What are React widgets? | 8 steps to create a custom widget using React.

 What are React widgets?

React widgets are parts that can be added to any React app to make it easier to use, more accessible, and more useful for complex (or simple) forms. These components can be used to create complex user interfaces as well as increase the speed and efficiency of development. There are navigation menus, form elements, data grids, charts, maps, models, and tooltips

All React widgets are designed to be reusable and extensible, making them a great tool for developers who need to create a custom user experience.

 

How to create a custom widget using React?

To begin, create a react app and ensure that you have a supported version of Node.js installed on your computer.

Let's get started by setting up a default React application

Step 1: Setting up a default React application

On your computer, launch a terminal and go to the directory where your app should be.

Type the following three commands:

$ npx create-react-app my-app # create the application named my-app $ cd my-app $ npm start # install and run the application

Credits: https://help.ftrack.com/

As soon as you finish typing the above code, you will see the default application running on your computer.

In a browser, navigate to http://localhost:3000/ to confirm that it is operational. 

Edit the App.js file so that it says “My Custom Widget” instead of “Edit src/App.js and save to reload” to make sure it works.

Step 2: Turning the React application into a custom widget

The following criteria must be met in order to create a custom widget:

You have a server somewhere that hosts an application. With a few changes, the standard React server, which can be accessed through port 3000, may be enough for development.

Your app can be shown in an iframe, which is what the create-react-app server does by default. 

The settings on your ftrack workspace allow you to embed applications over HTTPS. The setting controlling this is at System settings > Advanced Settings > Allowed widget URLs.

Step 3: Define the widget's props (properties) by using React's propTypes object.

To define the widget's props (properties), first, you need to import the PropTypes object from the React library.

import PropTypes from 'prop-types';

Then, you can define the props for your React component using the PropTypes object. For example, if you have a component called MyWidget, you could define its props like this:

MyWidget.propTypes = {   title: PropTypes.string.isRequired,   description: PropTypes.string,   size: PropTypes.number,   onClick: PropTypes.func };

This defines four props (title, description, size and onClick), with their respective types. The title prop is required, while the other props are optional.

Step 4. Add a render() method that returns the UI of the widget.

Create a class that extends the React.Component class.

Inside the class, define a method called render() that returns the UI of the widget then create the JSX code that will represent the UI of the widget.

Step 5. Use the componentDidMount() method to fetch any necessary data.

return (   <div className="App">     <header className="App-header">{session.apiUser}</header>     <main>       <ul>         {projects.map((project) => (           <li             onClick={() => {               displayProjectInfo(project.id);             }}           >             {project.name}           </li>         ))}       </ul>     </main>   </div> );

Step 6: Add any methods you need to add interactivity to the widget.

Step 7: Wrap the widget in a Higher Order Component (HOC) to give it access to any global state or functions it may need.

Step 8: Finally, return the JSX code from the render() method and export the component so it can be imported and used in other parts of the application. 4. Finally, return the JSX code from the render() method.

Final Thought: 

The aforementioned steps will help you create a custom widget using React. However, if you want a professional app then it would be best to hire react developers from Adequate Infosoft to get quality services. Adequate Infosoft is the industry leader in React.js app development, and we will help you to create effective, engaging apps that contribute to the expansion of your business.