactn.svg)](https://travis-ci.com/CharlesStover/reactn/) [![chat](https://img.shields.io/discord/102860784329052160.svg)](https://discord.gg/Tae4vuX) ReactN is a extension of React that includes global state management. It treats global state as if it were built into React itself -- without the boilerplate of third party libraries. [![banner](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/343837/53267742-fe3f4900-3698-11e9-82fd-3c3a1decb7fd.png)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/reactn) For support, reach out to us on the [Reactiflux Discord channel #reactn](https://discord.gg/Tae4vuX). 💗 this project? [Become a sponsor.](https://github.com/sponsors/CharlesStover) ## Install - `npm install reactn` or - `yarn add reactn` ## Features ### No boilerplate For function components, `import { useGlobal } from 'reactn';` to harness the power of React Hooks! For class components, simply change `import React from 'react';` to `import React from 'reactn';`, and your React class components will have global state built in! If you prefer class decorators, you can continue to `import React from 'react';` for your components and additionally `import reactn from 'reactn';` for access to the `@reactn` decorator! ### Intuitive #### Function components Global state in function components behaves almost identically to local state. You use `[ global, setGlobal ] = useGlobal()` to access the entire global state object. You use `[ value, setValue ] = useGlobal(property)` where `property` is the property of the global state you want to get and set. Global reducers in function components behaves almost identically to local reducers. You use `dispatch = useDispatch(reducerFunction)` to mimic the behavior of `useReducer`, where instead of providing an initial state, the state of the reducer is the ReactN global state object. You use `dispatch = useDispatch(reducerName)` to use a reducer that was added by the `addReducer` helper function. You use `dispatch = useDispatch(reducerFunction, property)` or `[ value, dispatch ] = useDispatch(reducerFunction, property)` to apply a reducer specifically to a global state property. This is very similar to React's native `useReducer` functionality. #### Class components Global state in class components behaves exactly like local state! You use `this.global` and `this.setGlobal` to get and set the global state. You use `this.dispatch.reducerName()` to dispatch to a reducer that was added by the `addReducer` helper function. The `@reactn` decorator allows you to convert classes that extend `React.Component` to ReactN global state components. #### Map state to props If you prefer Redux's `connect` functionality, pure functions, or are dealing with deeply nested objects, a [`withGlobal` higher-order component](#withglobal) is also available. ## Table of contents - [Install](#install) - [Features](#features) - [No boilerplate](#no-boilerplate) - [Intuitive](#intuitive) - [Getting started](#getting-started) - [Managing multiple states](#managing-multiple-states) - [Initializing your state](#initializing-your-state) - [TypeScript support](#typescript-support) - [Developer tools](#developer-tools) - [Examples](#examples) - [Class components](#class-components) - [Class components (with decorator)](#class-components-with-decorator) - [Function components](#function-components-1) - [Helper functions](#helper-functions) - [addCallback](#addcallback) - [addReducer](#addreducer) - [getDispatch](#getdispatch) - [getGlobal](#getglobal) - [removeCallback](#removecallback) - [resetGlobal](#resetglobal) - [setGlobal](#setglobal) - [useDispatch](#usedispatch) - [useGlobal](#useglobal) - [withGlobal](#withglobal) - [withInit](#withinit) - [Known issues](#known-issues) - [Terminology](#terminology) - [Frequently asked questions](https://github.com/CharlesStover/reactn/blob/master/FAQ.md) - [Support](#support) ## Getting started ### Managing multiple states **This README is for managing a single global state.** This is ideal for most applications. If you are using concurrent server-side rendering or otherwise want to work with multiple global states, follow the README for the [Provider](https://github.com/CharlesStover/reactn/blob/master/Provider.md) component, which allows you to limit a ReactN state to a React Context. If you are unsure whether or not you need multiple global states, then you do not need multiple global states. ### Initializing your state You can initialize your global state using the `setGlobal` helper function. In most cases, you do not want to initialize your global state in a component lifecycle method, as the global state should exist before your components attempt to render. It is recommended that you initialize the global state just prior to mounting with `ReactDOM`. ```javascript import React, { setGlobal } from 'reactn'; import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'; import App from './App'; // Set an initial global state directly: setGlobal({ cards: [], disabled: false, initial: 'values', x: 1, }); ReactDOM.render(, document.getElementById('root')); ``` ### TypeScript support ReactN supports TypeScript out of the box! It is written entirely in TypeScript. This gives it powerful intellisense, auto-complete, and error-catching abilities. TypeScript can maintain inferred global state and reducer shape of a [Providers](https://github.com/CharlesStover/reactn/blob/master/Provider.md). Unfortunately, without your help, it cannot track the shape of the "default" global state -- the one manipulated by the `setGlobal` and `addReducer` helper functions. In order to tell TypeScript the shape of your global state when you are not using a Provider, create a file at `src/global.d.ts` with the following contents: ```javascript import 'reactn'; declare module 'reactn/default' { export interface Reducers { append: ( global: State, dispatch: Dispatch, ...strings: any[] ) => Pick; increment: ( global: State, dispatch: Dispatch, i: number, ) => Pick; doNothing: ( global: State, dispatch: Dispatch, ) => null; } export interface State { count: number; value: string; } } ``` In the above file, we extend the `Reducers` and `State` interfaces in the `'reactn/default'` file. While you will never use `'reactn/default'` in your code, ReactN will use it to determine the shape of the default global state. The above example will add `append`, `increment`, and `doNothing` to your `useDispatch` and `this.dispatch` auto-completion and typing. The parameters and return values will also be correctly typed. In addition, it will also add `count` and `value` to your `useGlobal` and `this.global` auto-competion with the appropriate types as well. ### Developer tools ReactN is compatible with the [Redux DevTools extension](https://github.com/zalmoxisus/redux-devtools-extension#installation). - Install the Redux DevTools extension to your browser or environment. - Install the `redux` package to your project via `npm` or `yarn`. This is used to create a middleware Redux store for the Redux DevTools extension. - You do _not_ have to import or use the `redux` package anywhere in your project. - You do _not_ need to create a Redux store, reducer, or actions. - `redux` is just a peer dependency. It will be managed automatically. - Follow the instructions on the [ReactN DevTools README](https://github.com/CharlesStover/reactn-devtools#readme). ### Examples #### Class components By importing React from `reactn` instead of `react`, you bake global state directly into the React namespace. As a result, `Component` and `PureComponent` will have access to the `global` and `dispatch` member variables and `setGlobal` method. ```javascript import React from 'reactn'; // <-- reactn import Card from '../card/card'; // Render all cards in the global state. export default class Cards extends React.PureComponent { componentDidMount() { // Hydrate the global state with the response from /api/cards. this.setGlobal( // Despite fetch returning a Promise, ReactN can handle it. fetch('/api/cards') .then(response => response.json()) // Set the global `cards` property to the response. .then(cards => ({ cards })) // Fail gracefully, set the global `error` // property to the caught error. .catch(err => ({ error: err })), ); } render() { // For each card in the global state, render a Card component. // this.global returns the global state, // much the same way this.state returns the local state. return (

{this.global.cards.map(card => ( ))}

); } } ``` #### Class components (with decorator) By importing React and ReactN separately, the React namespace remains unchanged. You can inject ReactN's global functionality into your vanilla React component by using the `@reactn` decorator imported from the `reactn` package. ```javascript import React from 'react'; import reactn from 'reactn'; // <-- reactn import Card from '../card/card'; // Render all cards in the global state. @reactn export default class Cards extends React.PureComponent { componentDidMount() { // Hydrate the global state with the response from /api/cards. this.setGlobal( // Despite fetch returning a Promise, ReactN can handle it. fetch('/api/cards') .then(response => response.json()) // Set the global `cards` property to the response. .then(cards => ({ cards })) // Fail gracefully, set the global `error` // property to the caught error. .catch(err => ({ error: err })), ); } render() { // For each card in the global state, render a Card component. // this.global returns the global state, // much the same way this.state returns the local state. return (

{this.global.cards.map(card => ( ))}

); } } ``` #### Function components Using [React Hooks](https://reactjs.org/docs/hooks-intro.html), you can harness `useGlobal` to access the global state. ```javascript import React, { useGlobal } from 'reactn'; // <-- reactn import Card from '../card/card'; // Render all cards in the global state. const Cards = () => { // Use the hook to get all cards in the global state. // setCards is not used in this example. const [cards, setCards] = useGlobal('cards'); // For each card in the global state, render a Card component. return (

{cards.map(card => ( ))}

); }; export default Cards; ``` You may also use the `useDispatch` hook analogously to the `useReducer` hook by providing a function to `useDispatch`. ```javascript import React, { useDispatch } from 'reactn'; // <-- reactn const incrementReducer = (global, dispatch, action) => ({ count: global.count + action.amount, }); const decrementReducer = (global, dispatch, action) => ({ count: global.count - action.amount, }); const MyComponent = () => { const increment = useDispatch(incrementReducer); const decrement = useDispatch(decrementReducer); return (

); }; export default MyComponent; ``` By providing a second parameter to `useDispatch` that is the key of the global state, the return value of that reducer will set that property of the global state. This allows you to write your reducers similar to React's `useReducer`. ```javascript import React, { useDispatch } from 'reactn'; // <-- reactn const incrementReducer = (count, action) => count + action.amount; const decrementReducer = (count, action) => count - action.amount; const MyComponent = () => { const increment = useDispatch(incrementReducer, 'count'); const decrement = useDispatch(decrementReducer, 'count'); return (

); }; export default MyComponent; ``` #### Helper functions ##### addCallback Use `addCallback` to execute a function whenever the state changes. The return value of the callback will update the global state, so be sure to only return `undefined` or `null` if you do not want the global state to change. Be aware that always returning a new state value will result in an infinite loop, as the new global state will trigger the very same callback. The only parameter is the callback function. ```javascript import { addCallback, setGlobal } from 'reactn'; // Every time the global state changes, this function will execute. addCallback(global => { alert(`The new value is ${global.value}!`); // If the global state was changed to 1, change it to 2. if (global.value === 1) { return { value: 2 }; } // If the global state is anything other than 1, don't change it. return null; }); setGlobal({ value: 1 }); // The new value is 1! // The new value is 2! ``` The return value of `addCallback` is a function that, when executed, removes the callback. ```javascript import { addCallback, setGlobal } from 'reactn'; const removeAlert = addCallback(global => { alert(global.value); }); // The callback causes an alert on global state change: setGlobal({ value: 1 }); // 1 setGlobal({ value: 2 }); // 2 // No longer execute the callback. removeAlert(); // No alerts: setGlobal({ value: 3 }); setGlobal({ value: 4 }); ``` ##### addReducer Use `addReducer` to add a reducer to your global state. The first parameter is the name of your reducer. You will access your reducer by this name. `this.dispatch.reducerName` or `useDispatch('reducerName')`. The second parameter is the reducer function. The reducer function that you _write_ has at least two parameters: first, the global state; second, a map of your reducers. The third and onward parameters are the arguments that you pass when dispatching. The reducer function that you _use_ when dispatching does not contain the global state or map of reducers. Those are prefixed for you automatically. ```javascript import { addReducer, setGlobal, useDispatch, useGlobal } from 'reactn'; // Initialize the global state with the value 0. setGlobal({ value: 0 }); // When the increment reducer is called, increment the global value by X. addReducer('increment', (global, dispatch, x = 1) => ({ value: global.value + x, })); function MyComponent() { const increment = useDispatch('increment'); const [value] = useGlobal('value'); return ( <> The value is{' '} ); } ``` ###### useGlobal(keyof State) `useGlobal('property')` returns a specific global state property and a function for updating that property. ```javascript import React, { useGlobal } from 'reactn'; const getRandomNumber = () => Math.floor(Math.random() * 100); function MyComponent() { const [myNumber, setMyNumber] = useGlobal('myNumber'); return ( ); } ``` ##### withGlobal Use `withGlobal` to return a higher-order component to convert global state values into props. This is highly analogous to `react-redux`'s `connect` function. The first parameter is a function for getting global state values. The second parameter is a function for setting global state values (similar to `dispatch`). ```javascript import React, { withGlobal } from 'reactn'; // A button that displays the value and, when clicked, increments it. function MyComponent(props) { return ( <> My value is ; }); ``` ## Known issues - `super(props)` is incompatible with TypeScript. #126 - Components re-render once per changed subscribed property. #129 - Class components use `componentWillUpdate` without the `UNSAFE_` prefix. #134 - Class components are incompatible with Providers in newer versions of React. #132 ## Terminology ReactN strictly maintains accurate terminology for its data structures. The majority of ReactN's data structures are meant to be black box to simplify the user experience, only referenced by name in the package's code. They are outlined here for transparency and to ease community contributions. ### Dispatcher When you pass a reducer to ReactN via [`addReducer`](#addreducer), [`addReducers`](#addreducers), [`useDispatch`](#usedispatch), or [`withInit`](#withinit), ReactN returns a dispatcher. A dispatcher is a function that wraps a reducer, passing the global state and global reducers as parameters tying its return value to the global state. Dispatchers and reducers have a 1-to-1 relationship and are tightly bound to each other. In documentation, dispatchers are often referred to as reducers to decrease the cognitive overhead and conceptually strengthen their 1-to-1 relationship. For example, an "add" reducer may be defined as follows: ```javascript function add(global, _dispatch, n) { return { count: global.count + n }; } ``` When you call this reducer, you only need to call `add(1)`. This difference in call signature is because you are calling the _dispatcher_. A dispatcher, in pseudo-code, conceptually looks as follows: ```javascript function dispatchAdd(n) { const { dispatchers, set, state } = globalStateManager; const newGlobalState = add(state, dispatchers, n); return set(newGlobalState); } ``` ### Global state manager The global state manager is the core object that powers ReactN. It maintains the state, global dispatchers, and subscriptions. #### Default global state manager The default global state manager is the global state manager used by all of ReactN _unless otherwise specified_. To specify a different global state manager, you must use a [Provider](https://github.com/CharlesStover/reactn/blob/master/Provider.md). ReactN Components and Hooks will attempt to find a global state manager via the Context. If one does not exist via Context, it will fallback to the default global state manager. ### Reducer A reducer is a function that accepts the current global state, a map of all global reducers, and any number of additional parameters. A reducer returns a change to the global state. It does not need to return the entire new global state. It only needs to return key-value pairs of changed properties. An example "add" reducer may be defined as follows: ```javascript function add(global, _dispatch, n) { return { count: global.count + n }; } ``` A reducer may be asynchronous (return a Promise) and asynchronously dispatch other reducers. You can use a reducer that dispatches other reducers to create a "saga" of state changes. ```javascript async function mySaga(global, dispatch, shouldMultiply) { if (global.count < 0) { await dispatch.add(1); } await dispatch.subtract(2); if (shouldMultiply) { await dispatch.multiply(3); } } mySaga(true); // shouldMultiply = true ``` #### Property reducer A property reducer is a reducer that only changes one property. They only receive that property's value as a parameter instead of the entire global state object, and they do not receive the dispatch object as a parameter at all. An example "add" property reducer may be defined as follows: ```javascript function add(count, n) { return count + n; } ``` You must specify the property when _using_ a property reducer. Property reducers cannot be added to or remembered by the global state manager. ```javascript import React, { useDispatch, useGlobal } from 'reactn'; function add(count, n) { return count + n; } function MyComponent() { const [count] = useGlobal('count'); // Use the "add" property reducer on the "count" property. const dispatch = useDispatch(add, 'count'); return ; } ``` ## Sponsor If you are a fan of this project, you may [become a sponsor](https://github.com/sponsors/CharlesStover) via GitHub's Sponsors Program. ## Support For support, reach out to us on the [Reactiflux Discord channel #reactn](https://discord.gg/Tae4vuX). [![chat](https://img.shields.io/discord/102860784329052160.svg)](https://discord.gg/Tae4vuX)

	Stars	Issues	Version	Updated	Created
mobx	27,190	54	6.12.3	22 days ago	8 years ago
reactn	1,900	43	2.2.7	4 years ago	6 years ago
redux	60,448	41	5.0.1	4 months ago	13 years ago
unstated-next			1.1.0	5 years ago	5 years ago
vue	44,471	1,057	3.4.23	3 days ago	10 years ago

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