I have an angular application that makes a request to an Http service and calls a switchMap on another Http service. For some reason the request in the switchMap only runs the first time the parent call is called. Otherwise the parent request fires and the switchMap one doesn't, here is the code:
this._receivableService.newTenantDebitCredit(tenantCredit)
.take(1)
.switchMap(result =>
// Refresh the lease receivables before giving result
this._receivableService.getAll({
refresh: true,
where: { leaseId: this.leaseId }
}).take(1).map(() => result)
)
.subscribe(
...
)
How can I make the getAll request in the switch map run every time the newTenantDebitCredit method is called above it?
Edit: Here is the entirety of the function that is called on click. when i click the button the first time for a given unit both methods are executed. If I try a Unit that has already had that method called (without a refresh) only the first method is executed. I realize a lot of this may not be clear it's a rather large project at this point.
public submitTenantCredit() {
this.isLoading = true;
let tenantCredit: NewTenantDebitCreditData;
let receivableDefinitions: ReceivableDefinition[] = [];
// construct receivable defintions for NewTenantDebitData model
receivableDefinitions = this._constructReceivableDefinitions();
// construct data we will be POSTing to server.
tenantCredit = new NewTenantDebitCreditData({
siteId: this._apiConfig.siteId,
leaseId: this.leaseId,
isCredit: true,
receivables: receivableDefinitions,
reason: this.actionReason
});
// make service call and handle response
this._receivableService.newTenantDebitCredit(tenantCredit)
.take(1)
.switchMap(result =>
// Refresh the lease receivables before giving result
this._receivableService.getAll({
refresh: true,
where: { leaseId: this.leaseId }
}).take(1).map(() => result)
)
.take(1)
.subscribe(
(receivables) => {
this.closeReasonModal();
let refreshLeaseId = this.leaseId;
this.leaseId = refreshLeaseId;
this.isLoading = false;
this.refreshBool = !this.refreshBool;
this._debitCreditService.refreshUnitInfo();
this._notifications.success(`The tenant credit for ${this.customerName} - Unit ${this.unitNumber} was submitted successfully`);
},
(error) => {
console.error(error);
this.isLoading = false;
}
)
}
If it helps newTenantDebitCredit() is a HTTP POST request and getAll() is a GET request.
You used take operator. When your service observable will emit then take operator will execute first and take will chain only first emit from observable. Subsequent emit will not taken by your code.
If you want to take all emits from observable then remove take from your code.
Hope it will help.
Testing the Rx code in isolation, here's a mockup. The console logs happen each time, so I think the Rx you're using is ok.
The best guess at a likely culprit is this.refreshBool = !this.refreshBool, but we'd need to see the internals of newTenantDebitCredit and getAll to be definitive.
// Some mocking
const _receivableService = {
newTenantDebitCredit: (tc) => {
console.log('inside newTenantDebitCredit')
return Rx.Observable.of({prop1:'someValue'})
},
getAll: (options) => {
console.log('inside getAll')
return Rx.Observable.of({prop2:'anotherValue'})
}
}
const tenantCredit = {}
// Test
_receivableService.newTenantDebitCredit(tenantCredit)
.take(1)
.switchMap(result => {
console.log('result', result)
return _receivableService.getAll({
refresh: true,
where: { leaseId: this.leaseId }
})
.take(1)
.map(() => result)
})
.take(1)
.subscribe(
(receivables) => {
console.log('receivables', receivables)
//this.refreshBool = !this.refreshBool;
},
(error) => {
console.error(error);
}
)
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/rxjs/5.5.6/Rx.js"></script>
First of all, this has nothing to do with the switchMap operator.
Normaly removing the take(1) would cause this behaviour. In this case it wouldn't because it itsn't a so called hot observable.
The problem is that you are using a http.post. This is a cold observable which means it will only return a value once. That is also the reason why you don't need to unsubscribe. It will NEVER fire twice. Possible sollutions might be:
Using web sockets to get realtime data.
Creating a timer which will periodically fetch the data.
Simply get the data again whenever you need it.
The way you are asking the question
How can I make the getAll request in the switch map run every time the newTenantDebitCredit method is called above it?
actually sounds to me as if you are calling only newTenantDebitCredit from somewhere in your code, expecting the second request to happen; so I think this might be a misunderstanding of how observable chains work. Let's make an example:
const source$ = Observable.of(42);
source$
.map(value => 2 * value)
.subscribe(console.log);
source$
.subscribe(console.log);
What would you expect this to log? If your answer is "It would log 84 twice", then that is wrong: it logs 84 and 42.
Conceptually, your situation is the same. The second request only happens when the observable returned by newTenantDebitCredit() emits; it will not happen anytime some caller calls newTenantDebitCredit. This is because observable chains do not mutate an observable in-place, they only ever return a new observable.
If you want the second request to happen, you have to actually change the definition of the newTenantDebitCredit method to return an observable set up to perform the second request; alternatively, set up a chained observable that you subscribe to instead of calling newTenantDebitCredit.
Not really an answer but I did solve my problem. It will almost certainly be of no use to anyone BUT it was an issue in the receivableService it was not properly cheeking the boolean: refresh and was pulling values from cache after the first time.
Related
So, I happen to have a function as follows:
public getAssemblyTree(id: number) {
....
const request = from(fetch(targetUrl.toString(), { headers: { 'responseType': 'json' }, method: 'GET' }));
request.subscribe(
(response) => {
response.json().then(data => {
(this.parseAssemblyTree(data['flat_assembly_graph']));
}
)
}
)
public updateAssemblyTree(id: number) {
let res = this.getAssemblyTree(id)
this.asmTree.next(res);
}
So, I basically need the data once the observable completes to be returned by the function to be stored in the variable res in the second function(public updateAssemblyTree(id: number) ). Can you guys please let me know on how to do that? I'm very new when it comes to using observables so writing the code down would really help me out. Thank you guy, for your help in advance :)
Assuming that getAssemblyTree returns an observable or a promise, you can just subscribe to it as well. Thus:
this.getAssemblyTree(id).pipe(takeUntil(this.componentDestroyed$))
.subscribe((response) => {
if(response) {
//set your method here.
}
}).
the variable this.componentDestroyed is defined as private componentDestroyed$ = new Subject<void>();
Make sure to also discard of it in your component's ngOnDestroy as so:
this.componentDestroyed$.next();
this.componentDestroyed$.complete();
So what happens here is that your component will keep listening to and responding to changes in the getAssesmblyTree method as long as the component itself is not destroyed. This will only work though if the return type of the method is an Observable or a promise (if it is a promise just wrap it in a from).
Edit: May be overkill, but you could also look into using a store and this way you can subscribe to parts of the state. This way it pairs quite well with async pipes.
I'm at a loose end here and trying to understand the flow of how angular subscriptions work.
I make a call to an API and in the response I set the data in a behaviourSubject. So I can then subscribe to that data in my application.
Normally I would use async pipes in my templates cause its cleaner and it gets rid of all the subscription data for me.
All methods are apart of the same class method.
my first try.....
exportedData: BehaviourSubject = new BehaviourSubject([]);
exportApiCall(id) {
this.loadingSubject.next(true)
this.api.getReport(id).pipe(
catchError((err, caught) => this.errorHandler.errorHandler(err, caught)),
finalize(() => => this.loadingSubject.next(false))
).subscribe(res => {
this.exportedData.next(res)
})
}
export(collection) {
let x = []
this.exportCollection(collection.id); /// calls api
this.exportedData.subscribe(exportData => {
if(exportData){
x = exportData
}
})
}
console.log(x)//// first time it's empthy, then it's populated with the last click of data
/// in the template
<button (click)="export(data)">Export</button>
My problem is....
There is a list of buttons with different ID's. Each ID goes to the API and gives back certain Data. When I click, the console log firstly gives a blank array. Then there after I get the previous(the one I originally clicked) set of data.
I'm obviously not understanding subscriptions, pipes and behavior Subjects correctly. I understand Im getting a blank array because I'm setting the behaviour subject as a blank array.
my other try
export(collection) {
let x = []
this.exportCollection(collection.id).pip(tap(res => x = res)).subscribe()
console.log(x) //// get blank array
}
exportApiCall(id) {
return this.api.getReport(id).pipe(
catchError((err, caught) => this.errorHandler.errorHandler(err, caught))
)
}
Not sure about the first example - the placement of console.log() and what does the method (that is assigned on button click) do - but for the second example, you're getting an empty array because your observable has a delay and TypeScript doesn't wait for its execution to be completed.
You will most likely see that you will always receive your previous result in your console.log() (after updating response from API).
To get the initial results, you can update to such:
public exportReport(collection): void {
this.exportCollection(collection.id).pipe(take(1)).subscribe(res => {
const x: any = res;
console.log(x);
});
}
This will print your current iteration/values. You also forgot to end listening for subscription (either by unsubscribing or performing operators such as take()). Without ending listening, you might get unexpected results later on or the application could be heavily loaded.
Make sure the following step.
better to add console.log inside your functions and check whether values are coming or not.
Open your chrome browser network tab and see service endpoint is get hitting or not.
check any response coming from endpoints.
if it is still not identifiable then use below one to check whether you are getting a response or not
public exportReport(collection): void {
this.http.get(url+"/"+collection.id).subscribe(res=> {console.log(res)});
}
You would use BehaviourSubject, if there needs to be an initial/default value. If not, you can replace it by a Subject. This is why the initial value is empty array as BehaviourSubject gets called once by default. But if you use subject, it wont get called before the api call and you wont get the initial empty array.
exportedData: BehaviourSubject = new BehaviourSubject([]);
Also, you might not need to subscribe here, instead directly return it and by doing so you could avoid using the above subject.
exportApiCall(id) {
this.loadingSubject.next(true);
return this.api.getReport(id).pipe(
catchError((err, caught) => this.errorHandler.errorHandler(err, caught)),
finalize(() => => this.loadingSubject.next(false))
);
}
Console.log(x) needs to be inside the subscription, as subscribe is asynchronous and we dont knw when it might get complete. And since you need this data, you might want to declare in global score.
export(collection) {
// call api
this.exportApiCall(collection.id).subscribe(exportData => {
if (exportData) {
this.x = exportData; // or maybe this.x.push(exportData) ?
console.log(this.x);
}
});
}
I am struggling to understand the difference between the flatMap and concatMap in rxJs.
The most clear answer that I could understand was that here difference-between-concatmap-and-flatmap
So I went and tried things out by my self.
import "./styles.css";
import { switchMap, flatMap, concatMap } from "rxjs/operators";
import { fromFetch } from "rxjs/fetch";
import { Observable } from "rxjs";
function createObs1() {
return new Observable<number>((subscriber) => {
setTimeout(() => {
subscriber.next(1);
subscriber.complete();
}, 900);
});
}
function createObs2() {
return new Observable<number>((subscriber) => {
setTimeout(() => {
subscriber.next(2);
//subscriber.next(22);
//subscriber.next(222);
subscriber.complete();
}, 800);
});
}
function createObs3() {
return new Observable<number>((subscriber) => {
setTimeout(() => {
subscriber.next(3);
//subscriber.next(33);
//subscriber.next(333);
subscriber.complete();
}, 700);
});
}
function createObs4() {
return new Observable<number>((subscriber) => {
setTimeout(() => {
subscriber.next(4);
subscriber.complete();
}, 600);
});
}
function createObs5() {
return new Observable<number>((subscriber) => {
setTimeout(() => {
subscriber.next(5);
subscriber.complete();
}, 500);
});
}
createObs1()
.pipe(
flatMap((resp) => {
console.log(resp);
return createObs2();
}),
flatMap((resp) => {
console.log(resp);
return createObs3();
}),
flatMap((resp) => {
console.log(resp);
return createObs4();
}),
flatMap((resp) => {
console.log(resp);
return createObs5();
})
)
.subscribe((resp) => console.log(resp));
console.log("hellooo");
I have used that playground here playground example
Questions
1)
From my understanding the use of flatMap should mix the outputs so that the console logs are like (1,3,2,4,5). I have tried more than 30 times and always come on the same row (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
What am I doing wrong or have undestood wrong?
2)
If on createObs2() and createObs3() you remove the comments and include the code with multiple emitted events then things get messy. Even if you change to concatMap it messes things and results come mixed. Multiple numbers that I expect only once come multiple times. The result can be (1, 2, 33, 3, 2, 22, 3, 33, 4, 5, 4, 3, 4, 5) Why this happens?
How I test the example on playground. I just remove only 1 letter from the last console.log("hello"). Only one change for example console.log("heloo") and is then observed and project is compiled again and output printed in console.
Edit: The reason I have gone to flatMap and concatMap was to find a replacement for nested subscriptions in angular using the http library.
createObs1().subscribe( (resp1) => {
console.log(resp1);
createObs2().subscribe( (resp2) => {
console.log(resp2);
createObs3().subscribe( (resp3) => {
console.log(resp3);
createObs4().subscribe( (resp4) => {
console.log(resp4);
createObs5().subscribe( (resp5) => {
console.log(resp5);
})
})
})
})
})
Your test scenario is not really sufficient to see the differences between these two operators. In your test case, each observable only emits 1 time. If an observable only emits a single value, there is really no different between concatMap and flatMap (aka mergeMap). The differences can only be seen when there are multiple emissions.
So, let's use a different scenario. Let's have a source$ observable that simply emits an incrementing integer every 1 second. Then, within our "Higher Order Mapping Operator" (concatMap & mergeMap), we will return an observable that emits a variable number of times every 1 second, then completes.
// emit number every second
const source$ = interval(1000).pipe(map(n => n+1));
// helper to return observable that emits the provided number of times
function inner$(max: number, description: string): Observable<string> {
return interval(1000).pipe(
map(n => `[${description}: inner source ${max}] ${n+1}/${max}`),
take(max),
);
}
Then let's define two separate observables based on the source$ and the inner$; one using concatMap and one using flatMap and observe the output.
const flatMap$ = source$.pipe(
flatMap(n => inner$(n, 'flatMap$'))
);
const concatMap$ = source$.pipe(
concatMap(n => inner$(n, 'concatMap$'))
);
Before looking the differences in the output, let's talk about what these operators have in common. They both:
subscribe to the observable returned by the passed in function
emit emissions from this "inner observable"
unsubscribe from the inner observable(s)
What's different, is how they create and manage inner subscriptions:
concatMap - only allows a single inner subscription at a time. As it receives emissions, it will only subscribe to one inner observable at a time. So it will initially subscribe to the observable created by "emission 1", and only after it completes, will it subscribe to the observable created by "emission 2". This is consistent with how the concat static method behaves.
flatMap (aka mergeMap) - allows many inner subscriptions. So, it will subscribe to the inner observables as new emissions are received. This means that emissions will not be in any particular order as it will emit whenever any of its inner observables emit. This is consistent with how the merge static method behaves (which is why I personally prefer the name "mergeMap").
Here's a StackBlitz that shows the output for the above observables concatMap$ and mergeMap$:
Hopefully, the above explanation helps to clear up your questions!
#1 - "use of flatMap should mix the outputs"
The reason this wasn't working as you expected was because only one emission was going through the flatMap, which means you only ever had a single "inner observable" emitting values. As demonstrated in the above example, once flatMap receives multiple emissions, it can have multiple inner observables that emit independently.
#2 - "...and include the code with multiple emitted events then things get messy."
The "things get messy" is due to having multiple inner subscription that emit values.
For the part you mention about using concatMap and still getting "mixed" output, I would not expect that. I have seen weird behavior in StackBlitz with observable emissions when "auto save" is enabled (seems like sometimes it doesn't completely refresh and old subscriptions seem to survive the auto refresh, which gives very messy console output). Maybe code sandbox has a similar problem.
#3 - "The reason I have gone to flatMap and concatMap was to find a replacement for nested subscriptions in angular using the http library"
This makes sense. You don't want to mess around with nested subscriptions, because there isn't a great way to guarantee the inner subscriptions will be cleaned up.
In most cases with http calls, I find that switchMap is the ideal choice because it will drop emissions from inner observables you no longer care about. Imagine you have a component that reads an id from a route param. It uses this id to make an http call to fetch data.
itemId$ = this.activeRoute.params.pipe(
map(params => params['id']),
distinctUntilChanged()
);
item$ = this.itemId$.pipe(
switchMap(id => http.get(`${serverUrl}/items/${id}`)),
map(response => response.data)
);
We want item$ to emit only the "current item" (corresponds to the id in the url). Say our UI has a button the user can click to navigate to the next item by id and your app finds itself with a click-happy user who keeps smashing that button, which changes the url param even faster than the http call can return the data.
If we chose mergeMap, we would end up with many inner observables that would emit the results of all of those http calls. At best, the screen will flicker as all those different calls come back. At worst (if the calls came back out of order) the UI would be left displaying data that isn't in sync with the id in the url :-(
If we chose concatMap, the user would be forced to wait for all the http calls to be completed in series, even though we only care about that most recent one.
But, with switchMap, whenever a new emission (itemId) is received, it will unsubscribe from the previous inner observable and subscribe to the new one. This means it will not ever emit the results from the old http calls that are no longer relevant. :-)
One thing to note is that since http observables only emit once, the choice between the various operators (switchMap, mergeMap, concatMap) may not seem to make a difference, since they all perform the "inner observable handling" for us. However, it's best to future-proof your code and choose the one that truly gives you the behavior you would want, should you start receiving more than a single emission.
Every time the first observable emits, a second observable is created in the flatMap and starts emitting. However, the value from the first observable is not passed along any further.
Every time that second observable emits, the next flatMap creates a third observable, and so on. Again, the original value coming into the flatMap is not passed along any further.
createObs1()
.pipe(
flatMap(() => createObs2()), // Merge this stream every time prev observable emits
flatMap(() => createObs3()), // Merge this stream every time prev observable emits
flatMap(() => createObs4()), // Merge this stream every time prev observable emits
flatMap(() => createObs5()), // Merge this stream every time prev observable emits
)
.subscribe((resp) => console.log(resp));
// OUTPUT:
// 5
So, it's only the values emitted from createObs5() that actually get emitted to the observer. The values emitted from the previous observables have just been triggering the creation of new observables.
If you were to use merge, then you would get what you may have been expecting:
createObs1()
.pipe(
merge(createObs2()),
merge(createObs3()),
merge(createObs4()),
merge(createObs5()),
)
.subscribe((resp) => console.log(resp));
// OUTPUT:
// 5
// 4
// 3
// 2
// 1
I'm trying to create an observable flow that fulfills the following requirements:
Loads data from storage at subscribe time
If the data has not yet expired, return an observable of the stored value
If the data has expired, return an HTTP request observable that uses the refresh token to get a new value and store it
If this code is reached again before the request has completed, return the same request observable
If this code is reached after the previous request completed or with a different refresh token, start a new request
I'm aware that there are many different answers on how to perform step (3), but as I'm trying to perform these steps together I am looking for guidance on whether the solution I've come up with is the most succinct it can be (which I doubt!).
Here's a sample demonstrating my current approach:
var cachedRequestToken;
var cachedRequest;
function getOrUpdateValue() {
return loadFromStorage()
.flatMap(data => {
// data doesn't exist, shortcut out
if (!data || !data.refreshtoken)
return Rx.Observable.empty();
// data still valid, return the existing value
if (data.expires > new Date().getTime())
return Rx.Observable.return(data.value);
// if the refresh token is different or the previous request is
// complete, start a new request, otherwise return the cached request
if (!cachedRequest || cachedRequestToken !== data.refreshtoken) {
cachedRequestToken = data.refreshtoken;
var pretendHttpBody = {
value: Math.random(),
refreshToken: Math.random(),
expires: new Date().getTime() + (10 * 60 * 1000) // set by server, expires in ten minutes
};
cachedRequest = Rx.Observable.create(ob => {
// this would really be a http request that exchanges
// the one use refreshtoken for new data, then saves it
// to storage for later use before passing on the value
window.setTimeout(() => { // emulate slow response
saveToStorage(pretendHttpBody);
ob.next(pretendHttpBody.value);
ob.completed();
cachedRequest = null; // clear the request now we're complete
}, 2500);
});
}
return cachedRequest;
});
}
function loadFromStorage() {
return Rx.Observable.create(ob => {
var storedData = { // loading from storage goes here
value: 15, // wrapped in observable to delay loading until subscribed
refreshtoken: 63, // other process may have updated this between requests
expires: new Date().getTime() - (60 * 1000) // pretend to have already expired
};
ob.next(storedData);
ob.completed();
})
}
function saveToStorage(data) {
// save goes here
}
// first request
getOrUpdateValue().subscribe(function(v) { console.log('sub1: ' + v); });
// second request, can occur before or after first request finishes
window.setTimeout(
() => getOrUpdateValue().subscribe(function(v) { console.log('sub2: ' + v); }),
1500);
First, have a look at a working jsbin example.
The solution is a tad different then your initial code, and I'd like to explain why. The need to keep returning to your local storage, save it, save flags (cache and token) didn't not fit for me with reactive, functional approach. The heart of the solution I gave is:
var data$ = new Rx.BehaviorSubject(storageMock);
var request$ = new Rx.Subject();
request$.flatMapFirst(loadFromServer).share().startWith(storageMock).subscribe(data$);
data$.subscribe(saveToStorage);
function getOrUpdateValue() {
return data$.take(1)
.filter(data => (data && data.refreshtoken))
.switchMap(data => (data.expires > new Date().getTime()
? data$.take(1)
: (console.log('expired ...'), request$.onNext(true) ,data$.skip(1).take(1))));
}
The key is that data$ holds your latest data and is always up to date, it is easily accessible by doing a data$.take(1). The take(1) is important to make sure your subscription gets a single values and terminates (because you attempt to work in a procedural, as opposed to functional, manner). Without the take(1) your subscription would stay active and you would have multiple handlers out there, that is you'll handle future updates as well in a code that was meant only for the current update.
In addition, I hold a request$ subject which is your way to start fetching new data from the server. The function works like so:
The filter ensures that if your data is empty or has no token, nothing passes through, similar to the return Rx.Observable.empty() you had.
If the data is up to date, it returns data$.take(1) which is a single element sequence you can subscribe to.
If not, it needs a refresh. To do so, it triggers request$.onNext(true) and returns data$.skip(1).take(1). The skip(1) is to avoid the current, out dated value.
For brevity I used (console.log('expired ...'), request$.onNext(true) ,data$.skip(1).take(1))). This might look a bit cryptic. It uses the js comma separated syntax which is common in minifiers/uglifiers. It executes all statements and returns the result of the last statement. If you want a more readable code, you could rewrite it like so:
.switchMap(data => {
if(data.expires > new Date().getTime()){
return data$.take(1);
} else {
console.log('expired ...');
request$.onNext(true);
return data$.skip(1).take(1);
}
});
The last part is the usage of flatMapFirst. This ensures that once a request is in progress, all following requests are dropped. You can see it works in the console printout. The 'load from server' is printed several times, yet the actual sequence is invoked only once and you get a single 'loading from server done' printout. This is a more reactive oriented solution to your original refreshtoken flag checking.
Though I didn't need the saved data, it is saved because you mentioned that you might want to read it on future sessions.
A few tips on rxjs:
Instead of using the setTimeout, which can cause many problems, you can simply do Rx.Observable.timer(time_out_value).subscribe(...).
Creating an observable is cumbersome (you even had to call next(...) and complete()). You have a much cleaner way to do this using Rx.Subject. Note that you have specifications of this class, the BehaviorSubject and ReplaySubject. These classes are worth knowing and can help a lot.
One last note. This was quite a challange :-) I'm not familiar with your server side code and design considerations yet the need to suppress calls felt uncomfortable to me. Unless there is a very good reason related to your backend, my natural approach would be to use flatMap and let the last request 'win', i.e. drop previous un terminated calls and set the value.
The code is rxjs 4 based (so it can run in jsbin), if you're using angular2 (hence rxjs 5), you'll need to adapt it. Have a look at the migration guide.
================ answers to Steve's other questions (in comments below) =======
There is one article I can recommend. It's title says it all :-)
As for the procedural vs. functional approach, I'd add another variable to the service:
let token$ = data$.pluck('refreshtoken');
and then consume it when needed.
My general approach is to first map my data flows and relations and then like a good "keyboard plumber" (like we all are), build the piping. My top level draft for a service would be (skipping the angular2 formalities and provider for brevity):
class UserService {
data$: <as above>;
token$: data$.pluck('refreshtoken');
private request$: <as above>;
refresh(){
request.onNext(true);
}
}
You might need to do some checking so the pluck does not fail.
Then, each component that needs the data or the token can access it directly.
Now lets suppose you have a service that needs to act on a change to the data or the token:
class SomeService {
constructor(private userSvc: UserService){
this.userSvc.token$.subscribe(() => this.doMyUpdates());
}
}
If your need to synthesize data, meaning, use the data/token and some local data:
Rx.Observable.combineLatest(this.userSvc.data$, this.myRelevantData$)
.subscribe(([data, myData] => this.doMyUpdates(data.someField, myData.someField));
Again, the philosophy is that you build the data flow and pipes, wire them up and then all you have to do is trigger stuff.
The 'mini pattern' I've come up with is to pass to a service once my trigger sequence and register to the result. Lets take for example autocomplete:
class ACService {
fetch(text: string): Observable<Array<string>> {
return http.get(text).map(response => response.json().data;
}
}
Then you have to call it every time your text changes and assign the result to your component:
<div class="suggestions" *ngFor="let suggestion; of suggestions | async;">
<div>{{suggestion}}</div>
</div>
and in your component:
onTextChange(text) {
this.suggestions = acSVC.fetch(text);
}
but this could be done like this as well:
class ACService {
createFetcher(textStream: Observable<string>): Observable<Array<string>> {
return textStream.flatMap(text => http.get(text))
.map(response => response.json().data;
}
}
And then in your component:
textStream: Subject<string> = new Subject<string>();
suggestions: Observable<string>;
constructor(private acSVC: ACService){
this.suggestions = acSVC.createFetcher(textStream);
}
onTextChange(text) {
this.textStream.next(text);
}
template code stays the same.
It seems like a small thing here, but once the app grows bigger, and the data flow complicated, this works much better. You have a sequence that holds you data and you can use it around the component wherever you need it, you can even further transform it. For example, lets say you need to know the number of suggestions, in the first method, once you get the result, you need to further query it to get it, thus:
onTextChange(text) {
this.suggestions = acSVC.fetch(text);
this.suggestionsCount = suggestions.pluck('length'); // in a sequence
// or
this.suggestions.subscribe(suggestions => this.suggestionsCount = suggestions.length); // in a numeric variable.
}
Now in the second method, you just define:
constructor(private acSVC: ACService){
this.suggestions = acSVC.createFetcher(textStream);
this.suggestionsCount = this.suggestions.pluck('length');
}
Hope this helps :-)
While writing, I tried to reflect about the path I took to getting to use reactive like this. Needless to say that on going experimentation, numerous jsbins and strange failures are big part of it. Another thing that I think helped shape my approach (though I'm not currently using it) is learning redux and reading/trying a bit of ngrx (angular's redux port). The philosophy and the approach does not let you even think procedural so you have to tune in to functional, data, relations and flows based mindset.
So, I'm currently learning to think Reactively thanks to RxJS. Now, I'm currently reading an RxJS book (Reactive Programming with RxJS) and I've read about AsyncSubject and how it only caches the last value received. What I'd like to know is, what happens if I want to update the server and have this observable update? Since onComplete has been called, do I need to create a brand new observer? Is there another pattern I should follow?
My overall requirement is that I'd like to have a means to cleanly pass data to and from the server and keep my observable (model) fresh at all times.
Thanks,
Lee
As you suspected, you cannot change the value of an AsyncSubject after onCompleted has been called. The typical way of dealing with a simple "call the server as required, cache the value between calls" scenario is to use flatMapLatest to map your trigger observable to an AsyncSubject representing your server call. For example, if you wanted to refresh some data every 30 seconds, you might do something like this:
const subscription = Rx.Observable
.interval(30000)
.flatMapLatest(() => serverCall())
.subscribe(x => doStuffWithResult(x));
In your case I would consider using Websockets, since you want your observable (model) fresh at all times
Something like
var source = Rx.Observable.create(function (observer) {
websocket.onmessage = function( msg ) {
observer.onNext( msg );
}
websocket.onerror = function( error ) {
observer.onError( error );
}
websocket.onclose = function ( msg ) {
observer.onComplete( msg );
}
});
Otherwise you can use an interval
const subscription = Rx.Observable
.interval(1000)
.flatMapLatest(() => Rx.Observable.fromPromise(fetch( ... ).then( response => response.json() ).retry(5))
.subscribe( response => response );
You can always use the retry operator to not give up immediately if there is an error.