Expo SDK 51 and graphql-request not working

ONLINECAST

2 min read

·

04-10-2024

11

0

Share

Expo SDK 51 and graphql-request: A Tale of Compatibility Woes

Are you running into issues using graphql-request in your Expo project after upgrading to SDK 51? You're not alone. This recent upgrade has introduced some compatibility challenges, leaving many developers scratching their heads. This article will delve into the root cause of this issue and provide solutions to help you get back on track.

The Problem: A Clash of Modules

Let's imagine you're building a React Native app with Expo using GraphQL for data fetching. Your go-to library for making GraphQL requests is graphql-request. Everything works seamlessly until you decide to upgrade your Expo SDK to version 51. Suddenly, your app starts throwing errors, and your GraphQL queries seem to be failing.

The culprit is a change in how Expo handles dependencies in SDK 51. Previously, graphql-request relied on node-fetch, a popular Node.js library for making HTTP requests. In SDK 51, Expo now bundles its own fetch implementation, leading to conflicts when graphql-request tries to use node-fetch.

The Solution: A Workaround with Polyfills

Fortunately, there's a simple workaround for this issue: using polyfills. Polyfills are pieces of code that fill in gaps in older browsers or environments, allowing newer libraries to function correctly.

Here's how you can implement a polyfill for node-fetch in your Expo project:

1. Install the node-fetch polyfill:

   expo install node-fetch
   

2. Import and configure node-fetch:

   import 'node-fetch/polyfill';
   
   import { gql } from 'graphql-request';
   import { request } from 'graphql-request';
   
   const query = gql`
     query {
       users {
         name
         email
       }
     }
   `;
   
   const data = await request('https://your-graphql-api-endpoint', query);
   console.log(data);
   

Explanation:

• The import 'node-fetch/polyfill'; line tells Expo to use the node-fetch polyfill for all fetch calls within your app.
• The rest of the code demonstrates how to make a GraphQL request using graphql-request with the polyfill in place.

Important Note: Remember to restart your development server or rebuild your Expo project after making changes to ensure the polyfill is loaded correctly.

Conclusion: A Seamless GraphQL Experience

With the node-fetch polyfill in place, you can seamlessly integrate graphql-request into your Expo project running SDK 51. Remember to keep an eye out for updates to graphql-request and Expo SDK, as these compatibility issues might be addressed in future releases.

For further assistance, refer to the official documentation of graphql-request and Expo SDK. Stay tuned for more articles on tackling common development challenges in your Expo projects.