Learn Faunadb, React-native and Reactfire

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

React Native lets you build mobile apps using only JavaScript. It uses the same design as React, letting you compose a rich mobile UI from declarative components.

react-native

Use Expo Orbit to install past builds from EAS as well as from your local machine.

You can also use Orbit to easily view and launch all your connected simulators, emulators and physical devices.

🔗 [Expo Orbit](https://docs.expo.dev/build/orbit/)

Use Expo Orbit to Install Past Builds

Reconfigure your eas.json and app.json so you can install the development, preview and production builds all on the same device.

An app on your phone is uniquely identified by the bundle identifier on iOS and the package on Android, so to make the builds unique we have to make these IDs different based on the build profile.

📖 [Docs](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/variants/)

Install Multiple Variants of Your iOS and Android Apps on the Same Device

Set up credentials to upload your Android build to Google Play automatically.

For automatic uploads, you'll need to set up all the app metadata on your Google Play account, including setting up app assets. You'll also need to configure and set up a Google Service Account.

📝 [Create a Google Service Account](https://github.com/expo/fyi/blob/main/creating-google-service-account.md) 
📝 [Store Assets](https://docs.expo.dev/guides/store-assets/)
📝 [EAS Submit Docs](https://docs.expo.dev/submit/introduction/)

Upload an Android App to the Google Play Store Automatically using Expo Publish

Set the build number to increment automatically and learn when to increment version numbers.

While you’re developing your app, when you submit an app with a specific version + version code to the App or Play Store, you cannot submit another app with the same values.

The best practice is to set the build number to increment automatically.

The version number can be incremented manually after each store release.

📖 [Docs](https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/app-versions/)

Increment Version and Build Numbers for iOS and Android apps using EAS

Create the app on the Google Play Store, create the first production build on EAS, upload it to Google Play, and publish it to an internal testing group.

For sharing apps via Google Play, you will need a paid Google Play developer account. It is preferable to have an organisation account if you're looking to monetise your app (you'll need to verify your organisation before you can create apps). But if you you are building apps as an individual developer, you can use the individual developer account. 

When creating an individual developer account, you have some additional restrictions:
1. You must submit proof of ID and home address to create the account
2. If you want to monetise your apps, your home address will be shown on the Google Play developer page
3. You will need 20 testers to test your app for 14 days before you can apply for production access

🎮 [Google Play Console](https://play.google.com/console)

🔗  [Register for a Google Play Developer account](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6112435)

🔗 [Required information to create a Play Console developer account](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/13628312?hl=en-GB)

🔗 [QR Code Generator](https://www.qr-code-generator.com/)


Create an Android Release Build with EAS and Upload to Google Play Store

Create an Internal Distribution (Preview) build for sharing your app in internally in production mode.

This can be used to share your build with your team or testers without submitting it to Google Play.

📝 [Docs](https://docs.expo.dev/build/internal-distribution/)

Create an Internal Distribution Build for Android with EAS

Create a Development Build that runs on Android Emulator or Device.

This build can be used for local development on Android. You can use the same apk (the build artifact) on both an Emulator (that you can install via Android Studio) or on a real android device.

🔗 [Expo Website](https://expo.dev/)

📝 [Docs](https://docs.expo.dev/build/introduction/)

🔗 [Android Studio](https://developer.android.com/studio)

Create a Development Build for Android with EAS

Submit your Production Build to the Apple App Store and install it via TestFlight.

When submitting a build to Apple with EAS Submit (or otherwise), it will first get added to TestFlight which is essentially a pre-prod environment for Apple. This will allow you to install and share the actual production build to testers before releasing it to users.

App names on the Apple App Store must be globally unique. So if you've chosen a name for your app that is already taken - like Plants - you will have to choose a different name for the App Store Listing page. Note that this is only the case for the app name on the App Store listing page, and you can still use your preferred name elsewhere.

**TestFlight Internal Testing** - as soon as you upload your build to App Store Connect and it finished processing, it is available for internal testing. You can add users to the internal testing group by email, and the users must be registered on your Apple Developer account.

**TestFlight External Testing** - this is a separate testing group that allows you to share the build with anyone either by sending them an email invite or using an invite URL. Before you can share the build, you must first submit a build for external testing and wait for it to be approved by Apple, which usually takes a couple of hours.

**Release** - in order for the build to actually show up on the Apple App Store, you will need to create a Release on App Store connect and submit it for review. This review usually takes about a day.

🔗 [TestFlight](https://developer.apple.com/testflight/)

📝 [EAS Submit Docs](https://docs.expo.dev/submit/introduction/)

📝 [App Store Assets Docs](https://docs.expo.dev/guides/store-assets/)

Submit an iOS App to the Apple App Store and TestFlight using EAS

Create an iOS Release build for distribution.

This build gets submitted to the Apple and can only be installed via TestFlight or the App Store.

Create an iOS Release Build for the Apple App Store with EAS

In this lesson, you'll learn how to enhance the accuracy of components generated by Cursor Composer by aligning your project's package.json with Cursor's rules. We'll guide you through extracting the list of installed packages from your package.json and incorporating them into your .cursorrules file, along with brief descriptions of their functionalities. By providing Cursor with this contextual information, you'll enable it to generate components that are more precise and functional on the first attempt. The lesson includes demonstrations of component generation both with and without these enhancements, highlighting the improvements in accuracy and efficiency.

Boost Cursor Composer Accuracy: Integrating package.json with Cursor Rules

Speed up your bug-fixing process dramatically with Cursors Composer. Take a warning from your logs, search for relevant terms, then seamlessly import both the warning and search results into Composer. Add documentation and apply fixes to all search results in one go. This streamlined workflow resolves multiple issues rapidly, saving valuable development time.

Batch Fix Every File in Search Results with Cursor's Composer

 We map over the initial set of results then use `Promise.all` to efficiently fetch the details of each pokemon rendered in the table. This allows us to add more columns to our pokemon table.

Fetch and display row details with Promise.all in Tanstack Table

map over the initial set of results then use `Promise.all` to efficiently fetch the details of each pokemon rendered in the tanstack table

Create a custom hook to fetch remote data by passing a promise to the React 19 `use` hook. Then render this data in Tanstack Table by memoizing the results and passing them to `useReactTable`.

Render remote data in a Tanstack Table with React 19's use hook and a promise

Create a custom hook using React 19’s use to fetch data with a promise. Render it in a Tanstack Table by memoizing and using useReactTable.

You know when you're deep in the code trenches and need someone to challenge your assumptions? That's exactly what this is about.

Instead of waiting for someone to poke holes in your master plan, you can paste that strategy straight into AI Studio and let it pressure test your ideas. We're talking about using this tool to validate everything from your feature proposals to your ambitious refactoring strategies.

The real magic happens when you hit that microphone button. Now you're in a real-time verbal sparring match. It's like rubber duck debugging but the duck actually pushes back and makes you defend every architectural decision you've made.

Here's the workflow:
1. Drop your master plan into the system instructions
2. Tell the AI to challenge every assumption
3. Hit that mic and defend your choices like you mean it
4. Watch your plan either emerge stronger or get rightfully dismantled

This approach is perfect when you're:
- Stuck in your own head with a complex problem
- Need to validate if your approach holds water
- Want to catch edge cases before they catch you
- Looking for opportunities you might have missed because you're too close to the code

It's like having a senior dev on call 24/7, ready to challenge your ideas and push you to think deeper about your solutions.

Now go forth and get your ideas challenged. Your projects will thank you for it.


An Uncomfortable and Challenging Conversation with AI Studio

In this lesson, you'll learn how to effectively brainstorm your project ideas before working with AI agents. We'll cover:

1. The importance of having a clear plan before starting work with AI agents
2. Using traditional brainstorming techniques to gather your thoughts
3. Leveraging video recording to capture your brainstorming session
4. How to review and analyze websites for inspiration
5. Documenting likes, dislikes, and potential features for your project
6. Using AI tools (like AI Studio) to organize and process your recorded brainstorming session

The lesson emphasizes a modern approach to brainstorming that combines traditional techniques with video recording, making it easier to later process your ideas through AI tools. This method helps ensure that no ideas are lost and that your thoughts can be effectively organized by AI for future reference.

How to Brainstorm Your Project Features to Prepare for AI Agents

fast-check allows us to create composite generators that suit our testing needs. We'll generate two numbers to create a point simulating an X and Y and assert that the distance should always be greater than or equal to 0.

Generate composite objects with fast-check fc.record

Just using fast-check by itself can make you tests verbose and tough to read. Lucky for us there are many integrations with fast-check such as the `@fast-check/jest` package that will help remove some boilerplate from our test.

Tidy up your test with @fast-check/jest

Many people share .cursorrules files, but trying to craft your own from scratch is a huge pain. Instead, this lesson shows you how to grab ALL community-created .cursorrules files to build a custom rule set for your projects. We'll use Gitingest and Google AI Studio to gather these examples and generate an awesome starting point customized to your specific project.

Generate Custom .cursorrules for Your Project Based on Community Examples

The GitHub CLI allows you to search issues and filter on different criteria like amount of comments. This allows you to search for real-world situations and pains/solutions people have using different technology. 

With the GitHub CLI in hand we'll drop 100s of issues as context in Googles AI Studio and have Gemini determine the 10 most frequently asked questions. This will give us a sense of how people use a library and where people get hung up.