Calling an async function from a sync function - async-await

I am building a Blazor client side application. I am using MatBlazor components.
I have two MatSelectString controls on a page. The first one is used to select a category, and the second one to select products from the category. So I have it setu up like so:
<MatSelect Outlined="true" Label="Category" #bind-Value="#Category">
<MatOptionString></MatOptionString>
#foreach (var cat in GetCategories())
{
<MatOptionString Value="#cat">#cat</MatOptionString>
}
</MatSelect>
<MatSelect Outlined="true" Disabled="#(!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Category))" Label="Product" #bind-Value="#Product" >
<MatOptionString></MatOptionString>
#foreach (var prod in GetProducts(Category))
{
<MatOptionString Value="#prod">#prod</MatOptionString>
}
</MatSelect>
Within the GetProducts(Category) code, I want to call the backend. The issue is that there is only a HttpClient.GetJsonAsync<>() method, that cannot be called from within a non-async method. But GetProduct() cannot be made async.
Things I have tried:
Putting the call to my function inside an async lambda (not allowed in foreach or in other code blocks)
Using Task.Result (it hangs)
Putting the back-end call in other component level async events (gets called multiple times)
Any ideas?

You can use ValueChanged EventCallback:
<MatSelect
Outlined="true"
Label="Category"
ValueChanged="(string i)=>OnChangeCategory(i)"> #* <-- here *#
<MatOptionString></MatOptionString>
#foreach (var cat in GetCategories())
{
<MatOptionString Value="#cat">#cat</MatOptionString>
}
</MatSelect>
#code
{
protected async Task OnChangeCategory(string newValue)
{
this.Category = newValue;
// call backend async tasks
// ...
}
Check it out at blazorfiddle.com

Related

State of RefreshView is invoking RefreshCommand in .NET MAUI

I have a CollectionView in my .NET MAUI app and I placed it inside a RefreshView. When I call my API to populate this CollectionView, I cache the data so that I don't have to keep making API calls everytime the user hits this page.
In order to streamline my code, I created a private method in my view model that calls my API. The view model looks like this:
public partial MyViewModel : BaseViewModel
{
ObservableCollection<MyModel> MyData { get; } = new();
[RelayCommand]
async Task RefreshData()
{
IsBusy = true;
await GetData(true);
IsBusy = false;
}
private async Task GetData(bool shouldGetFreshData)
{
// Makes API call to get data, then assigns it to MyData collection
}
public async void Init()
{
IsBusy = true;
await GetData(false);
IsBusy = false;
}
}
The XAML for the page looks like this:
<RefreshView
IsRefreshing={Binding IsBusy}
Command={Binding RefreshDataCommand}>
<CollectionView>
...
</CollectionView>
</RefreshView>
I also wired the page to use the MyViewModel as its view model AND OnAppearing(), I call the Init() method of the view model.
Here's what I was expecting which is NOT what's happening:
I thought, the Init() would get called first which then calls the GetData() method with false input parameter. This way, I could use the cached data. And whenever, the user refreshes the CollectionView by pulling it down, the RefreshData() method would be called with true as the input parameter which would force the code to make an API call.
Instead of what I was expecting, here's what's happening:
The Init() method gets called first and as a result, the line with IsBusy = true executes.
This then ends up invoking the RefreshData() method
Then the await GetData(false) in Init() method executes
Then the await GetData(true) in RefreshData() method executes
As a result of all this, the GetData() method gets called twice.
I think, what's triggering this is the IsBusy. I thought IsBusy would only serve as an indicator but not necessarily invoke the RefreshData() method which is bound to the Command of my RefreshView.
Is this normal behavior or am I missing something here?
Apparently, this is "normal" behavior because I'm manually setting IsBusy to true. I decided to leave this question here because this may be a pitfall that affects others.
Here's the actual section in documentation that states this:
And here's the documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/maui/user-interface/controls/refreshview
So, all I had to do is remove the IsBusy = true in Init() method.

How do you get data back from a react-redux store?

Using React-Redux
I have a select list that when the user chooses one of the options, a item is created and placed in the database (if it matters, the reason its a select box is that there are multiple variations of the same item and what variation is important).
This is working correctly.
My problem is that I am not sure how I can get the id of the new item out of the redux store.
And just for chuckles, the prior developer set all this up with sagas. So I am still coming up to speed on how it all works together.
So when the select box is checked, the function checkFunction is called that calls the function createItem in the saga file. These functions are below:
in Repositories.jsx
checkFunction = (data) => {
const {createItem} = this.props;
// data holds the info that we need to send to the action
const created = createItem(data);
// once data comes back, redirect the user ot the details of the created item
// need id of created item
// navigateTo(`/item-details/${created.id}`);
}
in Repositories.saga.js
export function* createItem(action) {
try {
const {payload: newItem} = action;
// call api to create item
const created = yield call(requestAPI.post, ITEMS_URL, newItem);
// send message that its been done
yield put(actions.repositories.createItem.ok(created));
// send message to refresh item list
yield put(actions.inventories.fetchItems.start());
} catch (e) {
yield put(actions.repositories.createItem.fail(e));
}
}
I don't understand how to return the id of the created item once its created. I feel like I am missing something basic here. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Actually getting data from saga back to react component is not trivial. There are multiple approaches to do what you need although each has its downside.
1. Call navigateTo in the saga.
export function* createItem(action) {
...
const created = yield call(requestAPI.post, ITEMS_URL, newItem);
yield call(navigateTo, `/item-details/${created.id}`)
}
This would be my recommended solution if you can get the navigateTo function into the saga. Navigation is a side effect and sagas are there to deal with side effects. Make sure to use the call effect, changing the url by directly calling the function can lead to some issues.
2. Store the latest created item id in redux store
In your reducer, when action actions.repositories.createItem.ok(created) is dispatched, store the created item info and then send the latest created item to the component. Finally you can use componentDidUpdate or useEffect to call navigateTo when the prop changes.
render() {
const created = Redux.useSelector(state => state.created);
useEffect(() => navigateTo(`/item-details/${created.id}`), [created])
...
}
This has the disadvantage that the component will rerender becuase of the changed created value.
3. Send callback in the createItem action
You can put a function into your action and then call it from the saga and essentially using it as a callback.
Component:
checkFunction = (data) => {
const {createItem} = this.props;
// data holds the info that we need to send to the action
const created = createItem(data, (created) => {
navigateTo(`/item-details/${created.id}`);
});
}
Saga:
export function* createItem(action) {
...
const created = yield call(requestAPI.post, ITEMS_URL, newItem);
action.callback(created)
...
}
The problem with this approach is that functions are not serializable and so you ideally should avoid them in your actions. Also, technically, there could be multiple sagas handling the same action and then it gets kind of confusing who should call the callback.

Blazor client side refresh component

I'm trying to figure out how to refresh the client-side component after button click.
Repo Link with example: https://github.com/ovie91/RefreshComponent
Site /test or from nav menu test
So I have OnInitializedAsync method that is retrieving data from API
protected override async Task OnInitializedAsync()
{
result = await (some API Call);
}
Then I have a method connected to the button
private async void ButtonClick()
{
await (some API Call);
result = null;
this.StateHasChanged(); <--- Doesnt work :<
}
I have tried to use this.StateHasChanged(); but there is no reaction.
As a workaround, I can force you to navigate again to the same website but this refresh "Whole" website but not a component.
Any ideas on how to deal with it?
whole code (stripped to minimum):
#page "/test"
#inject HttpClient Http
#if (result == null)
{
<p>Loading...<p>
}
else
{
#result
<button #onclick="(() => ButtonClick())">Click</button>
}
#code {
private APIObject result;
protected override async Task OnInitializedAsync()
{
result = await (some API Call);
}
private async void ButtonClick()
{
await (some API Call);
result = null;
this.StateHasChanged(); <--- Doesnt work :<
}
}
Update
I want to refresh component so OnInitializedAsync would be triggered again and that would mean I don't have to run the same code again after button click. Hope you understand what I mean.
To get the desired output you just have to shuffle the lines a little, from:
private async void ButtonClick()
{
await (some API Call); // UI checks if an update is needed (No)
result = null; // now an update is needed
this.StateHasChanged(); <--- Doesnt work :< // actually: not needed
}
to:
private async Task ButtonClick()
{
result = null; // change the state
//this.StateHasChanged(); // not needed, a request is pending
await (some API Call); // should show '<h3>Loading</h3>' now
}
Note that the UI is updated when an await releases the Thread.
however, from your answer we get
var APICall = await Http.GetAsync("SomeAPI");
Thread.Sleep(2000);
This should work when Http.GetAsync("SomeAPI"); really is an async call and not just some stand-in pseudo code. Because Thread.Sleep(2000); will really freeze things.
If you want to make sure:
private async Task GetData()
{
await Task.Delay(1); // release the thread for rendering
var APICall = await Http.GetAsync("SomeAPI");
Random rnd = new Random();
Thread.Sleep(2000); // Task.Delay() is much preferred
result = "Random Number: " + rnd.Next();
}
Thread.Sleep() is appropriate to simulate some CPU (not I/O) intensive code. So I'm not saying it's wrong but be aware of the difference.
And it is much better to make eventhandlers async Task instead of async void but that is not the direct problem here.
From here:
Blazor uses a synchronization context (SynchronizationContext) to enforce a single logical thread of execution. A component's lifecycle methods and any event callbacks that are raised by Blazor are executed on the synchronization context.
Blazor Server's synchronization context attempts to emulate a single-threaded environment so that it closely matches the WebAssembly model in the browser, which is single threaded. At any given point in time, work is performed on exactly one thread, giving the impression of a single logical thread. No two operations execute concurrently.
So as enet asnwered, you should use async Task signature instead of async void.
I have moved API call to another Method and inside of OnInitializedAsync I called it.
Then when I reset the result variable to see Loading state I'm able to "refresh" component to achieve that you need to add. this.StateHasChanged()
Now I have a responsive component to updates that are happening :)
#page "/test"
#using System.Threading;
#inject HttpClient Http
#if (result == null)
{
<h3>Loading</h3>
}
else
{
#result
<button #onclick="(() => ButtonClick())">Click</button>
}
#code {
private string result;
protected override async Task OnInitializedAsync()
{
await GetData();
}
private async Task GetData()
{
var APICall = await Http.GetAsync("SomeAPI");
Random rnd = new Random();
Thread.Sleep(2000);
result = "Random Number: " + rnd.Next();
}
private async Task ButtonClick()
{
await Http.GetAsync("SomeAPIcall");
result = null; // required to see loading state.
this.StateHasChanged(); // when added model is refreshed and Loading state is visible.
await GetData();
}
}

NetworkStream ReadAsync and WriteAsync hang infinitelly when using CancellationTokenSource - Deadlock Caused by Task.Result (or Task.Wait)

After reading pretty much every question on Stack Overflow and Microsoft's documentation about NetworkStream, I dont understand what is wrong with my code.
The problem I see is that my method GetDataAsync() hangs very often. I call this method from Init Method like so:
public MyView(string id)
{
InitializeComponent();
MyViewModel myViewModel = session.Resolve<MyViewModel>(); //Autofac
myiewModel.Init(id);
BindingContext = myViewModel;
}
Above, my View does its initialization, then resolves MyViewModel from Autofac DiC and then calls MyViewModel Init() method to do some additional setup on the VM.
The Init method then calls my Async method GetDataAsync which return a IList like so:
public void Init()
{
// call this Async method to populate a ListView
foreach (var model in GetDataAsync("111").Result)
{
// The List<MyModel> returned by the GetDataAsync is then
// used to load ListView's ObservableCollection<MyModel>
// This ObservableCollection is data-bound to a ListView in
// this View. So, the ListView shows its data once the View
// displays.
}
}
, and here is my GetDataAsync() method including my comments:
public override async Task<IList<MyModel>> GetDataAsync(string id)
{
var timeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(20);
try
{
byte[] messageBytes = GetMessageBytes(Id);
using (var cts = new CancellationTokenSource(timeout))
using (TcpClient client = new TcpClient(Ip, Port))
using (NetworkStream stream = client.GetStream())
{
await stream.WriteAsync(messageBytes, 0, messageBytes.Length, cts.Token);
await stream.FlushAsync(cts.Token);
byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
int bytesRead = 0;
await Task.Delay(500);
while (stream.DataAvailable) // need to Delay to wait for data to be available
{
bytesRead = await stream.ReadAsync(buffer, 0, buffer.Length, cts.Token);
builder.AppendFormat("{0}", Encoding.ASCII.GetString(buffer, 0, bytesRead));
}
string msg = buffer.ToString();
}
return ParseMessageIntoList(msg); // parses message into IList<MyModel>
}
catch (OperationCanceledException oce)
{
return await Task.FromResult<IList<RoomGuestModel>>(new List<RoomGuestModel>());
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
return await Task.FromResult<IList<RoomGuestModel>>(new List<RoomGuestModel>());
}
}
I would expect that a ReadAsync or WriteAsync either complete successfully, throw some exception, or get cancelled after 10 seconds in which case I would catch OperationCanceledException.
However, it just hangs endlessly when I call method above. If I am debugging and have some breakpoints in the code above, I will be able to go through the method entirely but if I call it 2nd time, app just hangs forever.
I am new to Tasks and Async programming, so I am also not sure I do my cancellations and exception handling properly here?
UPDATE AND FIX
I figured out how to fix the deadlock issue. In hope this will help others sho might run into the same issue, I'll first explain it. The articles that helped me a lot are:
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/pfxteam/await-and-ui-and-deadlocks-oh-my/ by Stephen Taub
https://montemagno.com/c-sharp-developers-stop-calling-dot-result/ by James Montemagno
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/jj991977.aspx by StephenCleary
https://blog.xamarin.com/getting-started-with-async-await/ by Jon Goldberger
#StephenCleary was great help understanding the issue. Calling Result or Wait (above, I call Result when calling GetDataAsync) will lead to dead-lock.
The context thread (UI in this case) is now waiting for GetDataAsync to complete, but GetDataAsync captures the current context-thread (UI thread), so it can resume on it once it gets data from TCP. But since this context-thread is now blocked by call to Result, it cannot resume.
The end result is that it looks like call to GetDataAsync has deadlocked but in reality, it is call to Result that deadlocked.
After reading tons of articles from #StephenTaub, #StephenCleary, #JamesMontemagno, #JoeGoldenberger (thank you all), I started getting understanding of the issue (I am new to TAP/async/await).
Then I discovered continuations in Tasks and how to use them to resolve the issue (thanks to Stephen Taub's article above).
So, instead of calling it like:
IList<MyModel> models = GetDataAsync("111").Result;
foeach(var model in models)
{
MyModelsObservableCollection.Add(model);
}
, I call it with continuation like this:
GetDataAsync(id)
.ContinueWith((antecedant) =>
{
foreach(var model in antecedant.Result)
{
MyModelsObservableCollection.Add(model);
}
}, TaskContinuationOptions.OnlyOnRanToCompletion)
.ContinueWith((antecedant) =>
{
var error = antecedant.Exception.Flatten();
}, TaskContinuationOptions.OnlyOnFaulted);
This seam to have fixed my deadlocking issue and now my list will load fine even though it is loaded from the constructor.
So, this seam to work just fine. But #JoeGoldenberger also suggests another solution in his article https://blog.xamarin.com/getting-started-with-async-await/ which is to use Task.Run(async()=>{...}); and inside that await GetDataAsync and load ObservableCollection. So, I gave that a try as well and that is not blocking either, so working great:
Task.Run(async() =>
{
IList<MyModel> models = await GetDataAsync(id);
foreach (var model in models)
{
MyModelsObservableCollection.Add(model);
}
});
So, it looks like either of these 2 will remove deadlock just fine. And since above my Init method is called from a c-tor; therefore, I cannot make it Async and await on this, using one of the 2 methods described above resolves my problem. I dont know which one is better but in my tests, they do work.
Your problem is most likely due to GetDataAsync("111").Result. You shouldn't block on async code.
This can cause deadocks. E.g., if you're on a UI thread, the UI thread will start GetDataAsync and run it until it hits an await. At this point, GetDataAsync returns an incomplete task, and the .Result call blocks the UI thread until that task is completed.
Eventually, the inner async call completes and GetDataAsync is ready to resume executing after its await. By default, await captures its context and resumes on that context. Which in this example is the UI thread. Which is blocked since it called Result. So, the UI thread is waiting for GetDataAsync to complete, and GetDataAsync is waiting for the UI thread so it can complete: deadlock.
The proper solution is to go async all the way; replace .Result with await, and make the necessary changes to other code for that to happen.
As stated in my update, going async all the way by providing an async lambda like below resolved the issue for me
Task.Run(async() =>
{
IList<MyModel> models = await GetDataAsync(id);
foreach (var model in models)
{
MyModelsObservableCollection.Add(model);
}
});
Loading asynchronously an observable collection in a ctor this way (in my case, ctor calls Init which then uses this Task.Run) solves problem

How to access the Session in MVC.Net 4 from different Thread

I have a MVC.Net4 Application in which i have Longrunning backround operations which is why i use the System.Threading.Tasks.Task Class.
I start the Tasks after the User clicked a certain Button on the GUI, from that Task im going to use async methods from a intern API which i need to await. This is all working.
public ActionResult DoAsyncAction()
{
//ReturnValue that needs to be further populated by the async action in productive environment
var arv = new AsyncReturnValue
{
ProgressBar = new ProgressBar {Action = "SomeAction", User = "SomeUser"}
};
var t = new Task<AsyncReturnValue>(DoAction, arv);
//Add a Progressbar before Task starts so i can visualize the process on the view
HttpContext.GetSession().ProgressBars.Add(arv.ProgressBar);
//from my understanding this is similar to an event that gets triggered when my DoAction Method finished so i need to remove
//the progressbar there again since the process will be finished in that case
t.ContinueWith(DoActionkComplete);
t.Start();
//Returns the User to the Index Page while the Task is processing
return View("Index");
}
Now what i really want to do is visualizing the operation. I use jQuery Progressbars on the GUI and my Own ProgressBar Object in the Session for this. I have a List of ProgressBars on my Session and a PartialView strongly Typed to a List of those ProgressBars.
ProgressBar Class:
public class ProgressBar
{
public string Action { get; set; }
public string User { get; set; }
}
PartialView:
#using AsyncProj.Models
#model List<AsyncProj.Models.ProgressBar>
#{
ViewBag.Title = "ProgressPartial";
}
#{
var foo = (MySessionObject) HttpContext.Current.Session["__MySessionObject"];
foreach (var pb in foo.ProgressBars)
{
<div style="border: 1px solid black">
<p>#pb.Action</p>
<div id="progressbar">This will be turned into a ProgressBar via jQuery.</div >
</div>
}
}
And then the Object i have in my Session:
public class MySessionObject
{
public List<ProgressBar> ProgressBars { get; set; }
public string User { get; set; }}
Whenever i start a new Task i will add another ProgressBar to that List, which works just fine.
No where i get into Troubles is when i want to Remove the ProgressBars from Session again.
In the DoActionkComplete Method which i set in Task.ContinueWith() i want to Remove the ProgressBar corresponding to the finished action. I have the ProgressBar Ready there, its stored in my AsyncReturnValue Class which i have in the Task.Result at this point:
public class AsyncReturnValue
{
public ProgressBar ProgressBar { get; set; }
}
In this Method i would like to remove the Progressbar from the Session with
HttpContext.GetSession().ProgressBars.Remove(pbToRemove). But the problem with that im still operating on a different Thread so i have no valid HttpContext there and my SessionObject is null on that Thread.
This is what my DoActionComplete Method looks right now:
public void DoActionkComplete(Task<AsyncReturnValue> t)
{
//i set the user hardcode because its only a demo
DeleteProgress.Add(new ProgressBarDeleteObject {ProgressBar = t.Result.ProgressBar, User = "Asd123"});
}
I created a Workaround where i have a static List of Progressbars on my Controller. In the DoActionComplete Method i add the ProgressBars i want to delete to that List. I need to use polling (with jQuery $.get() and setinterval) in order to delete them.
I have a custom Class for the DeleteList on which i can set a Username so i know who is the Owner of that ProgressBar and only show it to him, else everyone would see it because its Static.
public class ProgressBarDeleteObject
{
public ProgressBar ProgressBar { get; set; }
public string User { get; set; }
}
Dont get me wrong, my workaround works just fine but i want to know the clean way. From what i know static Lists on Controllers could technically grow very big and slow the site down. Such Lists also lose its entries when the ApplicationPool restarts the Application.
So my Actual Question would be how can i access a HttpContext SessionObject from a different Thread like i'm using? And if its not possible, what would be the proper Way to achieve what i want?
So my Actual Question would be how can i access a HttpContext SessionObject from a different Thread like i'm using?
That's not possible.
And if its not possible, what would be the proper Way to achieve what i want?
First, let's back up to the original scenario. The problem is here:
I have a MVC.Net4 Application in which i have Longrunning backround operations which is why i use the System.Threading.Tasks.Task Class.
That's the wrong solution for that scenario. The proper solution is to have a reliable queue (Azure queue / MSMQ) with an independent background process (Azure webjob / Win32 service) doing the processing. This is a more reliable solution because any work you toss onto the ASP.NET thread pool may be lost (especially if you don't inform ASP.NET about that work).
Once you have this architecture set up, then you can use SignalR to communicate from your web server to your clients. SignalR will use polling if it has to, but it can also use more efficient methods (such as websockets).
You can specify the SynchroniztionContext that the ContinueWith task continues on and then you should be able to access the progress bars. Try changing your t.ContinueWith(DoActionkComplete); call to
t.ContinueWith(DoActionkComplete, TaskScheduler.FromCurrentSynchronizationContext());
If you are using .NET 4.5 you can rewrite your method with async\await
public async Task<ActionResult> DoAsyncAction()
{
//ReturnValue that needs to be further populated by the async action in productive environment
var arv = new AsyncReturnValue
{
ProgressBar = new ProgressBar {Action = "SomeAction", User = "SomeUser"}
};
//Add a Progressbar before Task starts so i can visualize the process on the view
HttpContext.GetSession().ProgressBars.Add(arv.ProgressBar);
var result = await Task.Run(DoAction());
//i set the user hardcode because its only a demo
DeleteProgress.Add(new ProgressBarDeleteObject {ProgressBar = result.ProgressBar, User = "Asd123"});
//Returns the User to the Index Page while the Task is processing
return View("Index");
}
And if you make the DoAction method async as well, you can remove the Task.Run part as that uses up a thread from the thread pool.

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