How to trigger automatic SwiftUI Updates with #ObservedObject using MVVM - swift

Question

I have a question regarding the combination of SwiftUI and MVVM.
Before we start, I have read some posts discussing whether the combination of SwiftUI and MVVM is necessary. But I don't want to discuss this here, as it has been covered elsewhere. I just want to know if it is possible and, if yes, how. :)
So here comes the code. I tried to add the ViewModel Layer in between the updated Object class that contains a number that should be updated when a button is pressed. The problem is that as soon as I put the ViewModel Layer in between, the UI does not automatically update when the button is pressed.
View:
struct ContentView: View {
#ObservedObject var viewModel = ViewModel()
#ObservedObject var numberStorage = NumberStorage()
var body: some View {
VStack {
// Text("\(viewModel.getNumberObject().number)")
// .padding()
// Button("IncreaseNumber") {
// viewModel.increaseNumber()
// }
Text("\(numberStorage.getNumberObject().number)")
.padding()
Button("IncreaseNumber") {
numberStorage.increaseNumber()
}
}
}
}
struct ContentView_Previews: PreviewProvider {
static var previews: some View {
ContentView()
}
}
ViewModel:
class ViewModel: ObservableObject {
#Published var number: NumberStorage
init() {
self.number = NumberStorage()
}
func increaseNumber() {
self.number.increaseNumber()
}
func getNumberObject() -> NumberObject {
self.number.getNumberObject()
}
}
Model:
class NumberStorage:ObservableObject {
#Published var numberObject: NumberObject
init() {
numberObject = NumberObject()
}
public func getNumberObject() -> NumberObject {
return self.numberObject
}
public func increaseNumber() {
self.numberObject.number+=1
}
}
struct NumberObject: Identifiable {
let id = UUID()
var number = 0
} ```
Looking forward to your feedback!

Answer 1

I think your code is breaking MVVM, as you're exposing to the view a storage model. In MVVM, your ViewModel should hold only two things:
Values that your view should display. These values should be automatically updated using a binding system (in your case, Combine)
Events that the view may produce (in your case, a button tap)
Having that in mind, your ViewModel should wrap, adapt and encapsulate your model. We don't want model changes to affect the view. This is a clean approach that does that:
View:
struct ContentView: View {
#StateObject // When the view creates the object, it must be a state object, or else it'll be recreated every time the view is recreated
private var viewModel = ViewModel()
var body: some View {
VStack {
Text("\(viewModel.currentNumber)") // We don't want to use functions here, as that will create a new object , as SwiftUI needs the same reference in order to keep track of changes
.padding()
Button("IncreaseNumber") {
viewModel.increaseNumber()
}
}
}
}
struct ContentView_Previews: PreviewProvider {
static var previews: some View {
ContentView()
}
}
ViewModel:
class ViewModel: ObservableObject {
#Published
private(set) var currentNumber: Int = 0 // Private set indicates this should only be mutated by the viewmodel
private let numberStorage = NumberStorage()
init() {
numberStorage.currentNumber
.map { $0.number }
.assign(to: &$currentNumber) // Here we're binding the current number on the storage to the published var that the view is listening to.`&$` basically assigns it to the publishers address
}
func increaseNumber() {
self.numberStorage.increaseNumber()
}
}
Model:
class NumberStorage {
private let currentNumberSubject = CurrentValueSubject<NumberObject, Never>(NumberObject())
var currentNumber: AnyPublisher<NumberObject, Never> {
currentNumberSubject.eraseToAnyPublisher()
}
func increaseNumber() {
let currentNumber = currentNumberSubject.value.number
currentNumberSubject.send(.init(number: currentNumber + 1))
}
}
struct NumberObject: Identifiable { // I'd not use this, just send and int directly
let id = UUID()
var number = 0
}

Answer 2

It's a known problem. Nested observable objects are not supported yet in SwiftUI. I don't think you need ViewModel+Model here since ViewModel seems to be enough.
To make this work you have to trigger objectWillChange of your viewModel manually when objectWillChange of your model is triggered:
class ViewModel: ObservableObject {
init() {
number.objectWillChange.sink { [weak self] (_) in
self?.objectWillChange.send()
}.store(in: &cancellables)
}
}
You better listen to only the object you care not the whole observable class if it is not needed.
Plus:
Since instead of injecting, you initialize your viewModel in your view, you better use StateObject instead of ObservedObject. See the reference from Apple docs: Managing model data in your app

Answer 3

One way you could handle this is to observe the publishers in your Storage class and send the objectWillChange publisher when it changes. I have done this in personal projects by adding a class that all my view models inherit from which provides a nice interface and handles the Combine stuff like this:
Parent ViewModel
import Combine
class ViewModel: ObservableObject {
private var cancellables: Set<AnyCancellable> = []
func publish<T>(on publisher: Published<T>.Publisher) {
publisher.sink { [weak self] _ in self?.objectWillChange.send() }
.store(in: &cancellables)
}
}
Specific ViewModel
class ContentViewModel: ViewModel {
private let numberStorage = NumberStorage()
var number: Int { numberStorage.numberObject.number }
override init() {
super.init()
publish(on: numberStorage.$numberObject)
}
func increaseNumber() {
numberStorage.increaseNumber()
}
}
View
struct ContentView: View {
#StateObject var viewModel = ContentViewModel()
var body: some View {
VStack {
Text("\(viewModel.number)")
.padding()
Button("IncreaseNumber") {
viewModel.increaseNumber()
}
}
}
}
Model/Storage
class NumberStorage:ObservableObject {
#Published var numberObject: NumberObject
init() {
numberObject = NumberObject()
}
public func increaseNumber() {
self.numberObject.number += 1
}
}
struct NumberObject: Identifiable {
let id = UUID()
var number = 0
}
This results in the view re-rendering any time Storage.numberObject changes.