Use React.Context To Allow Data-catalogs To Easily Connect To DKAN APIs

Introduction

In the current build of our data-catalog application, our components contain both the logic and render elements for an API endpoint. This makes it very difficult to make any markup changes, as only CSS can be customized. However, with the introduction of React Context, we can now separate the logic and presentation layers of our application. This will enable our component library to focus on the logic and allow the catalog applications to focus on the presentation. In this article, we will explore how to use React Context to allow data-catalogs to easily connect to DKAN APIs.

The Problem with Current Implementation

In our current implementation, our components contain both the logic and render elements for an API endpoint. This makes it very difficult to make any markup changes, as only CSS can be customized. For example, if we want to change the layout of a component, we would have to modify the underlying logic of the component, which can be a complex and time-consuming process. This also makes it difficult for catalog developers to customize the presentation of the data, as they would have to modify the underlying logic of the component.

Benefits of Using React Context

Using React Context will allow us to separate the logic and presentation layers of our application. This will enable our component library to focus on the logic and allow the catalog applications to focus on the presentation. This means that when the DKAN core team releases new features, we can update our components to pass that information via Context and catalog developers can decide how they want to present the data. This will also make it easier for catalog developers to customize the presentation of the data, as they will only need to modify the presentation layer of the application.

Initial APIs to Include in Context

To get started with using React Context to connect to DKAN APIs, we will need to include the following APIs in our Context:

Search API

The Search API is used to search for datasets and other metadata in the DKAN API. We will need to include this API in our Context so that catalog developers can easily search for datasets and other metadata.

Dataset from Metastore

The Dataset from Metastore API is used to retrieve a dataset from the metastore. We will need to include this API in our Context so that catalog developers can easily retrieve datasets from the metastore.

General Metastore Endpoint

The General Metastore Endpoint API is used to retrieve metadata from the metastore. We will need to include this API in our Context so that catalog developers can easily retrieve metadata from the metastore.

Datastore for Tables

The Datastore for Tables API is used to retrieve tables from the datastore. We will need to include this API in our Context so that catalog developers can easily retrieve tables from the datastore.

Implementing React Context

To implement React Context, we will need to create a Context object that will hold the APIs that we want to include in our Context. We will then need to create a Provider component that will wrap our application and provide the Context object to our components.

Creating the Context Object

To create the Context object, we will need to create a new file called context.js and add the following code:

import { createContext, useState, useEffect } from 'react';

const DKANContext = createContext();

const DKANProvider = ({ children }) => {
  const [searchResults, setSearchResults] = useState([]);
  const [dataset, setDataset] = useState({});
  const [metadata, setMetadata] = useState({});
  const [tables, setTables] = useState([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    // Fetch data from DKAN API
  }, []);

  return (
    <DKANContext.Provider value={{
      searchResults,
      dataset,
      metadata,
      tables,
    }}>
      {children}
    </DKANContext.Provider>
  );
};

export { DKANProvider, DKANContext };

Creating the Provider Component

To create the Provider component, we will need to create a new file called provider.js and add the following code:

import React from 'react';
import { DKANProvider, DKANContext } from './context';

const Provider = ({ children }) => {
  return (
    <DKANProvider>
      {children}
    </DKANProvider>
  );
};

export default Provider;

Using the Context in Our Components

To use the Context in our components, we will need to import the DKANContext and use the useContext hook to access the Context object.

import React from 'react';
import { useContext } from 'react';
import { DKANContext } from './context';

const MyComponent = () => {
  const { searchResults, dataset, metadata, tables } = useContext(DKANContext);

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Search Results</h1>
      <ul>
        {searchResults.map((result) => (
          <li key={result.id}>{result.name}</li>
        ))}
      </ul>
      <h1>Dataset</h1>
      <p>{dataset.name}</p>
      <h1>Metadata</h1>
      <p>{metadata.description}</p>
      <h1>Tables</h1>
      <ul>
        {tables.map((table) => (
          <li key={table.id}>{table.name}</li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
};

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored how to use React Context to allow data-catalogs to easily connect to DKAN APIs. We have created a Context object that holds the APIs that we want to include in our Context and created a Provider component that wraps our application and provides the Context object to our components. We have also used the useContext hook to access the Context object in our components. This will enable our component library to focus on the logic and allow the catalog applications to focus on the presentation. This means that when the DKAN core team releases new features, we can update our components to pass that information via Context and catalog developers can decide how they want to present the data.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored how to use React Context to allow data-catalogs to easily connect to DKAN APIs. We created a Context object that holds the APIs that we want to include in our Context and created a Provider component that wraps our application and provides the Context object to our components. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about using React Context to connect to DKAN APIs.

Q: What is React Context?

A: React Context is a feature in React that allows you to share data between components without passing props down manually. It's a way to manage global state in your application.

Q: Why do I need to use React Context to connect to DKAN APIs?

A: Using React Context to connect to DKAN APIs allows you to separate the logic and presentation layers of your application. This makes it easier to update your components to pass new information from the DKAN API and allows catalog developers to customize the presentation of the data.

Q: How do I create a Context object?

A: To create a Context object, you need to create a new file and import the createContext function from React. You then need to create a new instance of the createContext function and pass in a default value for the Context.

Q: How do I create a Provider component?

A: To create a Provider component, you need to create a new file and import the DKANProvider component from your Context file. You then need to wrap your application with the DKANProvider component and pass in the Context object as a prop.

Q: How do I use the Context in my components?

A: To use the Context in your components, you need to import the useContext hook from React and use it to access the Context object. You can then use the values from the Context object in your component.

Q: Can I use multiple Context objects in my application?

A: Yes, you can use multiple Context objects in your application. However, you need to make sure that you are not using the same Context object in multiple places in your application.

Q: How do I update the Context object?

A: To update the Context object, you need to use the useState hook to update the state of the Context object. You can then use the useEffect hook to update the Context object when the state changes.

Q: Can I use React Context with other state management libraries?

A: Yes, you can use React Context with other state management libraries. However, you need to make sure that you are not using the same state management library in multiple places in your application.

Q: How do I debug my Context object?

A: To debug your Context object, you can use the React DevTools to inspect the state of the Context object. You can also use the console.log function to log the state of the Context object to the console.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some frequently asked questions about using React Context to connect to DKAN APIs. We have covered topics such as creating a Context object, creating a Provider component, using the Context in components, and updating the Context object. We hope that this article has been helpful in answering your questions about using React Context to connect to DKAN APIs.

Additional Resources

• React Context Documentation
• DKAN API Documentation
• React DevTools Documentation

Conclusion

Using React Context to connect to DKAN APIs is a powerful way to manage global state in your application. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a Context object, create a Provider component, and use the Context in your components. We hope that this article has been helpful in answering your questions about using React Context to connect to DKAN APIs.