@jsonui/react
v0.6.0
Published
Json markup language to define User Interface
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JSONUI
This is a Json markup language to define User Interface as a canvas where you can draw with Json definition.
When you change the Json definition, the interface immediately reflects on what you defined/changed.
Actually JSONUI is available for react and react-native. It will be able to integrate to 99% of the cross-platform environments, thanks for reactjs ecosystem
The UI definition contains a layout definition and components configuration as well. The most important it has a built in state management system. Data can be persistent or not, depends on the name of the store.
Core concept
Build a data driven UI. The "definition" is changeable by developer anytime and any reason. If you would like to build a remote controlled app or a form generator app, I hope you will love it.
Installation
npm install @jsonui/react
yarn add @jsonui/react
Basic Usage
The JsonUI
Component is a canvas and the model
parameter contains the UI definition in Json format.
import { JsonUI } from '@jsonui/react'
const Canvas = () => <JsonUI model={{ $comp: 'Text', $children: 'Hello World', style: { fontSize: 30 } }} />
How it works
The Json Markup language has 3 important part
1, Components
The "$comp"
key represents the name of a predefined react component. The predefined components:
- View: it's a simple
div
html tag - Button: it's a simple
button
html tag - Fragment: it's a simple
React.Fragment
component - Image: it's a simple
image
html tag - Text: it's a simple
p
html tag
The props of the components are the same as in the normal react world.
The "$children"
key represents the children of the component.
It can be array, object or primitive like text, number, boolean
{ "$comp": "Text", "$children": "Hello World" }
{ "$comp": "Text", "$children": 124 }
{ "$comp": "Text", "$children": [1,2,3] }
{ "$comp": "Text", "$children": null }
{ "$comp": "View", "$children": [
{ "$comp": "Text", "$children": "Hello World" }
]
}
2, Actions
When the component has an interaction with user or a triggered event, the "$action"
key will represent it, for example onClick, onChange or onPress
{ "$comp": "Button", "$children": "Login", "onPress": { "$action": "navigate", "route": "LoginPage" } }
The action is really a predefined function when it will fire, when the event has triggered.
3, Modifiers
The "$action"
can add a dynamic value for properties or components. It's a function which will be called at render time of the component. Depends on environment data. For example JSONUI contains a basic internalisation solution.
{ "$comp": "Text", "$children": "Hello World" }
{ "$comp": "Text", "$children": { "$modifier": "t", "key": "Helló Világ" } }
How can you customise it?
Easily.
const Canvas = () => <JsonUI model={jsonData}
"components" = {
{
navigate: ({route}) => navigate(route)
}
}
"functions" = {
{
t: ({key}) => t(key)
}
}/>
State management or data storage
The state management is another layer of the JSNOUI. It's represent a permissive and dynamic tree graf structure. Like a JSON file.
Each app has a separated data space, based on the id
param of JsonUI
component.
Each app has multiple store
represent multiple data tree or separate storage.
Actually the data
store is persistent. (it will be configurable soon if there is interest in it)
You can define unlimited data store. What you need is, just use a specific name in JSON Definition, and it will automatically create at the first use.
JSONUI use json-pointer to tell the path
what kind of data we need.
We have 2 built-in function which can help to read and write your state management.
Let's see some example
Read data
Your data store Looks like:
{ "users": [{ "username": "John Doe" }] }
Use /username in text field
{ "$comp": "Text", "$children": { "$modifier": "get", "store": "data", "path": "/users/0/username" } }
Write data
When the user click on the button, it will modify the data
{ "$comp": "Button", "$children": "Change username", "onPress": { "$modifier": "set", "store": "data", "path": "/users/0/username", "value": "John Doe 2" } }
Data will be:
{ "users": [{ "username": "John Doe2" }] }
A simple input field solution
{
"$comp": "Input",
"value": { "$modifier": "get", "store": "questionnaire1", "path": "/firstName" },
"onChange": { "$action": "set", "store": "questionnaire1", "path": "/firstName" }
}
You can manipulate the data when read or write it with jsonata.
{ "$comp": "Text", "children": { "$modifier": "get", "store": "data", "path": "/prevNumber", "jsonataDef": "'Next Number: ' & (1+$)" } }
Advanced technique
Relative, absolute
You can use absolute, relative path and ./ ../ still works. few examples
{ "path": "/prevNumber" }
{ "path": "prevNumber" }
{ "path": "../prevNumber" }
{ "path": "../../prevNumber" }
List
Somethimes we need to handle dynamic data for example a list.
Your data store looks like:
{ "subscribed": { "list": [{ "name": "John Doe" }] } }
{
"$comp": "Fragment",
"isList": true,
"$pathModifiers": {
"data": { "path": "/subscribed/list" }
},
"listItem": {
"$comp": "Input",
"value": { "$modifier": "get", "store": "data", "path": "name" },
"onChange": { "$action": "set", "store": "data", "path": "name" }
}
}
This little technique can change the relative path nestedly as well.
LICENSE MIT
Copyright (c) 2022 Istvan Fodor.