React Query External Sync

A powerful debugging tool for React Query state in any React-based application. Whether you're building for mobile, web, desktop, TV, or VR - this package has you covered. It works seamlessly across all platforms where React runs, with zero configuration to disable in production.

Pairs perfectly with React Native DevTools for a complete development experience.

✨ Features

• 🔄 Real-time React Query state synchronization
• 📱 Works with any React-based framework (React, React Native, Expo, Next.js, etc.)
• 🖥️ Platform-agnostic: Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, tvOS, VR - you name it!
• 🔌 Socket.IO integration for reliable communication
• 📊 Query status, data, and error monitoring
• ⚡️ Simple integration with minimal setup
• 🧩 Perfect companion to React Native DevTools
• 🛑 Zero-config production safety - automatically disabled in production builds
• 🚀 NEW: Remote Expo DevTools - Trigger Expo DevTools commands remotely without using the command line
• 🔧 Auto-implemented Expo commands - Default implementations for all Expo DevTools commands with no user setup required

📦 Installation

# Using npm
npm install --save-dev react-native-devtools-sync socket.io-client

# Using yarn
yarn add -D react-native-devtools-sync socket.io-client

# Using pnpm
pnpm add -D react-native-devtools-sync socket.io-client

🚀 Quick Start

Add the hook to your application where you set up your React Query context:

import { QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from "@tanstack/react-query";
import { useSyncQueriesExternal } from "react-query-external-sync";
// Import Platform for React Native or use other platform detection for web/desktop
import { Platform } from "react-native";

// Create your query client
const queryClient = new QueryClient();

function App() {
  return (
    <QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>
      <AppContent />
    </QueryClientProvider>
  );
}

function AppContent() {
  // Set up the sync hook - automatically disabled in production!
  useSyncQueriesExternal({
    queryClient,
    socketURL: "http://localhost:42831", // Default port for React Native DevTools
    deviceName: Platform?.OS || "web", // Platform detection
    platform: Platform?.OS || "web", // Use appropriate platform identifier
    deviceId: Platform?.OS || "web", // Use a PERSISTENT identifier (see note below)
    extraDeviceInfo: {
      // Optional additional info about your device
      appVersion: "1.0.0",
      // Add any relevant platform info
    },
    enableLogs: false,
    // Enable AsyncStorage monitoring (optional)
    asyncStorage: AsyncStorage,
    // Enable network monitoring (optional)
    networkMonitoring: {
      fetch: true,
      xhr: true,
      websocket: false
    },
    // Enable Expo DevTools (optional)
    expoDevTools: {
      enabled: true
    }
  });

  // Your app content
  return <YourApp />;
}

🔒 Production Safety

This package is automatically disabled in production builds.

// The package handles this internally:
if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== "production") {
  useSyncQueries = require("./new-sync/useSyncQueries").useSyncQueries;
} else {
  // In production, this becomes a no-op function
  useSyncQueries = () => ({
    isConnected: false,
    connect: () => {},
    disconnect: () => {},
    socket: null,
    users: [],
  });
}

💡 Usage with DevTools

For the best experience, use this package with the React Native DevTools application:

1. Download and launch the DevTools application
2. Integrate this package in your React application
3. Start your application
4. DevTools will automatically detect and connect to your running application

Note: For optimal connection, launch DevTools before starting your application.

🚀 Remote Expo DevTools

This package now includes Remote Expo DevTools, allowing you to trigger Expo DevTools commands remotely without using the command line.

Setting up Expo DevTools

1. Enable Expo DevTools in your app:

useSyncQueriesExternal({
  // ... other options
  expoDevTools: {
    enabled: true
  }
});

1. Command handlers are now automatically implemented:

import { useSyncQueriesExternal } from "react-query-external-sync";

// Simply enable Expo DevTools - no implementation needed!
useSyncQueriesExternal({
  // ... other options
  expoDevTools: {
    enabled: true
  }
});

The library now includes default implementations for all Expo commands that will automatically detect and use the appropriate APIs based on your environment. These implementations will:

• Try to use Expo's APIs first if available
• Fall back to React Native's DevSettings and NativeModules if needed
• Provide helpful console messages if no implementation is found

If you need custom behavior, you can still override any command:

import { 
  setExpoCommandImplementations,
  useSyncQueriesExternal 
} from "react-query-external-sync";

// Override only the commands you need custom behavior for
setExpoCommandImplementations({
  reload: async () => {
    console.log("Custom reload implementation");
    // Your custom implementation
    await YourCustomReloadFunction();
  },
  // You can override just one or a few commands
  // Other commands will use the default implementations
});

1. Use the DevTools UI to trigger commands remotely:
   • Connect to your device
   • Click the Expo DevTools button in the dashboard
   • Select a command to execute remotely

Available Commands

• reload: Reload the app
• toggle-inspector: Toggle the element inspector
• toggle-performance-monitor: Toggle the performance monitor
• toggle-element-inspector: Toggle the element inspector
• clear-cache: Clear the app cache
• toggle-remote-debugging: Toggle remote debugging
• open-dev-menu: Open the developer menu
• take-screenshot: Take a screenshot
• shake-device: Simulate device shake

⚙️ Configuration Options

The useSyncQueriesExternal hook accepts the following options:

🐛 Troubleshooting

Quick Checklist

1. DevTools Connection

   • Look for "Connected" status in the top-left corner of the DevTools app
   • If it shows "Disconnected", restart the DevTools app

2. No Devices Appearing

   • Verify the Socket.IO client is installed (npm list socket.io-client)
   • Ensure the hook is properly set up in your app
   • Check that socketURL matches the DevTools port (default: 42831)
   • Restart both your app and the DevTools

3. Data Not Syncing

   • Confirm you're passing the correct queryClient instance
   • Set enableLogs: true to see connection information

That's it! If you're still having issues, visit the GitHub repository for support.

⚠️ Important Note About Device IDs

The deviceId parameter must be persistent across app restarts and re-renders. Using a value that changes (like Date.now()) will cause each render to be treated as a new device.

Recommended approaches:

// Simple approach for single devices
deviceId: Platform.OS, // Works if you only have one device per platform

// Better approach for multiple simulators/devices of same type
// Using AsyncStorage, MMKV, or another storage solution
const [deviceId, setDeviceId] = useState(Platform.OS);

useEffect(() => {
  const loadOrCreateDeviceId = async () => {
    // Try to load existing ID
    const storedId = await AsyncStorage.getItem('deviceId');

    if (storedId) {
      setDeviceId(storedId);
    } else {
      // First launch - generate and store a persistent ID
      const newId = `${Platform.OS}-${Date.now()}`;
      await AsyncStorage.setItem('deviceId', newId);
      setDeviceId(newId);
    }
  };

  loadOrCreateDeviceId();
}, []);

🙏 Acknowledgements

This project is a fork with added features. A huge thank you to LovesWorking for creating the original React Query External Sync package, which provided an excellent foundation for this enhanced version. Your work has been instrumental in making React Query debugging easier and more powerful.

📄 License

MIT

Original package by LovesWorking
Enhanced with Remote Expo DevTools functionality