ChatLayout: A Comprehensive Introduction
About
ChatLayout is an innovative alternative to the popular MessageKit framework. It is designed to provide developers with greater control over the presentation of chat interfaces using a custom UICollectionViewLayout. This layout allows developers to leverage all the familiar tools and controls available within UICollectionView, offering flexibility and customization suited to varying needs.
Features
ChatLayout is packed with features that enhance the development and user experience:
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Dynamic and Responsive Layouts: It supports dynamic cell and supplementary view sizes, enabling a responsive chat interface that adapts to different content types and window sizes.
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Smooth Animations: Implement smooth animations for inserting, deleting, reloading, or moving items. This makes the interface feel modern and interactive.
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Efficient Content Updates: During content updates, the layout positions the last visible item at the top or bottom of the
UICollectionView, maintaining a seamless viewing experience. -
Precise Scrolling Tools: It includes tools for accurate scrolling to specific items, which enhances navigation within long chat histories.
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Simplified Custom Item Implementation: The layout comes with generic container views that simplify the custom implementation of items.
What ChatLayout Doesn't Provide (And Why It's Beneficial)
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Flexibility in ViewController Management: ChatLayout doesn't require extending or overriding custom
UIViewControllerorUICollectionView. Developers have the freedom to instantiate and manage them as desired. -
Avoids Unnecessary Modifications: Unlike some layouts, ChatLayout does not use a modified
UICollectionViewFlowLayoutor rotate the collection view, allowing standard usage of views and gestures. -
Automatic Cell Size Calculation: There’s no need for prior calculation of cell sizes. ChatLayout supports auto-layout constraints, automatically determining the correct size at runtime. However, providing estimated sizes can enhance performance.
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Freedom in Data Model Usage: There are no enforced data models. Developers can freely store messages and update the
UICollectionView. The example app utilizes DifferenceKit for data model changes. -
Customizable View Components: There’s no necessity to use specific
UIViews for collection cells, granting the flexibility to use anyUICollectionViewCellorUICollectionReusableView. -
Non-Intrusive Keyboard Management: Developers retain full control over keyboard behavior and are encouraged to manage it as needed.
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No Prescriptive Input Controls: Any preferred input control can be used, allowing customization according to specific project requirements.
Example
To explore the capabilities of ChatLayout, developers can clone the project repository and execute pod install within the Example directory to get started.
Installation
ChatLayout can be integrated into projects via CocoaPods, Carthage, or Swift Package Manager. In CocoaPods, the full package can be installed with pod 'ChatLayout'. If additional components are not needed, install the core layout using pod 'ChatLayout/Core'.
Contributing
The ChatLayout project is actively developed, and contributions from the community are welcome. Interested contributors should review the contribution guidelines provided in the project repository.
Todo
The project roadmap includes improving test coverage and addressing topics such as UICollectionViewDiffableDataSource, supplementary views, integration with Texture, animation handling, and potential support for sticky headers or footers.
License
ChatLayout is distributed under the MIT License, allowing free and open-source use while emphasizing the "as-is" nature of the tool without warranties.
Articles
For those interested in learning more about the development and concept behind ChatLayout, articles are available in both English and Russian. These give insight into the creation of the project during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Sponsor This Project
Contributions can support the continued development of ChatLayout, especially beneficial for those using it in a production environment. Sponsorship ensures the project remains updated and relevant, supporting shared community progress.
Author
ChatLayout is authored by Evgeny Kazaev. He is available for queries through email or Twitter and encourages open communication via GitHub issues.
This overview of ChatLayout highlights its versatility and potential as a robust tool for developing tailored chat interfaces.