Wait for sequence of action with a Redux Observable - redux

I have a use case where I need to wait for a sequence of actions before I dispatch another using Redux Observables. I've seen some similar questions but I cannot fathom how I can use these approaches for my given use case.
In essence I want to do something like so:
action$
.ofType(PAGINATION_CLICKED) // This action occurred.
.ofType(FETCH_SUCCESS) // Then this action occurred after.
.map(() => analyticsAction()); // Dispatch analytics.
I would also like to cancel and start that sequence over again if another action of type FETCH_ERROR fires for example.

Great question. The important point is that action$ is a hot/multicast stream of all actions as they are dispatched (it's a Subject). Since it's hot we can combine it multiple times and they'll all be listening to the same stream of actions.
// uses switchMap so if another PAGINATION_CLICKED comes in
// before FETCH_SUCCESS we start over
action$
.ofType(PAGINATION_CLICKED)
.switchMap(() =>
action$.ofType(FETCH_SUCCESS)
.take(1) // <-------------------- very important!
.map(() => analyticsAction())
.takeUntil(action$.ofType(FETCH_ERROR))
);
So every time we receive PAGINATION_CLICKED we'll start listening to that inner Observable chain that listens for a single FETCH_SUCCESS. It's important to have that .take(1) because otherwise we'd continue to listen for more than one FETCH_SUCCESS which might cause strange bugs and even if not is just generally best practice to only take what you need.
We use takeUntil to cancel waiting for FETCH_SUCCESS if we receive FETCH_ERROR first.
As a bonus, if you decide you want also to do some analytics stuff based on the error too, not only start over, you can use race to indeed race between the two streams. First one to emit, wins; the other is unsubscribed.
action$
.ofType(PAGINATION_CLICKED)
.switchMap(() =>
Observable.race(
action$.ofType(FETCH_SUCCESS)
.take(1)
.map(() => analyticsAction()),
action$.ofType(FETCH_ERROR)
.take(1)
.map(() => someOtherAnalyticsAction())
)
);
Here's the same thing, but using race as an instance operator instead of the static one. This is a stylistic preference you can choose. They both do the same thing. Use whichever one is more clear to you.
action$
.ofType(PAGINATION_CLICKED)
.switchMap(() =>
action$.ofType(FETCH_SUCCESS)
.map(() => analyticsAction())
.race(
action$.ofType(FETCH_ERROR)
.map(() => someOtherAnalyticsAction())
)
.take(1)
);

Related

How to have a Subject as a payload in an immutable Ngrx action?

Use case: dispatch an action with a cold observable in the payload.
When an effect catches the action, it subscribes (through mergeMap, switchMap, whatever...) to this observable and send back another action. Classic Ngrx process.
export class ServicesStore {
dispatchObservable(operation$: Observable<unknown>) {
this.store.dispatch(serviceRequestAction({ operation$ }));
}
}
export class ServicesEffects {
serviceRequest$ = createEffect(() =>
this.actions$.pipe(
ofType(serviceRequestAction),
mergeMap((action: ServiceRequestAction) => {
return action.operation$.pipe(
map((result) => {
// send back an action with the result
})
);
})
)
);
}
Usage:
this.servicesStore.dispatch(this.userService.getAll$());
It works well.
But if this observable is a Subject (say MatDialog.open().afterClosed()) it will break the immutable action Ngrx rule.
Because of the inner subscription, the Subject adds an observer into its internal structure, thus breaking the action immutability. It then triggers the Ngrx runtime checks.
Of course I can disable these check, but I am looking for a better away around this. For example, is there a way to clone a Subject ?
Or any other way to allow a Subject into the action payload ?
AFAIK adding a subject to a NgRx Action isn't supported (if you want to keep the runtime checks enabled).
The classic NgRx process is that the effect results in a new action (popular ones are success and failure).

What's the point of using Redux-Thunk vs normal async code? [Examples Included]

I've always struggled to get my head around Redux-thunk, as it really don't understand what great purpose it serves. For example, here's a random Redux-Thunk example I found from a website:
export const addTodo = ({ title, userId }) => {
return dispatch => {
dispatch(addTodoStarted());
axios
.post(ENDPOINT, {
title,
userId,
completed: false
})
.then(res => {
setTimeout(() => {
dispatch(addTodoSuccess(res.data));
}, 2500);
})
.catch(err => {
dispatch(addTodoFailure(err.message));
});
};
};
It's seemingly simple, addTodo is a function that takes in the title and userId and returns a function with dispatch as a parameter, which then uses dispatch once and then again for the response of the HTTP request. Because in this case Redux-Thunk is being used, you would just do dispatch(addTodo(x,x));
Why would I not just do something like this though?
function addTodo(dispatch, title,userId){
dispatch(addTodoStarted());
axios
.post(ENDPOINT, {
title,
userId,
completed: false
})
.then(res => {
setTimeout(() => {
dispatch(addTodoSuccess(res.data));
}, 2500);
})
.catch(err => {
dispatch(addTodoFailure(err.message));
});
}
Then from anywhere, I can just call addTodo(dispatch, x, x);
Why would I use the Redux-Thunk example over my own?
Here are few points through which i will try to explain why should go with redux-thunk.
Its middle ware so it will make dispatch and state object available in every action you define without touching you component code.
When you pass dispatch function which is either from props or from mapDispatchToProps(react-redux) which creates closure. This closure keeps memory consumed till asyc operation finished.
When ever you want to dispatch any action, after completing or in async operation you need to pass dispatch function and in this case you need to modify two files like your component and actions.
If something is already available and tested with lot effort and community support why not use it.
your code will be more readable and modular.
Worst case for both approach, say after completing project, need to change thunk approach, you can easily mock thunk middle ware with your custom middle ware code and resolve it but in case of passing dispatch function it will refactoring all code and search and replace and find way to manage it.

Issue with clearing state from an ngrx/redux store when the user logs out

My application uses ngrx/rxjs. I rely on an ngrx effect in order to signout and clear state from the store.
Unfortunately, because one of my components subscribes to the store through a selector (see below: getLatestMessagesByCounterParty) and because the state is cleared before this component is destroyed, I get the following error:
ERROR TypeError: Cannot read property 'id' of null
at getCurrentUserAccountId
... indicating that the currentUserAccount is null, which is quite logical since I have just cleared the state from the store.
Here is the signout$ effect:
#Effect()
signout$: Observable<Action> = this.actions$
.ofType(authenticated.ActionTypes.SIGNOUT)
.switchMap(() =>
this.sessionSignoutService.signout()
.do(() => {
localStorage.removeItem('authenticated');
localStorage.removeItem('sessionToken');
})
.concatMap(() => [
new ClearMessagesAction(null),
new ClearUserAccountAction(null),//Error thrown here...
go(['/signin'])//Never reached...
]));
Here is the component that subscribes to the logged-in state:
ngOnInit() {
this.store.select(fromRoot.getLatestMessagesByCounterParty)
.subscribe(latestMessages => this.latestMessages = this.messageService.sortMessagesByDate(latestMessages, this.numberOfConversations));
}
And the relevant selectors:
...
const getCurrentUserAccountId = (state: State) => state.userAccount.currentUserAccount.id;
const getMessagesState = (state: State) => state.message.messages;
...
export const getLatestMessagesByCounterParty = createSelector(getCurrentUserAccountId, getMessagesState, fromMessage.latestMessagesByCounterParty);
I am looking for best practices on where, when and how to clear state from the store. Ideally I would like to do that at the last possible time, when the subscribing components have been destroyed.
Can someone please advise?
edit: Let me further refine my comment. My code above should have read as follows.
.concatMap(() => [
new ClearMessagesAction(null),
new ClearUserAccountAction(null),//Error thrown right after this action because selector cannot find id variable on state
go(['/signin'])//Never reached...
]));
As #cgatian said, you might use a filter. But here's what would happen behind the scene with that code :
.concatMap(() => [
new ClearMessagesAction(null),
new ClearUserAccountAction(null),//Error thrown here...
go(['/signin'])//Never reached...
]));
You'd first dispatch an action ClearMessagesAction(null).
Then that action will be handled by your reducer.
___A new state will be produced
___Your selectors will be triggered right after
___An error will occur because you end up with an inconsistent store (as you expect that the other action ClearUserAccountAction(null) was dispatched as the same time and before the selectors kick in)
What you should do to avoid state inconsistency, is either :
- Create one action that you handle in both reducers. This way, your reducers will both be modified and only then, selectors will kick in
- Use a library that allows you to dispatch multiples actions as one (like redux-batched-actions). This way you could write something like that :
batchActions([
new ClearMessagesAction(null), --> selectors not triggered yet
new ClearUserAccountAction(null) --> selectors not triggered yet
]); --> selectors triggered now

.then handler being invoked out of order

My ultimate goal is to assign a chunk of database to class based object. To do this I am utilizing promises in typescript with the help of the .then() function to chain them. However I am running into brick walls.
return(this.httpService.post(someurl, somepayload, someheaders)
.toPromise()
.then(response => response.json())
.then(MyCustomClass.function(MyObject)));
However when this code executes the .then(MyCustomClass.function(MyObject)) before it gets the response.json() which is causing issues in my program.
My question is, why are they occurring in that order and is there any way I can force them to execute in sequence?
You're calling MyCustomClass.function(MyObject), and passing the returned value to then(). What you actually want is to pass a function that, when called, will execute MyCustomClass.function(MyObject):
.then(() => {
MyCustomClass.function(MyObject);
}));

Idiomatic Redux: Dispatch more than one action

I have a Redux application that shows a list of posts. The state is more or less this:
{
posts: [
{id: 1, title: 'My Post'},
{id: 2, title: 'Also this one'},
{id: 3, title: 'Other Post'}
],
visible_post_ids: [1, 2]
}
Whenever I load some posts I add them to posts, then I replace the content of visible_post_ids.
This is my action creator for loading posts:
function loadPosts (filters) {
return function (dispatch, getState) {
return fetch(`/posts.json?filters=${filters}`)
.then((response) => response.json())
.then((posts) => {
dispatch(postsLoaded(posts)) // Will update `posts`
const postIds = posts.map((post) => post.id)
dispatch(updateVisiblePosts(postIds)) // Will update `visible_post_ids`
})
}
}
My question is: is it idiomatic to dispatch two (or more) events from a thunk? Or should I dispatch only one and handle it in various reducers?
Quick answer : there is no problem to dispatch two or more actions from a thunk, I think it's a good practice,especially if API Call response contains answers to two completely different concerns.
I think it depends what you are trying to represent, in your case you can have one action that represent an add of new posts and two different reducers can catch it and do different tasks with it.
But you can see that as two different actions (your example) and it's great too.
As Sergey L said, in your case with a unique action (for your case) it can create an interesting "dependency"
If you don't consider scenario when it is possible to postsLoaded without calling updateVisiblePosts, it is better to handle the state change just in postsLoaded.
Especially if you need them to be in sync. For example, if you need a grantee that visible_post_ids does not contains Ids from not existing/loaded posts. Besides it minimizes the updates as each dispatch will cause processing in React.
On the other hand, having these actions separate can make code more clear as you have very simple implementation for each action.

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