Can I extend the State class and override setState - flutter

I kept running into the issue where you call setState when the widget is not mounted (especially after a data fetch). My question is:
Can I extend the State class and override setState like so
abstract class MountedState<T extends StatefulWidget> extends State<T> {
#override
void setState(fn) {
if(mounted) super.setState(fn);
}
}
I did this and it worked. I just want to know if it is not ideal or I am not supposed to
Future<void> fetchSubjectsAndClasses() async {
try {
Response res = await TeachersAPI.classesAndSubjects();
classes = res.data;
setState(() {});
} catch (e) {
print(e);
}
}
This is my data fetch that causes the issue. It gets called on initState

This is not ideal. You should be using a FutureBuilder when dealing with async functions that deal with the UI. It's not mandatory, but it takes care of the more annoying parts of updating the UI with Future data.
You should obtain your future in initState and store it in the State of the widget. Then pass that to your FutureBuilder in build:
Future myFuture;
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
myFuture = futureCall();
}
#override
Widget build() {
return FutureBuilder(
future: myFuture,
builder: (BuildContext context, AsyncSnapshot snapshot) {
if (snapshot.hasData) {
//Show widget that has data
}
else if (snapshot.hasError) {
//Show widget that has error
}
else {
//Show widget while loading
}
}
);
}

Related

Initializing a future in flutter?

I would like to run a downloading Future function when opening a page in flutter, however it is being called multiple times.
I would like to implement a solution like the second in this article:
https://flutterigniter.com/future-async-called-multiple-times/
(memoizing the future after initialisation so that the init function is not called multiple times)
however in his solution, he initialises the future like this
Future<String> _future;
this is no longer possible in the current version of dart and I was wondering if there was an equivalent, I have tried using the Late keyword and initializing it to null, neither of which work.
Here is the code currently and how I want it
currently:
class _ARState extends State<AR> {
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
WidgetsBinding.instance?.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
_downloadFiles();
});
}
Future<dynamic> _downloadFiles() async {
// some downloading function that is getting run multiple times ....
}
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return FutureBuilder<dynamic>(
future: _downloadFiles(),
builder: /// stuff i want built
}
how I want it:
class _ARState extends State<AR> {
Future<dynamic> _future;
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
WidgetsBinding.instance?.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
_downloadFiles();
});
}
Future<dynamic> _downloadFiles() async {
// some downloading function that is getting run multiple times ....
}
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return FutureBuilder<dynamic>(
future: _future,
builder: /// stuff i want built
}
One way is to make _future nullable and to make your asynchronous function idempotent by checking if _future is null. If it's null, do work; if it's not null, then just return the existing Future.
class _ARState extends State<AR> {
Future<dynamic>? _future;
...
Future<dynamic> _downloadFiles() {
Future<dynamic> helper() async {
// Do actual downloading work here.
}
if (_future == null) {
_future = helper();
}
return _future;
}
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return FutureBuilder<dynamic>(
future: _downloadFiles(),
...
}
}
Try the code below, using late keyword, but there are other options for that. I think you don't need the addPostFrameCallBack:
class _ARState extends State<AR> {
late Future<dynamic> _future;
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
_future = _downloadFiles();
}
Future<dynamic> _downloadFiles() async {
}
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return FutureBuilder<dynamic>(
future: _future,
builder: (context, snapshot) {
if (snapshot.hasData || snapshot.data != null) {
// build your widget
}
// progress indicator or something while future is running
return ...;
});
}

Flutter - FutureBuilder fires twice on hot reload

In my flutter project when I start the project in the simulator everything works fine and the future builder only fires once, but when I do hot reload the FutureBuilder fires twice which causes an error any idea how to fix this?
Future frameFuture() async {
var future1 = await AuthService.getUserDataFromFirestore();
var future2 = await GeoService.getPosition();
return [future1, future2];
}
#override
void initState() {
user = FirebaseAuth.instance.currentUser!;
super.initState();
}
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return FutureBuilder(
future: frameFuture(),
builder: (context, snap) {
if (snap.connectionState == ConnectionState.done && snap.hasData) return HomePage();
else return Container(
color: Colors.black,
child: Center(
child: spinKit,
),
);
}
);
}
I solved the issue. I put the Future function in the initState and then used the variable in the FutureBuilder. I'm not sure why it works this way, but here's the code:
var futures;
Future frameFuture() async {
var future1 = await AuthService.getUserDataFromFirestore();
var future2 = await GeoService.getPosition();
return [future1, future2];
}
#override
void initState() {
user = FirebaseAuth.instance.currentUser!;
super.initState();
futures = frameFuture();
}
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return FutureBuilder(
future: futures,
builder: (context, snap) {
if (snap.connectionState == ConnectionState.done && snap.hasData) return HomePage();
else return Container(
color: Colors.black,
child: Center(
child: spinKit,
),
);
}
);
}
The solution as you already figured out is to move the future loading process to the initState of a StatefulWidget, but I'll explain the why it happens:
You were calling your future inside your build method like this:
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return FutureBuilder(
future: frameFuture(),
The issue is that Flutter calls the build method each time it renders the Widget, whenever a dependency changes(InheritedWidget, setState) or Flutter decides to rebuild it. So each time you redraw your UI frameFuture() gets called, this makes your build method to have side effects (this async call) which it should not, and is encouraged for widgets not to have side effects.
By moving the async computation to the initState you're only calling it once and then accessing the cached variable futures from your state.
As a plus here is an excerpt of the docs of the FutureBuilder class
"The future must have been obtained earlier, e.g. during State.initState, State.didUpdateWidget, or State.didChangeDependencies. It must not be created during the State.build or StatelessWidget.build method call when constructing the FutureBuilder. If the future is created at the same time as the FutureBuilder, then every time the FutureBuilder's parent is rebuilt, the asynchronous task will be restarted."
Hope this makes clear the Why of the solution.
This can happen even when the Future is called from initState. The prior solution I was using felt ugly.
The cleanest solution is to use AsyncMemoizer which effectively just checks if a function is run before
import 'package:async/async.dart';
class SampleWid extends StatefulWidget {
const SampleWid({Key? key}) : super(key: key);
final AsyncMemoizer asyncResults = AsyncMemoizer();
#override
_SampleWidState createState() => _SampleWidState();
}
class _SampleWidState extends State<SampleWid> {
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
_getData();
}
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return FutureBuilder(
future: widget.asyncResults.future,
builder: (context, snapshot) {
if (!snapshot.hasData) return yourLoadingAnimation();
// ... Do things with the data!
});
}
// The async and await here aren't necessary.
_getData() async () {
await widget.asyncResults.runOnce(() => yourApiCall());
}
}
Surprisingly, there's no .reset() method. It seems like the best way to forcibly rerun it is to override it with a new AsyncMemoizer(). You could do that easily like this
_getData() async ({bool reload = false}) {
if (reload) widget.asyncResults = AsyncMemoizer();
await widget.asyncResults.runOnce(() => yourApiCall());
}

Flutter set state not updating my UI with new data

I have a ListView.builder widget wrapped inside a RefreshIndicator and then a FutureBuilder. Refreshing does not update my list, I have to close the app and open it again but the refresh code does the same as my FutureBuilder.
Please see my code below, when I read it I expect the widget tree to definitely update.
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
taskListFuture= TaskService().getTasks();
}
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Consumer<TaskData>(builder: (context, taskData, child) {
return FutureBuilder(
future: taskListFuture,
builder: (context, snapshot) {
if (snapshot.connectionState == ConnectionState.done) {
taskData.tasks = (snapshot.data as ApiResponseModel).responseBody;
return RefreshIndicator(
onRefresh: () async {
var responseModel = await TaskService().getTasks();
setState(() {
taskData.tasks = responseModel.responseBody;
});
},
child: ListView.builder(
...
...
Let me know if more code is required, thanks in advance!
Points
I am using a StatefulWidget
Task data is a class that extends ChangeNotifier
When I debug the refresh I can see the new data in the list, but the UI does not update
getTasks()
Future<ApiResponseModel> getTasks() async {
try {
var _sharedPreferences = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
var userId = _sharedPreferences.getString(PreferencesModel.userId);
var response = await http.get(
Uri.parse("$apiBaseUrl/$_controllerRoute?userId=$userId"),
headers: await authorizeHttpRequest(),
);
var jsonTaskDtos = jsonDecode(response.body);
var taskDtos= List<TaskDto>.from(
jsonTaskDtos.map((jsonTaskDto) => TaskDto.fromJson(jsonTaskDto)));
return ApiResponseModel(
responseBody: taskDtos,
isSuccessStatusCode: isSuccessStatusCode(response.statusCode));
} catch (e) {
return null;
}
}
The issue here seems to be that you are updating a property that is not part of your StatefulWidget state.
setState(() {
taskData.tasks = responseModel.responseBody;
});
That sets a property part of TaskData.
My suggestion is to only use the Consumer and refactor TaskService so it controls a list of TaskData or similar. Something like:
Provider
class TaskService extends ChangeNotifier {
List<TaskData> _data;
load() async {
this.data = await _fetchData();
}
List<TaskData> get data => _data;
set data(List<TaskData> data) {
_data = data;
notifyListeners();
}
}
Widget
class MyTaskList extends StatelessWidget {
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Consumer<TaskService>(builder: (context, service, child) {
return RefreshIndicator(
onRefresh: () {
service.getTasks();
},
child: ListView.builder(
itemCount: service.data.length,
itemBuilder: (BuildContext context, int index) {
return MyTaskItem(data:service.data[index]);
},
),
);
});
}
}
and make sure to call notifyListeners() in the service.getTasks() method to make the Consumer rebuild
I think (someone will correct me if I'm wrong) the problem is that you are using the FutureBuilder, once it's built, you need to refresh to whole widget for the FutureBuilder to listen to changes. I can suggest a StreamBuilder that listens to any changes provided from the data model/api/any kind of stream of data. Or better yet, you can use some sort of state management like Provider and use Consumer from the Provider package that notifies the widget of any changes that may occurred.

Is there any easy way to use a Future (which performs an http connection) inside a stateful widget without having it reconnect on every screen build?

Every time the screen is rebuilt the getJSONfromTheSite seems to get invoked. Is seems because the future is placed inside the Widget build that every time I rebuild the screen it's just calling the apiResponse.getJSONfromTheSite('sitelist') future. But When I try to simply move the apiResponse.getJSONfromTheSite('sitelist') call outside the Widget and into the initState it doesn't work at all.
I'm not fully grasping the interplay of Futures in relation to a stateful widget, but in this case I need to keep the widget stateful because Im using a pull to refresh function to rebuild my state
class _SitelistScreenState extends State<SitelistScreen> {
RemoteDataSource _apiResponse = RemoteDataSource();
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
}
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Scaffold(
child: FutureBuilder(
future: _apiResponse.getJSONfromTheSite('sitelist'),
builder: (BuildContext context, AsyncSnapshot<Result> snapshot) {
if (snapshot.data is SuccessState) {
AppData sitelistCollection = (snapshot.data as SuccessState).value;
}
},
),
);
}
}
// (Do some UI stuff)
class RemoteDataSource {
//Creating Singleton
RemoteDataSource._privateConstructor();
static final RemoteDataSource _apiResponse =
RemoteDataSource._privateConstructor();
factory RemoteDataSource() => _apiResponse;
MyClient client = MyClient(Client());
void init() {}
Future<Result> getJSONfromTheSite(String call, {counter = 0}) async {
debugPrint('Network Attempt by getJSONfromTheSite');
try {
final response = await client
.request(requestType: RequestType.GET, path: call)
.timeout(const Duration(seconds: 8));
if (response.statusCode == 200) {
return Result<AppData>.success(AppData.fromRawJson(response.body));
} else {
return Result.error(
title: "Error", msg: "Status code not 200", errorcode: 1);
}
} catch (error) {
if (counter < 3) {
counter += 1;
await Future.delayed(Duration(milliseconds: 1000));
return getJSONfromTheSite(call, counter: counter);
} else {
return Result.error(
title: "No connection", msg: "Status code not 200", errorcode: 0);
}
}
}
void dispose() {}
}
A FutureBuilder, as the name suggests, wants to build you something using a FUTURE value that you provide. For that to happen, you should perform an operation outside the build method (for example, in the State class or in the initState function) and store its Future value (like a promise in javascript), to be used later on the FutureBuilder.
You have access to this value inside the FutureBuilder on the snapshot.data variable, as I can see you already know by looking at your code. The way I coded the following solution, you should no longer have issues about multiple requests to the website each time it builds the widget UI (getJSONfromTheSite will only be called once and the result from this call will be available to you inside the FutureBuilder!)
The solution:
class _SitelistScreenState extends State<SitelistScreen> {
RemoteDataSource _apiResponse = RemoteDataSource(); // I left this here because I'm not sure if you use this value anywhere else (if you don't, simply delete this line)
// when creating the widget's state, perform the call to the site once and store the Future in a variable
Future<Result> _apiResponseState = RemoteDataSource().getJSONfromTheSite('sitelist');
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
}
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Scaffold(
child: FutureBuilder<SuccessState>(
future: _apiResponseState,
builder: (BuildContext context, AsyncSnapshot<Result> snapshot) {
if (snapshot.data is SuccessState) {
AppData sitelistCollection = (snapshot.data as SuccessState).value;
}
},
),
);
}
}
EDIT: Edited answer to use Result as the inner type of the Future (instead of SuccessState).
The FutureBuilder's behavior can be expected as following according to the documentation
The future must have been obtained earlier, e.g. during State.initState, State.didUpdateWidget, or State.didChangeDependencies.
It must not be created during the State.build or StatelessWidget.build method call when constructing the FutureBuilder.
If the future is created at the same time as the FutureBuilder, then every time the FutureBuilder's parent is rebuilt, the asynchronous task will be restarted.
As stated above, if the future is created at the same time as the FutureBuilder, the FutureBuilder will rebuilt every time there's change from the parent. To avoid this change, as well as making the call from initState, one easy way is to use another Widget call StreamBuilder.
An example from your code:
class RemoteDataSource {
final controller = StreamController<AppData>();
void _apiResponse.getJSONfromTheSite('sitelist') {
// ... other lines
if (response.statusCode == 200) {
// Add the parsed data to the Stream
controller.add(AppData.fromRawJson(response.body));
}
// ... other lines
}
In your SiteListScreen:
class _SitelistScreenState extends State<SitelistScreen> {
RemoteDataSource _apiResponse = RemoteDataSource();
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
_apiResponse.getJSONfromTheSite('sitelist');
}
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Scaffold(
child: StreamBuilder<AppData>(
stream: _apiResponse.controller.stream, // Listen to the Stream using StreamBuilder
builder: (BuildContext context, AsyncSnapshot snapshot) {
if (snapshot.hasData) {
AppData sitelistCollection = snapshot.data;
}
},
),
);
}
This StreamBuilder is a popular concept through out most of Flutter's apps nowadays (and is the basis of many Flutter's architecture), so it's a good idea to take a good look and use the best of it.
There is a simple way you do not need to change too much coding. Like
class RemoteDataSource {
Result _result;
//Creating Singleton
RemoteDataSource._privateConstructor();
static final RemoteDataSource _apiResponse =
RemoteDataSource._privateConstructor();
factory RemoteDataSource() => _apiResponse;
MyClient client = MyClient(Client());
void init() {}
Future<Result> getJSONfromTheSite(String call, {counter = 0}) async {
debugPrint('Network Attempt by getJSONfromTheSite');
if (_result != null) {
return _result;
}
try {
final response = await client
.request(requestType: RequestType.GET, path: call)
.timeout(const Duration(seconds: 8));
if (response.statusCode == 200) {
_result = Result<AppData>.success(AppData.fromRawJson(response.body));
return _result;
} else {
return Result.error(
title: "Error", msg: "Status code not 200", errorcode: 1);
}
} catch (error) {
if (counter < 3) {
counter += 1;
await Future.delayed(Duration(milliseconds: 1000));
return getJSONfromTheSite(call, counter: counter);
} else {
return Result.error(
title: "No connection", msg: "Status code not 200", errorcode: 0);
}
}
}
void dispose() {}
}
I only store the success result to _result, I do not sure that you want store the error result. When you rebuild the widget, it will check if it already get the success result. If true, return the stored result, it not, call api.

Flutter: Stateful Widget does not update

Imagine two Widgets: Main that manages a tabbar and therefore holds several Widgets - and Dashboard.
On Main Constructor I create a first Instance of Dashboard and the other tabbar Widgets with some dummy data (they are getting fetched in the meanwhile in initState). I build these with Futurebuilder. Once the data arrived I want to create a new Instance of Dashboard, but it won't change.
class _MainState extends State<HomePage> {
var _tabs = <Widget>[];
Future<dynamic> futureData;
_MainState() {
_tabs.add(Dashboard(null));
}
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
futureData = _getData();
}
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return FutureBuilder(
future: futureData,
builder: (BuildContext context, AsyncSnapshot snapshot) {
if (snapshot.data != null) {
tabs[0] = Dashboard(snapshot.data);
} else {
return CircularProgressIndicator();
}
});
}
}
class DashboardScreen extends StatefulWidget {
final data;
DashboardScreen(this.data,
{Key key})
: super(key: key) {
print('Dashboard Constructor: ' + data.toString());
}
#override
_DashboardScreenState createState() => _DashboardScreenState(data);
}
class _DashboardScreenState extends State<DashboardScreen> {
var data;
_DashboardScreenState(this.data);
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
print('InitState: ' + data.toString());
}
#override
void didUpdateWidget(Widget oldWidget) {
super.didUpdateWidget(oldWidget);
print('didUpdateWidget');
}
#override
void didChangeDependencies() {
super.didChangeDependencies();
print('didChangeDependencies' + data.toString());
}
#override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Text(data.toString());
}
}
When I print on several available methods it comes clear that the DasboardScreenState is not recreated. Only the DashboardScreen Constructor is called again when the data arrived, but not it's state...
flutter: MainConstructor: null
flutter: Dashboard Constructor: null
flutter: InitState: null
flutter: didChangeDependencies: null
flutter: Dashboard Constructor: MachineStatus.Manual <- Here the data arrived in futureBuilder
How can I force the State to recreate? I tried to use the key parameter with UniqueKey(), but that didn't worked. Also inherrited widget seems not to be the solution either, despite the fact that i don't know how to use it in my use case, because the child is only available in the ..ScreenState but not the updated data..
I could imagine to inform dashboardScreenState by using Stream: listen to messages and then call setState() - I think, but that's only a workaround.
Can anyone help me please :)?
I know I have had issues with the if statement before, try:
return FutureBuilder(
future: futureData,
builder: (BuildContext context, AsyncSnapshot snapshot) {
if (snapshot.hasData) { //use hasData
DataType data = snapshot.data; //Declare Values first
tabs[0] = Dashboard(data);
} else {
return CircularProgressIndicator();
}
});