Synology DiskStation as Development Box

• Recommended Product: DiskStation (network attached storage)
  • Uses: Store files, stream media, development box
  • Software: Apache servers, Docker, CMS (Drupal, WordPress)
  • DSM software is highly functional
  • Different models available, DS918+ recommended

Front-End React Project: Step Form

Project Overview

• Goal: Build a multi-step form in React using Material UI
  • Stages include filling out forms section by section, with data confirmation and ability to go back and edit
  • Focus on front-end, no backend/API submission
  • Customizable to fit your design needs

Basic Setup

Initial Setup

• Create a folder for the project react-step-form
• Create a React application using npx create-react-app .
• Install Material UI: npm install @material-ui/core
• Run development server: npm start (use different port if needed, e.g., 3001)

File Structure

• Create components folder with files:
  • UserForm.js: Parent component, manages state and steps
  • FormUserDetails.js: Component for user details
  • FormPersonalDetails.js: Component for personal details
  • Confirm.js: Component to confirm entered data
  • Success.js: Success component

UserForm Component (Parent)

State Management

• Holds state including step and form fields (e.g., first name, last name, email)
• Methods for navigation and handling input:
  • nextStep: Increments the step in the state
  • prevStep: Decrements the step
  • handleChange: Updates state with input values

Render Method

• Uses switch case to determine which form component to display based on the step
• Passes necessary props (methods and values) to child components
  • nextStep, prevStep, handleChange, and values

Integration in App

• Replaces default content in App.js with UserForm component

FormUserDetails Component

Setup

• Import necessary Material UI components
  • AppBar for navigation bar
  • TextField for input fields
  • RaisedButton for buttons
• Uses parent state for managed input fields
  • Props: handleChange, nextStep, values
• Layout with text fields (first name, last name, email) and a continue button

FormPersonalDetails Component

Setup

• Similar to FormUserDetails but for personal details (occupation, city, bio)
• Includes back button to navigate to the previous step
• Also imported and rendered in UserForm

Confirm Component

Setup

• Displays all entered data for user confirmation
• Includes back and confirm/continue buttons
• Uses Material UI List and ListItem components for data presentation
• No handleChange needed since no inputs in this step

Success Component

Setup

• Simple display component confirming form submission
• Uses Material UI AppBar
• Displays thank you message

Final Project Review

• Form components properly handle user input and navigation
• Data persists through state management in UserForm
• Next steps could include backend integration for form submission

Additional Resources

• React course recommendation: Udemy course "React Front to Back"
• Acknowledgement to patron Carlos Miele and his web development YouTube channel