SwiftUI MVVM simple concept confusion - advice needed - mvvm

Question

I'm struggling with some basic MVVM concepts in SwiftUI. I appreciate this is probably a simple question but my brain is frazzled I can't figure it out.
Here's my models/views/viewmodels etc.
import Foundation
struct Challenges {
var all: [Challenge]
init() {
all = []
}
}
struct Challenge: Identifiable, Codable, Hashable {
private(set) var id = UUID()
private(set) var name: String
private(set) var description: String
private(set) var gpxFile: String
private(set) var travelledDistanceMetres: Double = 0
init(name: String, description: String, gpxFile: String) {
self.name = name
self.description = description
self.gpxFile = gpxFile
}
mutating func addDistance(_ distance: Double) {
travelledDistanceMetres += distance
}
}
import SwiftUI
#main
struct ActivityChallengesApp: App {
var body: some Scene {
WindowGroup {
ChallengesView()
.environmentObject(ChallengesViewModel())
}
}
}
import SwiftUI
class ChallengesViewModel: ObservableObject {
#Published var challenges: Challenges
init() {
challenges = Challenges()
challenges.all = DefaultChallenges.ALL
}
func addDistance(_ distance: Double, to challenge: Challenge) {
challenges.all[challenge].addDistance(distance)
}
}
import SwiftUI
struct ChallengesView: View {
#EnvironmentObject var challengesViewModel: ChallengesViewModel
var body: some View {
NavigationView {
List {
ForEach(challengesViewModel.challenges.all) { challenge in
NavigationLink {
ChallengeView(challenge)
.environmentObject(challengesViewModel)
} label: {
VStack(alignment: .leading) {
Text(challenge.name)
Text("\(challenge.travelledDistanceMetres)")
}
}
}
}
.navigationTitle("Challenges")
}
}
}
import SwiftUI
struct ChallengeView: View {
var challenge: Challenge
#EnvironmentObject var challengesViewModel: ChallengesViewModel
init(_ challenge: Challenge) {
self.challenge = challenge
}
var body: some View {
VStack(alignment: .leading) {
Text(challenge.name)
Text("\(challenge.travelledDistanceMetres)")
}
.onTapGesture {
handleTap()
}
}
func handleTap() {
challengesViewModel.addDistance(40, to: challenge)
}
}
I understand the concepts but I'm confused as to what the ViewModel should be.
I feel like this is overkill, i.e. sending a model object to the view and the view model as an environment object. With this set up, I call the addDistance() function in the view model from within the view to make changes to the model.
ChallengeView(challenge)
.environmentObject(challengesViewModel)
Is it better to have a view model for the collection or one view model per model object?

Answer 1

This is the simplest version I could come up with.
I don't really understand the need for the challenges.all ? So I took it out.
I have
a struct for the single challenge
an observable class which is publishing the challenges array
instantiate this once with #StateObject and pass it down as you did
btw: You don't need explicit initializers for structs
this is it:
#main
struct ActivityChallengesApp: App {
// here you create your model once
#StateObject var challenges = ChallengesModel()
var body: some Scene {
WindowGroup {
ChallengesView()
.environmentObject(challenges)
}
}
}
struct Challenge: Identifiable, Codable, Hashable {
var id = UUID()
var name: String
var description: String
var gpxFile: String
var travelledDistanceMetres: Double = 0
mutating func addDistance(_ distance: Double) {
travelledDistanceMetres += distance
}
}
class ChallengesModel: ObservableObject {
#Published var challenges: [Challenge]
init() {
// Test data
challenges = [
Challenge(name: "Challenge One", description: "?", gpxFile: ""),
Challenge(name: "Challenge Two", description: "?", gpxFile: ""),
Challenge(name: "Last Challenge", description: "?", gpxFile: "")
]
}
func addDistance(_ distance: Double, to challenge: Challenge) {
// find the challenge and update it
if let i = challenges.firstIndex(where: {$0.id == challenge.id}) {
challenges[i].addDistance(distance)
}
}
}
struct ChallengesView: View {
#EnvironmentObject var challengesModel: ChallengesModel
var body: some View {
NavigationView {
List {
ForEach(challengesModel.challenges) { challenge in
NavigationLink {
ChallengeView(challenge: challenge)
.environmentObject(challengesModel)
} label: {
VStack(alignment: .leading) {
Text(challenge.name)
Text("\(challenge.travelledDistanceMetres)")
}
}
}
}
.navigationTitle("Challenges")
}
}
}
struct ChallengeView: View {
var challenge: Challenge
#EnvironmentObject var challengesModel: ChallengesModel
var body: some View {
VStack(alignment: .leading) {
Text(challenge.name)
Text("\(challenge.travelledDistanceMetres)")
}
.onTapGesture {
handleTap()
}
}
func handleTap() {
challengesModel.addDistance(40, to: challenge)
}
}