Learn Faunadb, Neo4j and Storybook

Dive into the world of real-time web development with this hands-on course! You’ll learn how to build a dynamic chat application using Fauna Streams and Next.js 14, focusing on the essentials and best practices.

**What You’ll Learn:**
- **Next.js Best Practices:** Master Next.js best practices for building fast, maintainable apps.
- **Server-Side Rendering (SSR):** Learn SSR techniques and master features like server actions, server side form submission etc.
- **Database Access Patterns:** Efficiently connect and retrieve data using Fauna.
- **Real-Time Updates:** Implement real-time updates with Fauna Streams.
- **Basic Authentication:** Secure your chat app with simple authentication methods.

**Course Highlights:**
- Practical, project-based learning.
- Clear, step-by-step instructions.
- Focus on modern, real-time web development.
- Tips and tricks for optimizing performance.

By the end of this course, you’ll have a working real-time chat app and a solid grasp of the tools and techniques used to build it.


Next.js is a minimalistic framework for server-rendered React applications.

Build a Real-time Next.js 14 Chat App with Fauna 

FaunaDB is a global serverless database that gives you ubiquitous, low latency access to app data, without sacrificing data correctness. It eliminates layers of app code for manually handling data anomalies, security, and scale, creating a friendlier dev experience for you and better app experience for your users.

faunadb

Now that we have user information available to us, we want to connect messages created to the users that are sending them. When we add `read` privileges to the `User` model, we can call `User.identity()` to get the user data we need to set for messages. 

Update Fauna Messages Collection with Authors

React is one of the web’s most popular frameworks for building JavaScript applications. 

If you know what you’re doing, React can drastically simplify how you build, use, and maintain code.

Whether you’re a React newbie or you’re ready for advanced techniques, you can level-up with egghead. Explore our in-depth courses, lessons, and community resources to build more powerful applications and crack open your career.

react

For user signin, we'll implement a proper server action by creating a `actions.js` file where our server actions can live. In our login page, we'll set the component to be a client component to hold some state. This way we can use the new `useFormState` hook from `react-dom` and pass in our login server action.

Within the action we'll call our `UserLogin` function from Fauna and set a cookie with the secret we get back that we can use throughout our application.

Implement Fauna Signin with Next.js Server Actions and useFormState React Hook

Now it's time to actually sign users up for our appliaction.

We'll implement the `doSignup` function that we created earlier. This function will run on the server with the `'use server'` directive so we can instantiate a fauna client and call `UserRegistration` within this function.

From there we'll redirect the user to the `/signin` page which will error out because it's not implemented yet.

Implement Signup Functionality through Fauna with Next.js 14 Server Actions

To have actual users in our application we need to represent those users in our database. Fauna has quite a few ways you can do user authentication but we'll be creating our own using a few built-in Fauna helpers.

We'll start by setting up the necessary Fauna logic for users. We'll add a `User` collection as well as a `functions.fsl` file that we'll expose user sign up and log in. Here we'll see how Fauna gives us a built in `Credentials` document to handle email and password for a user. It also has a login function that it exposes to make that easy for us which will generate a token for a user on login.

After setting up our functions, we'll add an `UnAuthRole` as well as an `AuthRole` and give proper actions for each role.

Add Fauna User Authentication to a Next.js App

To stream messages, we'll implement logic very similar to how we stream the creation of rooms from earlier.

First, we need to convert `MessageList` into a client component. We'll get an interesting error saying that only plain objects can be passed to client components from server components. This happens because the response we get back from Fauna is pretty complex. To fix this error we'll create a simple messages array and pass that down to the `MessageList` component.

In the `MessageList` component we'll create a `useEffect` that will initiate a Fauna stream within a ref and push new messages into state that we are holding in the component.

Stream Chat Messages in Real-time in Next.js from Fauna

Now it's time to actually create messages and display them in rooms within our application.

We'll start by creating a `MessageForm` component that will send a `Message.create` query to Fauna on form submission.

Next, we'll display these messages by updating our room query to also get all the messages for that room. You'll see that we can still just perform one query because we pass in the room id and call `Message.where(.room == room)` to the query.

One note here is if you console log your messages in your page component, you'll notice that the logs show up in the terminal and not the browser. This is because we are using a server component.

Create and Display Messages using Fauna within a Room in Next.js

We'll take a moment to explore how Fauna handles one-to-many relationships inside the fauna shell. 

First we'll create a `Message` collection.

Then we'll connect to the cloud database by running `fauna shell`, because I'm logged and configured this connects to the database I'm working with.

In the terminal we'll see how to create multiple messages that are associated with a room and query for those messages by room.

Explore Faunas one-to-many Relationships between Collections in the Terminal

With rooms being created and displayed on the index page, it's now time to create dynamic routes for each room so that when you click on a room name, you are actually navigated to that room.

We'll do this by using Next.js dynamic route syntax `/rooms/[...id]/page.js`. This will render a page on any `/rooms/:id` passing the component we define the `:id` as params.

Here we'll take that id and fetch the room data from fauna with a `Room.byId` query.

Create Dynamic Routes in Next.js for Chat Rooms

We can add rooms but our application does not update and display rooms when a room is added. This should happen in real-time.

To fix this we'll add a useEffect that will query for all our rooms and use fauna's `client.stream` API to ensure that this happens in real-time.

List Available Chat Rooms in Real-time in Next.js from Fauna

The first step to building a chat app is to have rooms to chat in. We'll need to create a Room collection (or table) in Fauna that we'll be adding to.

In our Next Application we'll create a simple form that has a submit handler that will create those rooms in Fauna. We need to hold some state in our component so we'll turn the page into a client component with `'use client'`.

There will be a little bit more Fauna set up to get things working. We need to create a key for our application to interact with our database so we'll create a key by running `Key.create` in our `fauna shell`. Then we'll install the `fauna` client and make a `client.query` to create the room.

Create a Fauna Room Collection in Next.js with the fauna Client

The first step is to install and configure our database that will be backing our Next.js application. We'll be using Fauna so we head over to the Fauna website and create a database.

Back in our terminal we will install `fauna-shell` so we can interact and manage our database from within our project. After some initializing steps from the CLI we'll be set up to build the app out.

Initialize and Configure a Fauna Database inside a Next.js project with fauna-shell

Storybook is a tool for UI development. It makes development faster and easier by isolating components. This allows you to work on one component at a time. You can develop entire UIs without needing to start up a complex dev stack, force certain data into your database, or navigate around your application.

Storybook helps you document components for reuse and automatically visually test your components to prevent bugs. Extend Storybook with an ecosystem of addons that help you do things like fine-tune responsive layouts or verify accessibility.

Storybook integrates with most popular JavaScript UI frameworks and (experimentally) supports server-rendered component frameworks such as Ruby on Rails.

storybook

Storybook has thorough documentation and an incredible Discord community to help you. Learn how to efficiently find solutions and tips, ensuring you always have the support you need.

- [Documentation](https://storybook.js.org/docs)
- [Showcase](https://storybook.js.org/showcase)
- [Integrations](https://storybook.js.org/integrations/)
- [Github Discussions](https://github.com/storybookjs/storybook/discussions)
- [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/storybook)

Leverage Storybook Documentation and Community Support — course conclusion

Chromatic offers free hosting for Storybook component libraries and design systems. Share your components with others on the premiere platform for Visual Testing and Review.

Host Storybook For Free with Chromatic

Storybook seamlessly integrates with popular frameworks like Next.js, Nuxt, Angular, SvelteKit, and more. Discover how to incorporate Storybook into your existing project, enhancing your UI development process.

Integrate Storybook into Your Development Environment

Ensure your Storybook environment mirrors your production setup. Learn to add global stylesheets and fonts, creating a consistent look and feel across your project and component library.

Configure Storybook with Global Stylesheets and Fonts

Effortlessly generate interactive and detailed documentation for your components with the `autodocs` tag. Learn how to turn comments and prop definitions into rich, readable docs.

Generate Documentation Effortlessly with Autodocs

Storybook boasts a vibrant ecosystem of ready-made addons. Learn how to install and register the Accessibility Addon and promote UI inclusivity.

Extend Storybook's Capabilities with Addons

Take control of story presentation with Storybook Parameters. Expertly adjust the layout to ensure ideal rendering for viewers.

Specify Layout with Storybook Parameters

Seamlessly capture and analyze user interactions with the Actions Addon. Learn to log events — like click, hover, focus, and more — to elevate manual testing and debugging.

Capture Interactions with Actions Addon

Create dynamic and engaging component playgrounds in Storybook with Args and Controls. Learn how these powerful tools create an engaging and interactive documentation experience.

Create Engaging Component Playgrounds with Args and Controls

When we import assets in React components outside of the `public` folder that Nitro reads for assets by default when running the development server we need to tell Nitro how to find them with the `devProxy` configuration option.

```typescript
export default defineNitroConfig({
  renderer: './renderer.ts',
  devProxy: {
    '/app/assets': 'http://localhost:5173/app/assets'
  }
})
```

This is ultimately inadequate in scenarios where you want to import assets arbitrarily and have them "just work" but works in a pinch.



Use devProxy in Nitro Config to Serve Static Imported Assets in Dev Mode via Vite

Learn how to use devProxy in Nitro Config with Vite to serve static assets in React components in dev mode.

Start with a basic Vite React TypeScript app and enhance it for production use by integrating Nitro as the server. 

This requires a custom Vite plugin for nitro as well as a custom renderer and manually creating Nitro config.

The other way to approach this would be to add Vite to a Nitro app instead. Same basic result.

The [Nitro config reference](https://nitro.unjs.io/config) is a great read of you'd like to explore more options.


Configure a Vite React TypeScript Application on a Basic Nitro Server

Configure a Vite React TypeScript app by integrating Nitro for production, using custom plugins, renderers, and configs.

Quick Get Started style introduction to Vite using `pnpm create vite` with the React TypeScript template.

See [more in the official docs](https://vite.dev/guide/).

Create a Vite App with the React TypeScript Preset

Quick guide to start a Vite app using React TypeScript template with pnpm.

Over the years, your application have grown huge. Sometimes, really HUGE.

Many developers have contributed to the codebase. One day they pushed one coding style, a different one another day. Sometimes even different patterns and solutions for similar problems.

You want to keep your codebase consistent. In the Angular ecosystem, there were well established patterns for doing things the right way ™️. But the old solutions are being challenged by signal-based approach.

Eventually, you ask yourself the key question: **Should you integrate with the NEW solutions or stick to the battle-tested ones, but already considered LEGACY**?

That's a very good question indeed. Don't rush with architectural decisions 🤓.

## 👉 First, think of what problems you want to solve by introducing the change.

Do you have 1k LoC Angular components? Maybe even 2k? Do you and your team enjoy working with these? 😏

Where does the **domain logic and state management code** belong to - do you have a clear guidance on which code should be put where? Have you spot that different devs implement similar features in totally different ways?

Do you keep on asking the same questions over and over again: **whether this certain piece of code** should be **imperative** (plain old object properties and variables) or **reactive** (streams)? It'd be nice to keep all thinga reactive, but more often than not, it introduces complexity.

## 👉 Second, think of long-term consequences.

You are going to have more than one way to **manage the state**. But is that really an issue? If your codebase is modular, separate modules should not depend on each other in any way. Inner abstractions of one should be invisible to the other, etc.

You are going to introduce a **new tool**. On one hand, you need to learn it, and so does your team. But on the other hand, it's a breathe of fresh air. And it's useful to question the way you've been doing things so far. Maybe there's a more effective way?

You are going to embrace signal-based APIs. And that means taking taking advantage of Zoneless Angular. This means using all modern Angular APIs. And you know that signals are the future. Why would you want to stick to the **less performant, less type-safe, less flexible and, objectively, less effective solutions**?

## 👉 Finally, plan your INCREMENTAL integration.

INCREMENTAL is the absolute keyword here. You don't want to tell your PM you need to stop delivering features because of a refactor.

Actually, there's no need for a "refactor". Just pick the first new feature to be implemented. Or pick the one that needs to be extended.

NGRX Signal Store allows you to create both very simple & small stores, as well as bigger ones. **Composition** is the key here.

**Start simple**.

Create a `withState` section with the signals that hold the state. That's already reactive. And relatively simple.

```ts
const initialState: CartState = {
  items: ...,
  rebate: ...,
}

export const CartStore = signalStore(
  withState(initialState)
);
```

Create a `withMethods` section to provide ways to change the state:

```ts
export const CartStore = signalStore(
  ...
  withMethods((store) => ({
    addItem(item: ShoppingItem): void {
      patchState(store, (state) => ({ items: [ ...state.items, item ] }));
    },
    ...
);
```

Create a `withComputed` section to provide all derived computations:

```ts
export const CartStore = signalStore(
  ...
  withComputed(({ items }) => ({
    totalPrice: computed(() => items().reduce(...))
    ...
);
```

**Start simple**.

Now you can (literally) **`inject` this code into your existing solution**. All you need is to inject your brand new NGRX Signal Store implementation into a component, or a service:

```ts
@Injectable()
class ExistingBigService {
  cartStore = inject(CartStore)
  //...  
}
```

and that's it! What's beatiful is that NGRX Signal Store should remain an implementation details (of a component, service, etc). It **shouldn't leak outside to the entire application unintentionally**. Small NGRX Signal Stores help us to **keep logic more modular**.

Don't hesitate - give NGRX Signal Store a try! Start with the [_**Scalable Signals Angular Architecture with NGRX Signal Store**_](https://egghead.io/courses/scalable-signals-angular-architecture-with-ngrx-signal-store-a33abd39) course now!

Integrating NGRX Signal Store with an existing Angular application


Integrate NGRX Signal Store into your Angular app incrementally for modular, reactive state management. Improve consistency and performance with modern APIs.

In React 19, managing script tags efficiently within components can lead to performance enhancements and simpler code structures.

Originally, using script tags directly in a React component involved complex setups, like using `useEffect` to dynamically add JavaScript code. For instance, a component might dynamically inject script tags to load external widgets. This approach, while functional, resulted in multiple script tags and duplicate iframe elements. This duplication not only cluttered the output but also negatively impacted performance by loading scripts multiple times.

The workaround for this would be to manually hoist any common scripts and maybe load them when they weren't needed by any components.

With React 19 we now have a more effective method. This involves directly placing the script tag within the React component's return statement. This approach ensures that React handles the script loading, avoiding the duplication of script tags.

By implementing the script tags this way, the loading initiator becomes React DOM, which efficiently manages script loading and deduplication. This setup prevents multiple requests for the same script when the component is rendered multiple times, enhancing the overall application performance.

Furthermore, directly embedding the script tag simplifies the code, making the component cleaner and more maintainable.

Efficiently Render Script Tags in React 19 Components

Learn how to efficiently render script tags in React 19 components to improve performance by avoiding duplicate script loads and simplifying your code.

Let's learn how to dynamically manage title tags in React 19 applications. Rendering `<title>` dynamically is simple enough, however, a challenge arises when multiple title tags are present in the document, which can lead to issues with screen readers and search engine optimization (SEO). The solution presented involves ensuring that only one title tag is rendered at a time by using conditional rendering.

Also we need to make sure to have a single string within the title tag using a template literal, ensuring our HTML remains valid and optimized.


Deduplicate Title tags with React 19

Learn to manage multiple title tags in React 19 dynamically. Ensure accessibility and SEO by preventing duplicate title tags with clear examples.

In React 19, we can easily add a title tag like "Starship Deets" which then appears in the head section of the HTML even when we render it inside our components. This method also applies to meta tags such as character set and viewport settings, which are also lifted to the head section automatically.

This is an awesome feature because it maintains the same composition style we are familiar with in React components. It simplifies the handling of HTML head elements without needing extra setups like `useEffect` for accessing the head section. Even in situations where our components are rendering within a body element, like within a div, we can manage our head content directly within our components. React takes care of hoisting these elements where they need to go.


Hoist Title and Meta tags in React 19

Hoisting title and meta tags directly in React 19 components allows for simpler composition, similar to other React elements. Manage meta and title tags.

<PodcastLinks />

Dax Raad, known for his strong opinions on Twitter, sat down for a chat about web dev, career moves, and building cool stuff. He's not afraid to throw some heat at popular tools like [Next.js](https://nextjs.org/), though he still helps people use it. Dax is particularly excited about local-first development, which he thinks isn't getting enough attention. He argues that sometimes the best web dev move is to step away from web dev entirely and explore other areas of programming.

When it comes to career growth, Dax encourages developers to think beyond the "web dev" label and see themselves as programmers capable of tackling any challenge. He advocates for trying out weird stuff and learning unusual languages, as these experiences can lead to unexpected opportunities. Taking smart risks in your career can open doors to awesome possibilities.

In the business world, Dax is a fan of making "asymmetric bets" - moves with low downside but huge potential upside. He applies this philosophy to his work on [SST](https://sst.dev/), reasoning that even if it fails, he'll walk away with valuable experience. He also emphasizes the importance of resisting quick payouts in favor of potentially bigger wins down the road.

Looking to the future of tech, Dax is betting on local-first development. He sees potential in getting in early on emerging technologies like [Solid.js](https://www.solidjs.com/). Building in public and making connections in new tech communities can pay off in unexpected ways.

Dax also challenges the notion of constant hyper-productivity in tech. He suggests balancing focused work with time for exploration and learning. Sometimes, he points out, what seems like a "dumb" choice (like learning a niche language) can turn out to be a smart career move in the long run.

## Good Stuff Mentioned

- [Next.js](https://nextjs.org/)
- [Vercel](https://vercel.com/)
- [SST](https://sst.dev/)
- [Elixir](https://elixir-lang.org/)
- [Solid.js](https://www.solidjs.com/)
- [RepliCache](https://replicache.dev/)
- [Linear](https://linear.app/)
- [Remix](https://remix.run/)
- [Shopify](https://www.shopify.com/)
- [React](https://react.dev/)

Developer Career Growth and Asymmetric Bets with Dax Raad

<PodcastLinks />

Dev and Joel discuss React Miami conference, praising its fun atmosphere and location. They chat about React Server Components, with Dev sharing his experience building a mini framework. They talk about Vinxi, Nitro, and the unjs ecosystem as tools for creating custom frameworks. The conversation touches on Vue's popularity outside web dev circles and non-web dev conferences. They discuss the benefits of TypeScript and strongly-typed APIs. Dev mentions his upcoming talk on durable objects at [a conference in Dallas](https://x.com/DThompsonDev/status/1829674506237194456). They end by discussing WebSockets, PartyKit, and platform-specific frameworks.

## What's Good?

- [React Miami Conference](https://www.reactmiami.com/) 
- [Brenley Dueck's blog post on Simple RSC with Vinxi:](https://www.brenelz.com/posts/simple-rsc-with-vinxi/)
- [Vinxi](https://github.com/nksaraf/vinxi)
- [Nitro](https://nitro.unjs.io/guide/configuration)
- [unjs ecosystem](https://unjs.io/)
- [Solid Start](https://start.solidjs.com/)
- [TanStack Router](https://tanstack.com/router/latest) 
- [PartyKit](https://github.com/partykit/partykit) 
- [Durable Objects (Cloudflare)](https://developers.cloudflare.com/durable-objects/)
- [Flightcontrol](https://www.flightcontrol.dev/) 
- [SST](https://sst.dev/)
- [OpenNext](https://open-next.js.org/)

Nitro, Vinxi, and RSCs - What's Good with Dev Agrawal

**Note:** This course is being actively developed and more lessons will be added in the future.

Cursor is an AI-enhnaced code editor that allows you to call upon the robots to refactor or stub out functions for you with natural language. 

In this course, John will show you workflows that will save you time and effort by utilizing the features such as its mult-line editing and context.

In particular, by giving Cursor's AI the proper context, whether that's lines of code or multiple files, you'll get better output when trying to extend or refactor logic that's present.


Bite-size video tutorials for badass web developers.

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