React Query and SWR users must see: a smarter way of data requests

Hey there! Today I want to share with you an incredibly useful feature - automatic data fetching. Have you ever encountered a situation where the user switches back to the app page, but the data is still in the old state? Or maybe you need to refresh the data periodically, but don't want to do it manually? In these cases, the auto-fetch feature is a total lifesaver! It has really helped me a lot, making my app smarter and more fluid. Today, I'm going to show you how to implement this amazing feature using alovajs.

First, let me introduce you to alovajs. It's a super powerful next-generation request tool. Not only does it provide a modern openapi generation solution, but it can also generate interface call code, TypeScript types, and interface documentation with just one click. Compared to libraries like react-query and swrjs, alovajs goes even further - it provides high-quality request strategies for various scenarios, allowing us to implement complex request logic with very little code.

I was truly amazed when I first started using alovajs. It can be a powerhouse on both the client-side and server-side (like Node.js, Deno, and Bun). It's like alovajs has given my development work a pair of wings, making everything so much easier and more efficient.

Want to know more about alovajs? Head over to the official website at https://alova.js.org and check it out! I'm sure you'll be as captivated by its powerful features as I am.

Automatic Data Fetching: Making Your App Smarter

Now, let's dive into how to implement automatic data fetching using alovajs. alovajs provides a super handy hook called useAutoRequest. It supports automatically fetching the latest data in scenarios like browser focus, tab switches, network reconnections, and polling.

Let's see how to use it:

import { useAutoRequest } from 'alova/client';

const { loading, data, error } = useAutoRequest(() => method());

It's that simple! By default, it will automatically fetch data when the browser shows/hides, focuses, or reconnects to the network, and it will also automatically cancel the listener when the component is unmounted. How considerate!

Customizable Configuration: Flexible for Various Scenarios

But wait, there's more! We can customize the configuration, like this:

const { loading, data, error } = useAutoRequest(() => method(), {
  enableVisibility: true,  // Trigger on browser show/hide
  enableFocus: true,       // Trigger on browser focus
  enableNetwork: true,     // Trigger on network reconnection
  throttle: 1000,          // Throttle time to avoid frequent requests
  pollingTime: 2000        // Polling time, request every 2 seconds
});

These configurations allow us to have fine-grained control over the auto-fetch behavior. It's been a lifesaver for me! I once used this feature to solve a tricky real-time data update problem, and it significantly boosted my app's performance.

Pause Requests: Flexible Control

Sometimes, we may need to pause the automatic requests, like when the user leaves the page but the component is not destroyed. Don't worry, alovajs has considered this too:

let pause = false;
useAutoRequest({
  // ...
  middleware(_, next) {
    if (!pause) {
      next();
    }
  }
});

By controlling the pause variable, we can easily pause or resume the automatic requests. This feature was a huge help when I was developing an app that required frequent page switching - it ensured data timeliness while avoiding unnecessary requests.

Cross-Platform Support: Automatic Requests Everywhere

Finally, for non-browser environments, alovajs allows us to customize the listener functions. For example, in React Native, we can set up the network reconnection listener like this:

import NetInfo from '@react-native-community/netinfo';
useAutoRequest.onNetwork = (notify, config) => {
  const unsubscribe = NetInfo.addEventListener(({ isConnected }) => {
    isConnected && notify();
  });
  return unsubscribe;
};

This flexibility is amazing, allowing us to use the auto-fetch feature in any environment. I remember a time when I was developing a cross-platform app, and this feature saved me from writing a ton of repetitive code.

Conclusion: alovajs Makes Development Easier

In summary, alovajs's automatic data fetching feature is incredibly useful! It not only makes our apps smarter, but also greatly reduces our workload. Say goodbye to the hassle of manually managing data refreshes, and let your app keep itself up-to-date.

Have you thought of using this feature to solve some of your previous tricky problems? Or do you have other use cases in mind? Feel free to share your ideas in the comments! And if you found this article helpful, don't forget to give it a like. Let's explore the endless possibilities of alovajs together!