Bacancy

Bacancy represents the connected world, offering innovative and customer-centric information technology experiences, enabling Enterprises, Associates and the Society to Rise™.

12+

Countries where we have happy customers

1050+

Agile enabled employees

World wide offices

12+

Years of Experience

Agile Coaches

Certified Scrum Masters

2500+

Clients projects

1458

Happy customers

React Native

Streamline Your React Native Development with Plop.js Automation

Last Updated on August 7, 2024

Summary

React Native is the most popular framework within the tech development marketplace for ensuring exceptional front-ends for business application development. Simultaneously, Plop.js is a microgenerator framework that helps streamline the creation of consistent boilerplate code for a uniform codebase and increased productivity. This blog post will explore how you can improve your workflow with React Native development with Plop.js. We will also dive into the details of the setup process, create and customize generators for standard React Native components, and discuss the benefits of using Plop.js in your React Native projects.

Introduction To React Native Development With Plop.js

Maintaining a consistent project structure is crucial but challenging in React Native development. This involves organizing routes, controllers, components, helpers, etc. Setting up these structures manually is slow and prone to human error, as each piece of code needs to be written from scratch. Automation can streamline this process, speeding up development and minimizing mistakes.

React Native development with Plop.js offers a powerful solution for automating and tagging repetitive tasks. The Plop.js tool allows developers to generate flat-text files consistently, ensuring that project structures remain organized and efficient. By incorporating Plop.js into your workflow, you can enhance the efficiency and reliability of your React Native projects.

What is Plop.js?

Plop.js is a Node.js library for creating and generating code for project structure and templates. The concept behind Plop.js is generators, which are essential when creating structure, the content of the files, and the directories to be generated. The generators are customized based on the project’s specific needs. Plop.js offers different methods for diverse operations, such as insertion and code generation. These methods and template codes are written using the Handlebars.js syntax.

Setting Up Plop.js In A React Native Project

To leverage the efficacy of React Native development with Plop.js, it is crucial to cover the points below and follow these steps accordingly.

Step 1 – Installing Plop.js
To use Plop.js in your React Native project, you must first install it in the system. Two options are available at your convenience and according to your requirements.

Global Installation
Installing Plop.js globally allows you to use it from any project directory on your machine.

Open your terminal.
Run the following command:

// using npm
npm install -g plop

After the installation, you can use the ‘plop’ command in any directory.

Local Installation
Install the Plop.js locally, making it available only to specific projects.

Open your project directory in the terminal
Run the following command:

// using npm
npm install --save-dev plop

You can then add a script to your ‘package.json’ to run Plop:

{
  "scripts": {
    "plop": "plop"
  }
}

Use the following command to run the Plop:

npm run plop

You can choose the preferred installation method that fits your specific needs. The Global installation is ideal for quick access, while the Local installation ensures that the Plop.js is versioned with your project.

Take Your React Native Development Project To The Next Level With Plop.js Automation.
Hire React Native Developers from us to fast-track your development process and automate repetitive tasks consistently across projects with this powerful combination.

Step 2 – Creating a Plopfile
You must create a ‘plopfile.js’ in the root of your project. The file will help define the generators that Plop.js will use. Create the file and add the command given below:

module.exports = function (plop) {
  // Your generators will be defined here
};

Additionally, create one folder in the root directory for all templates like components, screens, reducers, etc. Your folder structure looks somewhat like this:

Creating Plop Generators For Common Components

The next step requires creating the Plop Generators for common components, which you can do as follows:

Step 3: Define a Component Generator
Let’s create a generator for a common React Native component. Add the following generator to your plopfile.js:

module.exports = function (plop) {
  plop.setGenerator('component', {
    description: 'Create a new React Native component',
    prompts: [
      {
        type: 'input',
        name: 'name',
        message: 'Component name:',
      },
    ],
    actions: [
      {
        type: 'add',
        path: 'src/components/{{pascalCase name}}/{{pascalCase name}}.js',
        templateFile: 'plop-templates/Component.js.hbs',
      },
      {
        type: 'add',
        path: 'src/components/{{pascalCase name}}/{{pascalCase name}}.styles.js',
        templateFile: 'plop-templates/Component.styles.js.hbs',
      },
      {
        type: 'add',
        path: 'src/components/{{pascalCase name}}/index.js',
        templateFile: 'plop-templates/index.js.hbs',
      },
    ],
  });
};

Step 4: Create Template Files
You must create the template files that Plop.js will use to generate the component files. Create a plop-templates directory in the root of your project, then add the following three template files:

Component.js.hbs:

import React from 'react';
import { View, Text } from 'react-native';
import styles from './{{pascalCase name}}.styles';

const {{pascalCase name}} = () => {
  return (
    
      {{pascalCase name}} Component
    
  );
};

export default {{pascalCase name}};

Component.styles.js.hbs:

import { StyleSheet } from 'react-native';

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: {
    flex: 1,
    justifyContent: 'center',
    alignItems: 'center',
  },
});

export default styles;

index.js.hbs:

export { default } from './{{pascalCase name}}';

Step 5: Running Generators
After creating these generators and template code, we run these generators from the terminal. So Below are the steps for running generators and responding to interactive prompts:

Step 1. Open Terminal:
Open your terminal or command prompt
Step 2. Navigate to your project directory.
Navigate to your project’s root directory, where your plopfile.js is located.
Step 3. Run Plop
Once you are in the root directory, run the command below:

npm run plop

This command will call the plop.js file and show the list of available generators defined in your plopfile.js file

Step 4. Select Generator:

Choose the generator you want to run by selecting the corresponding option from the list.

For example, if you want to create a new component, select the “component” generator.

Step 5. Respond to Prompts:

After selecting the generator, Plop.js will present you with any defined prompts.

For example, in our case, it will ask, “Component name:” so type the name and press Enter.

Step 6. Generate Files:

Once you’ve provided input for all prompts, Plop.js will generate the files and directories according to the specified actions.
You’ll see output in the terminal indicating the files created or modified. Like the image below

Customizing Plop Generators

Plop.js allows for extensive customization of your generators. You can add more prompts, perform complex logic, and customize the generated files to meet your project’s needs. For example, you can add TypeScript support or boilerplate code to your components.

Adding TypeScript Support

To add TypeScript support, you can modify your plopfile.js and template files to generate .tsx files instead of .js files:

plopfile.js:

module.exports = function (plop) {
  plop.setGenerator('component', {
    description: 'Generate a new React Native component',
    prompts: [
      {
        type: 'input',
        name: 'name',
        message: 'Enter Component name:',
      },
    ],
    actions: [
      {
        type: 'add',
        path: 'src/components/{{pascalCase name}}/{{pascalCase name}}.tsx',
        templateFile: 'plop-templates/Component.tsx.hbs',
      },
      {
        type: 'add',
        path: 'src/components/{{pascalCase name}}/{{pascalCase name}}.styles.ts',
        templateFile: 'plop-templates/Component.styles.ts.hbs',
      },
      {
        type: 'add',
        path: 'src/components/{{pascalCase name}}/index.ts',
        templateFile: 'plop-templates/index.ts.hbs',
      },
    ],
  });
};

Component.tsx.hbs:

import React from 'react';
import { View, Text, StyleSheet } from 'react-native';
import styles from './{{pascalCase name}}.styles';

interface Props {}

const {{pascalCase name}}: React.FC = () => {
  return (
    
      {{pascalCase name}} Component
    
  );
};

export default {{pascalCase name}};

Component.styles.ts.hbs:

import { StyleSheet } from 'react-native';

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: {
    flex: 1,
    justifyContent: 'center',
    alignItems: 'center',
  },
});

export default styles;

index.ts.hbs:

export { default } from './{{pascalCase name}}';

Benefits of Using Plop.js in React Native Development

React Native development with Plop.js offers extensive benefits when working on your React Native app development project. Here is a list of a few of such benefits for your reference.

Consistency
Plop.js ensures that your components and other code structures are consistent across your project. By using predefined templates, you can avoid discrepancies and maintain a uniform codebase, making it easier to read and maintain.

Productivity
With Plop.js, you can quickly generate boilerplate code, saving you time and effort. This allows you to focus on the unique aspects of your application rather than repeatedly writing the same code.

Scalability
As your project grows, maintaining consistency and productivity becomes increasingly important. Plop.js scales with your project, allowing you to define new generators as needed and adapt to changing requirements.

Customization
Plop.js is highly customizable, allowing you to tailor the generators to your needs. Whether you need to add TypeScript support, generate additional files, or perform complex logic during generation, Plop.js can accommodate your requirements.

Conclusion

Integrating Plop.js into your React Native development workflow can significantly enhance productivity, ensure code consistency, and make your project more scalable. By automating the creation of boilerplate code, Plop.js allows you to focus on the unique aspects of your application, ultimately leading to a more efficient and enjoyable development experience. Ensure ideal implementation of React Native development with Plop.js to streamline your development processes and gain efficient results. As a business owner, you can contact a leading React Native app development company to fast-track your development process and achieve exceptional results.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Plop.js, and how does it help in React Native development?

Plop.js is a micro-generator framework that helps automate the creation of repetitive files and boilerplate code. In React Native development, Plop.js can quickly generate components, screens, redux files, and more, ensuring consistency and saving development time.

What is a Plop template?

A Plop template is a file used by Plop.js to define the structure and content of the code or files that it generates. Templates are written using Handlebars syntax, which allows you to create dynamic and customizable content based on the input provided during the generation process.

How do I maintain consistency across my React Native project using Plop.js?

By defining templates and generators in Plop.js, you ensure that every generated file follows the same structure and coding standards, maintaining consistency throughout the project.

Can Plop.js be integrated with other tools and libraries in a React Native project?

Yes, Plop.js can be easily integrated with other tools and libraries. You can use Plop.js to automate the creation of configuration files, boilerplate code, and even setup scripts for other tools.

Can I customize the prompts and actions in Plop.js?

Yes, you can customize both prompts and actions. Plop.js supports prompt types such as input, confirm, list, checkbox, and more. Actions can include adding, modifying, appending to files, etc.