Slack Clone App

react slack clone app introduction in this guide, we will keep exploring the parse react hook parse react hook in useful situations by creating a slack clone app the app will have basic features such as signup/login, channels, and real time chat in addition, the react components highlight the usefulness of real time notifications using live query, user management capabilities, and the flexibility to perform queries (relational) at any moment you can quickly deploy a slack clone app on vercel prerequisites to complete this tutorial, you will need an back4app free account clone or download this project via our github repositories so you can run it along with the guide make sure to follow the instructions on the readme file to successfully set it up in your local environment javascript example repository typescript example repository goal to build a slack clone application on react using the @parse/react @parse/react hook 1 creating your parse app from a template this application comprises two database classes channel channel and message message , containing pointers to the parse user class instead of creating the app and database classes from scratch, let’s clone an existing template at back4app database hub click on the “clone database” button and proceed with logging in and creating your app for more details on how to clone please check the clone app guide now your app has the complete backend structure necessary to create your slack clone on back4app 2 enabling live query now that you have created the app and classes, you need to enable the live query(real time) go to your back4app dashboard and navigate to app settings app settings > server settings server settings > server url and live query server url and live query after activating your back4app subdomain, you can then activate live query by selecting the classes message message and channel channel after that, save the changes the url above is your live query url live query url make sure to copy it in order to properly initialize the parse hook let’s now dive into the core react components channellist channellist , messagelist messagelist , and home home 3 the list components the channellist channellist and messagelist messagelist components use the @parse/react @parse/react hook to retrieve the user data through live query they have the same pattern structure as in the react livechat guide https //www back4app com/docs/react/real time/react chat app they are instantiated with initial parameters (retrieved via the props props object) that dynamically compose their live query query take a look at their queries and how the classes are related to each other javascript 1 // note that parse object coming from props need to be changed into pointers 2 // to be able to be used by parse, since react changes the object structure 3 // when passing down parameters to child components 4&#x9; 5 // channellist js 6&#x9; 7 const ownerquery = new parse query("channel"); 8 ownerquery equalto("owner", props currentuser topointer()); 9 const membersquery = new parse query("channel"); 10 membersquery containedin("members", \[props currentuser topointer()]); 11 // creates the or query 12 const parsequery = parse query or(ownerquery, membersquery); 13 // set results ordering 14 parsequery ascending("name"); 15 // include all pointer fields 16 parsequery includeall(); 17&#x9; 18 // messagelist js 19&#x9; 20 const parsequery = new parse query("message"); 21 // get messages that involve both nicknames 22 parsequery equalto("channel", props currentchannel topointer()); 23 // set results ordering 24 parsequery ascending("createdat"); 25 // include nickname fields, to enable name getting on list 26 parsequery includeall();1 // note that parse object coming from props need to be changed into pointers 2 // to be able to be used by parse, since react changes the object structure 3 // when passing down parameters to child components 4&#x9; 5 // channellist tsx 6&#x9; 7 // this query is a composite or one, combining the results of both 8 const ownerquery parse query = new parse query("channel"); 9 ownerquery equalto("owner", props currentuser topointer()); 10 const membersquery parse query = new parse query("channel"); 11 membersquery containedin("members", \[props currentuser topointer()]); 12 // creates the or query 13 const parsequery parse query = parse query or(ownerquery, membersquery); 14 // set results ordering 15 parsequery ascending("name"); 16 // include all pointer fields 17 parsequery includeall(); 18&#x9; 19 // messagelist tsx 20&#x9; 21 const parsequery parse query = new parse query("message"); 22 // get messages that involve both nicknames 23 parsequery equalto("channel", props currentchannel topointer()); 24 // set results ordering 25 parsequery ascending("createdat"); 26 // include nickname fields, to enable name getting on list 27 parsequery includeall(); these queries will be running every time there is a change in the classes data, so if another user in the channel sends a message, you will see it appearing there in real time 4 the home component the home home component acts as the main application screen, in which the list components are conditionally rendered and instantiated when needed you can find below the component code take a look at the functions for creating channels and inviting users to them home js 1 import react, { useeffect, usestate } from "react"; 2 import " /app css"; 3 import { modal } from "antd"; 4 import { usehistory } from "react router dom"; 5 import parse from "parse"; 6 import { channellist } from " /channellist"; 7 import { messagelist } from " /messagelist"; 8 import { memberlist } from " /memberlist"; 9&#x9; 10 export const home = () => { 11 const history = usehistory(); 12&#x9; 13 // state variables holding input values and flags 14 const \[currentuser, setcurrentuser] = usestate(null); 15 const \[iscreatechannelmodalvisible, setiscreatechannelmodalvisible] = 16 usestate(false); 17 const \[createchannelinput, setcreatechannelinput] = usestate(""); 18 const \[currentchannel, setcurrentchannel] = usestate(null); 19&#x9; 20 // this effect hook runs at every render and checks if there is a 21 // logged in user, redirecting to login screen if needed 22 useeffect(() => { 23 const checkcurrentuser = async () => { 24 try { 25 const user = await parse user currentasync(); 26 if (user === null || user === undefined) { 27 history push("/"); 28 } else { 29 if (currentuser === null) { 30 setcurrentuser(user); 31 } 32 } 33 return true; 34 } catch ( error) {} 35 return false; 36 }; 37 checkcurrentuser(); 38 }); 39&#x9; 40 // logout function 41 const dologout = async () => { 42 // logout 43 try { 44 await parse user logout(); 45 // force useeffect execution to redirect back to login 46 setcurrentuser(null); 47 return true; 48 } catch (error) { 49 alert(error); 50 return false; 51 } 52 }; 53&#x9; 54 // makes modal visible 55 const showcreatechannelmodal = () => { 56 setiscreatechannelmodalvisible(true); 57 }; 58&#x9; 59 // clear input and hide modal on cancel 60 const handlecreatechannelmodalcancel = () => { 61 setcreatechannelinput(""); 62 setiscreatechannelmodalvisible(false); 63 }; 64&#x9; 65 // creates a channel based on input from modal 66 const docreatechannel = async () => { 67 const channelname = createchannelinput; 68&#x9; 69 if (channelname === "") { 70 alert("please inform your new channel name!"); 71 return false; 72 } 73&#x9; 74 // creates a new parse object instance and set parameters 75 const channel = new parse object("channel"); 76 channel set("name", channelname); 77 channel set("owner", currentuser); 78 // members is an array of parse user objects, so add() should be used to 79 // concatenate the value inside the array 80 channel add("members", currentuser); 81&#x9; 82 // clears input value and hide modal 83 setcreatechannelinput(""); 84 setiscreatechannelmodalvisible(false); 85&#x9; 86 try { 87 // save object on parse server 88 const saveresult = await channel save(); 89 // set the created channel as the active channel, 90 // showing the message list for this channel 91 setcurrentchannel(saveresult); 92 alert(`success on creating channel ${channelname}`); 93 return true; 94 } catch (error) { 95 alert(error); 96 return false; 97 } 98 }; 99&#x9; 100 // changes the active channel and shows the message list for it 101 // this is called using a callback in the channellist component 102 const doselectchannel = (channel) => { 103 setcurrentchannel(null); 104 setcurrentchannel(channel); 105 }; 106&#x9; 107 // settings current channel to null hides the message list component 108 // this is called using a callback in the messagelist component 109 const doclearcurrentchannel = () => { 110 setcurrentchannel(null); 111 }; 112&#x9; 113 return ( 114 \<div classname="grid"> 115 \<div classname="organizations"> 116 \<div classname="organization"> 117 \<picture classname="organization picture"> 118 \<img 119 classname="organization img" 120 src="https //scontent fsqx1 1 fna fbcdn net/v/t1 6435 9/29136314 969639596535770 8356900498426560512 n png? nc cat=103\&ccb=1 5& nc sid=973b4a& nc ohc=d9actpsb8duax zaa7f& nc ht=scontent fsqx1 1 fna\&oh=96679a09c5c4524f0a6c86110de697b6\&oe=618525f9" 121 alt="" 122 /> 123 \</picture> 124 \<p classname="organization title">back4app\</p> 125 \</div> 126 \<button classname="button inline" onclick={dologout}> 127 \<svg 128 classname="button inline icon" 129 xmlns="http //www w3 org/2000/svg" 130 width="24" 131 height="24" 132 viewbox="0 0 24 24" 133 fill="none" 134 stroke="currentcolor" 135 strokewidth="2" 136 strokelinecap="round" 137 strokelinejoin="round" 138 > 139 \<polyline points="9 10 4 15 9 20">\</polyline> 140 \<path d="m20 4v7a4 4 0 0 1 4 4h4">\</path> 141 \</svg> 142 \<span classname="button inline label">log out\</span> 143 \</button> 144 \</div> 145 \<div classname="channels"> 146 {/ action buttons (new channel and logout) /} 147 \<div> 148 \<modal 149 title="create new channel" 150 visible={iscreatechannelmodalvisible} 151 onok={docreatechannel} 152 oncancel={handlecreatechannelmodalcancel} 153 oktext={"create"} 154 > 155 <> 156 \<label>{"channel name"}\</label> 157 \<input 158 type={"text"} 159 value={createchannelinput} 160 placeholder={"new channel name"} 161 onchange={(event) => setcreatechannelinput(event target value)} 162 >\</input> 163 \</> 164 \</modal> 165 \</div> 166 \<div classname="channels header" onclick={showcreatechannelmodal}> 167 \<p classname="channels header label">channels\</p> 168 \<svg 169 classname="channels header icon" 170 xmlns="http //www w3 org/2000/svg" 171 height="24px" 172 viewbox="0 0 24 24" 173 width="24px" 174 fill="#000000" 175 > 176 \<path d="m0 0h24v24h0z" fill="none" /> 177 \<path d="m19 13h 6v6h 2v 6h5v 2h6v5h2v6h6v2z" /> 178 \</svg> 179 \</div> 180 {/ channel list component, instantiated only when the user is successfully fetched /} 181 {currentuser !== null && ( 182 \<channellist 183 currentuser={currentuser} 184 selectchannelcallback={doselectchannel} 185 /> 186 )} 187 \</div> 188 \<div classname="messages"> 189 {/ message list component, instantiated only when there is a selected channel /} 190 {currentuser !== null && currentchannel !== null && ( 191 \<messagelist 192 currentuser={currentuser} 193 currentchannel={currentchannel} 194 closechannelcallback={doclearcurrentchannel} 195 /> 196 )} 197 \</div> 198 \<div classname="info"> 199 {/ member list component, instantiated only when there is a selected channel /} 200 {currentuser !== null && currentchannel !== null && ( 201 \<memberlist 202 currentuser={currentuser} 203 currentchannel={currentchannel} 204 closechannelcallback={doclearcurrentchannel} 205 /> 206 )} 207 \</div> 208 \</div> 209 ); 210 }; home tsx 1 import react, { useeffect, usestate, fc, reactelement } from 'react'; 2 import ' /app css'; 3 import { modal } from 'antd'; 4 import { usehistory } from 'react router dom'; 5 import parse from 'parse'; 6 import { channellist } from ' /channellist'; 7 import { messagelist } from ' /messagelist'; 8 import { memberlist } from ' /memberlist'; 9&#x9; 10 export const home fc<{}> = () reactelement => { 11 const history = usehistory(); 12&#x9; 13 // state variables holding input values and flags 14 const \[currentuser, setcurrentuser] = usestate\<parse user | null>(null); 15 const \[iscreatechannelmodalvisible, setiscreatechannelmodalvisible] = usestate(false); 16 const \[createchannelinput, setcreatechannelinput] = usestate(''); 17 const \[currentchannel, setcurrentchannel] = usestate\<parse object | null>(null); 18&#x9; 19 // this effect hook runs at every render and checks if there is a 20 // logged in user, redirecting to login screen if needed 21 useeffect(() => { 22 const checkcurrentuser = async () promise\<boolean> => { 23 try { 24 const user (parse user | null) = await parse user currentasync(); 25 if (user === null || user === undefined) { 26 history push('/'); 27 } else { 28 if (currentuser === null) { 29 setcurrentuser(user); 30 } 31 } 32 return true; 33 } catch ( error any) {} 34 return false; 35 } 36 checkcurrentuser(); 37 }); 38&#x9; 39 // logout function 40 const dologout = async () promise\<boolean> => { 41 // logout 42 try { 43 await parse user logout(); 44 // force useeffect execution to redirect back to login 45 setcurrentuser(null); 46 return true; 47 } catch (error any) { 48 alert(error); 49 return false; 50 } 51 }; 52&#x9; 53 // makes modal visible 54 const showcreatechannelmodal = () void => { 55 setiscreatechannelmodalvisible(true); 56 } 57&#x9; 58 // clear input and hide modal on cancel 59 const handlecreatechannelmodalcancel = () void => { 60 setcreatechannelinput(""); 61 setiscreatechannelmodalvisible(false); 62 } 63&#x9; 64 // creates a channel based on input from modal 65 const docreatechannel = async () promise\<boolean> => { 66 const channelname string = createchannelinput; 67 68 if (channelname === '') { 69 alert("please inform your new channel name!"); 70 return false; 71 } 72&#x9; 73 // creates a new parse object instance and set parameters 74 const channel parse object = new parse object("channel"); 75 channel set('name', channelname); 76 channel set('owner', currentuser); 77 // members is an array of parse user objects, so add() should be used to 78 // concatenate the value inside the array 79 channel add('members', currentuser); 80&#x9; 81 // clears input value and hide modal 82 setcreatechannelinput(""); 83 setiscreatechannelmodalvisible(false); 84&#x9; 85 try { 86 // save object on parse server 87 const saveresult parse object = await channel save(); 88 // set the created channel as the active channel, 89 // showing the message list for this channel 90 setcurrentchannel(saveresult); 91 alert(`success on creating channel ${channelname}`); 92 return true; 93 } catch (error any) { 94 alert(error); 95 return false; 96 } 97 } 98&#x9; 99 // changes the active channel and shows the message list for it 100 // this is called using a callback in the channellist component 101 const doselectchannel = (channel parse object) void => { 102 setcurrentchannel(null); 103 setcurrentchannel(channel); 104 } 105&#x9; 106 // settings current channel to null hides the message list component 107 // this is called using a callback in the messagelist component 108 const doclearcurrentchannel = () void => { 109 setcurrentchannel(null); 110 } 111&#x9; 112 return ( 113 \<div classname="grid"> 114 \<div classname="organizations"> 115 \<div classname="organization"> 116 \<picture classname="organization picture"> 117 \<img classname="organization img" src="https //scontent fsqx1 1 fna fbcdn net/v/t1 6435 9/29136314 969639596535770 8356900498426560512 n png? nc cat=103\&ccb=1 5& nc sid=973b4a& nc ohc=d9actpsb8duax zaa7f& nc ht=scontent fsqx1 1 fna\&oh=96679a09c5c4524f0a6c86110de697b6\&oe=618525f9" alt="" /> 118 \</picture> 119 \<p classname="organization title">back4app\</p> 120 \</div> 121 \<button classname="button inline" onclick={dologout}> 122 \<svg classname="button inline icon" xmlns="http //www w3 org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentcolor" strokewidth="2" strokelinecap="round" strokelinejoin="round">\<polyline points="9 10 4 15 9 20">\</polyline>\<path d="m20 4v7a4 4 0 0 1 4 4h4">\</path>\</svg> 123 \<span classname="button inline label">log out\</span> 124 \</button> 125 \</div> 126 \<div classname="channels"> 127 {/ action buttons (new channel and logout) /} 128 \<div> 129 \<modal 130 title="create new channel" 131 visible={iscreatechannelmodalvisible} 132 onok={docreatechannel} 133 oncancel={handlecreatechannelmodalcancel} 134 oktext={'create'} 135 > 136 <> 137 \<label>{'channel name'}\</label> 138 \<input 139 type={"text"} 140 value={createchannelinput} 141 placeholder={"new channel name"} 142 onchange={(event) => setcreatechannelinput(event target value)} 143 >\</input> 144 \</> 145 \</modal> 146 \</div> 147 \<div classname="channels header" onclick={showcreatechannelmodal}> 148 \<p classname="channels header label">channels\</p> 149 \<svg classname="channels header icon" xmlns="http //www w3 org/2000/svg" height="24px" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24px" fill="#000000">\<path d="m0 0h24v24h0z" fill="none"/>\<path d="m19 13h 6v6h 2v 6h5v 2h6v5h2v6h6v2z"/>\</svg> 150 \</div> 151 {/ channel list component, instantiated only when the user is successfully fetched /} 152 {currentuser !== null && ( 153 \<channellist 154 currentuser={currentuser} 155 selectchannelcallback={doselectchannel} 156 /> 157 )} 158 \</div> 159 \<div classname="messages"> 160 {/ message list component, instantiated only when there is a selected channel /} 161 {currentuser !== null && currentchannel !== null && ( 162 \<messagelist 163 currentuser={currentuser} 164 currentchannel={currentchannel} 165 closechannelcallback={doclearcurrentchannel} 166 /> 167 )} 168 \</div> 169 \<div classname="info"> 170 {/ member list component, instantiated only when there is a selected channel /} 171 {currentuser !== null && currentchannel !== null && ( 172 \<memberlist 173 currentuser={currentuser} 174 currentchannel={currentchannel} 175 closechannelcallback={doclearcurrentchannel} 176 /> 177 )} 178 \</div> 179 \</div> 180 ); 181 }; this approach of dynamically instantiating the live query components allows us to reuse them whenever the user changes the active channel, creates a new one, sends a message, etc here is how the complete app will look 5 deploy on vercel at any time you can deploy the application on vercel by clicking on the link below make sure you have your application id application id , client key client key and livequery url livequery url for the keys you can go to app settings app settings > security & keys security & keys and then copy for the live query url live query url you can go to step 2 and copy it conclusion at the end of this guide, you learned more about using the parse react hook for live queries in parse and how to use back4app’s database hub