Developing for React Native

Follow the steps below to quickly get started with development using React Native on MobileFirst Platform Foundation.

The purpose of this quick start tutorial is to explain a simple end-to-end flow.

A sample application is provided in Github, the sample is downloaded and registered with MobileFirst Server. The provided adapter (or a new adapter) is deployed to the MobileFirst Operations Console. The application logic is changed to make a resource request.

Expected result: To successfully ping the MobileFirst Server and to successfully retrieve data using an adapter.

Step 1: Starting the MobileFirst Server

Make sure you have created a Mobile Foundation instance, or if you are using the MobileFirst Developer Kit, navigate to the server's folder and run the command: ./run.sh in Mac and Linux or run.cmd in Windows.

Step 2: Adding the React Native SDK

Step 2.1: Downloading the React Native sample application from Github.

Step 2.2: Adding the React Native SDK to the downloaded React Native sample application

The MobileFirst SDK for React Native is available as a React Native module from NPM.

1. Navigate to the root of your downloaded React Native project and add the MobileFirst core React Native plug-in, change directory to the root of the React Native project: cd MFPStarterReactNative
2. Add the MobileFirst Plugins by using the NPM CLI command: npm install react-native-plugin-name
   For example:

           npm install react-native-ibm-mobilefirst --save
         

   The above command adds MobileFirst Core SDK Plugin to the React Native project.

3. Link all native dependencies to your app
   

           react-native link
         

Step 2.3: Additional platform sepcific steps

Android
Add the following lines to AndroidManifest.xml ({project-folder}/android/app/src/main/) :

      <![CDATA[
      <manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/  package="com.myapp">
        ...
        <application tools:replace="android:allowBackup"
        ...
      </application>
    ]]>
    

iOS
Open your project in XCode. In the project navigator, drag and drop mfpclient.plist from ios folder.

Step 3: Registering the application

1. Open a command-line window and navigate to the root of the particular platform (iOS or Android) of the project.

           cd ios
         

   or

           cd android
         

2. Run the following command to register the application:

           mfpdev app register
         

   If a remote server is used, use the command mfpdev server add to add it. The mfpdev app register CLI command first connects to the MobileFirst Server to register the application. Each platform is registered as an application in MobileFirst Server.

   • iOS

     If your platform is iOS then you are asked to provide the application’s BundleID. Important: The BundleID is case sensitive.

     The mfpdev app register CLI command first connects to the MobileFirst Server to register the application, then updates the mfpclient.plist configuration file at the root of the Xcode project which contains metadata that identifies the MobileFirst Server.

     Note : In XCode, in the project navigator, drag and drop mfpclient.plist from ios folder. This step is applicable only for iOS platform.

   • Android

     If your platform is Android then you are asked to provide the application’s package name. Important: The package name is case sensitive.

     The mfpdev app register CLI command first connects to the MobileFirst Server to register the application, followed by generating the mfpclient.properties file in the [project root]/app/src/main/assets/ folder of the Android Studio project and to add to it the metadata that identifies the MobileFirst Server.

Step 4: Editing the application logic

1. Open the React native project in your code editor of choice.
2. Import the WLAuthorizationManager class into your App.js

         import {WLAuthorizationManager, WLResourceRequest} from 'react-native-ibm-mobilefirst';
         

3. Select the App.js file, which is located at project's root folder and paste the following code snippet, replacing the existing WLAuthorizationManager.obtainAccessToken() function:

   See the React Native Client-side API references here.

              WLAuthorizationManager.obtainAccessToken("").then(
                  (token) => {
                    console.log('-->  pingMFP(): Success ', token);
                    var resourceRequest = new WLResourceRequest("/adapters/javaAdapter/resource/greet/",
                      WLResourceRequest.GET
                    );
                    resourceRequest.setQueryParameters({ name: "world" });
                    resourceRequest.send().then(
                      (response) => {
                        // Will display "Hello world" in an alert dialog.
                        alert("Success: " + response.responseText);
                      },
                      (error) => {
                        alert("Failure: " + JSON.stringify(error));
                      }
                    );
                  }, (error) => {
                    console.log('-->  pingMFP(): failure ', error.responseText);
                    alert("Failed to connect to MobileFirst Server");
                  });
          

Step 5: Deploying an adapter

Download this prepared .adapter artifact and deploy it from the MobileFirst Operations Console using the Actions → Deploy adapter action.

Step 5.1: Select the Actions → Download sample option. Download the Hello World Java adapter sample

Alternatively, click the New button next to Adapters.

If Maven and MobileFirst CLI are not installed, follow the on-screen Set up your development environment instructions.

Step 5.2: From a Command-line window, navigate to the adapter's Maven project root folder and run the command:

    mfpdev adapter build
  

Step 5.3: When the build finishes, deploy it from the MobileFirst Operations Console using the Actions → Deploy adapter action. The adapter can be found in the [adapter]/target folder.

Step 6: Testing the application

Use the following command to run the application:

     react-native run-ios|run-android
    

If a device is connected, the application is installed and launched in the device. Otherwise the simulator or emulator will be used.

For detailed instructions on quick start steps, see here.

Results

• Clicking the Ping MobileFirst Server button will display Connected to MobileFirst Server.
• If the application is able to connect to the MobileFirst Server, a resource request call using the deployed Java adapter takes place. The adapter response is then displayed in an alert.

Developing Adapters

• Adapters overview
• Creating Java and JavaScript adapters
• JavaScript adapters
  • JavaScript HTTP Adapter
    • Using SSL in JavaScript HTTP Adapters
  • JavaScript SQL Adapter
  • Using Java in JavaScript Adapters
• Java Adapters
  • Java HTTP adapter
  • Java SQL adapter
• Developing Adapters in IDEs
• Testing and debugging adapters
• Server-side log collection
  • Overview of server-side log collection
  • Log collection in Java adapters
  • Log collection in JavaScript adapters
• Advanced adapter usage and mashup
• Integrating with Cloudant using an adapter