by Marian Perca, Senior Developer | Feb 19, 2024 | Enterprise architecture // REDEVELOP DIGITAL CORE
The mobile cloud app movement is growing rapidly (at some 30% per year). In some ways it simply reflects the overall move to cloud services (more than 94% of businesses now use the cloud).
This trend opens up a whole new world of potential to organisations large and small. It is not yet a threat to the ‘traditional’ native app (you download to your phone) but it is already changing how our team now approach app projects.
Before
The client mindset was: we redevelop a website first. We wish to have apps but they are expensive to develop and the iterations inevitably lag (requiring investing in different versions of the same app to run to requirement on iOS and Android devices).
There are now tools we can use to converge and accelerate development for these native platforms , but these ‘download and instal’ routes are being challenged by the mobile cloud.
The basic premise of cloud-based mobile apps is the same as using cloud computing in an office setting. The app lives on virtual servers and the data is stored in the cloud. Any user can access the app in the cloud via a browser and an internet connection.
The benefits are obvious. They are compatible with multiple platforms, generating savings in cost and time. They can be instantly updated and scaled. Users never have to bother with updates because it’s in the cloud. The organisation rolls out an update to the app and users simply see it the next time they log on.
Now
We recommend approaching a project more holistically, mapping the whole digital comms as one eco-system. I
In a sense, we are simplifying an ever more complex level of interconnectivity and opportunity across user devices by distilling the journey to a universal path and journey, feeding left and right into these new opportunities, from a cloud core.
by Marian Perca, Senior Developer | Dec 19, 2023 | The Techy Stuff
Ease of Installation and Setup
Installing Lister is straightforward, requiring its addition to your project’s composer.json file and running a simple composer update command. The library’s service provider is automatically registered and enabled through Laravel’s Auto-Discovery feature, making the integration process seamless and hassle-free.
Usage and Flexibility
The Lister library provides developers with a versatile tool for implementing list functionalities. It can be added directly to a method signature for resolution by the Dependency Injection container or instantiated manually. This flexibility allows developers to seamlessly integrate list functionalities into their Laravel applications, fitting various project requirements.
A key feature of Lister is its customizable query settings. Developers can specify fields, body, filters, and sortable columns in their queries. This customization enables precise control over the data displayed, ensuring that lists are tailored to specific application needs. Additionally, the library offers the capability to pass a model reference, allowing the returned records to match a specific type, further enhancing its adaptability.
Dynamic Filtering and Sorting
The library’s dynamic filtering capabilities, denoted by the {filters} keyword in the query body, allow for sophisticated query customization. Each item in the filter parameter is added to the SQL WHERE clause, and if a condition contains a parameter within curly braces, the library searches for this parameter in the request and replaces it with the corresponding value. This functionality enables complex, user-driven filtering scenarios, making it incredibly useful for applications that require dynamic data display based on user input or other variables.
Moreover, the Lister library supports sorting functionalities, which can be defined in the sortable array of the query settings. This feature is crucial for applications where users need to view data in a particular order, whether ascending or descending, based on specific attributes.
Enhancing User Experience with Remembered Filters
An interesting aspect of Lister is its support for remembered filters and query string cleanup. The library provides a method to redirect if necessary, based on the query parameters. This feature enhances the user experience by maintaining user-specific filter settings across different sessions, providing a more personalized and efficient interaction with the application.
Conclusion
The Lister library for Laravel is a robust tool for developers looking to implement sophisticated listing functionalities in their applications. With its ease of installation, flexible usage, dynamic filtering, and sorting capabilities, it stands as a valuable asset for any Laravel project. Its ability to enhance user experience through remembered filters adds an extra layer of convenience, making it a must-have for developers seeking to create more interactive, user-friendly applications.
RESOURCE LINKS
Github page: https://github.com/thesoftwarefarm/lister
