Building a Web3 Blog with GlacierDB

In this tutorial, we'll explore how to create a decentralized blog using GlacierDB and Web3. By the end, you'll have a fully functional blog where users can create, read, and manage their own posts using their Ethereum wallets.

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of React, TypeScript, and Ethereum.
• Node.js installed on your machine.
• MetaMask or a similar Ethereum wallet installed in your browser.

1. Setting Up the Project

First, let's set up a new React project using Vite:

pnpm create vite glacier-blog --template react-ts
cd glacier-blog

2. Installing Dependencies

pnpm add @glacier-network/client react-bootstrap

3. Wallet Integration

We'll use MetaMask for this tutorial. Create a hook, useWallet.ts, for the wallet integration:

import { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from 'react'
import { MetaMaskInpageProvider } from '@metamask/providers'

export default function useWallet() {
  const [account, setAccount] = useState<string>()
  const [provider, setProvider] = useState<MetaMaskInpageProvider>()

  const connect = useCallback(async () => {
    const accounts = await window.ethereum.request<string[]>({
      method: 'eth_requestAccounts',
      params: []
    })
    if (accounts) setAccount(accounts[0])
  }, [])

  const eagerConnect = useCallback(async () => {
    if (!window.ethereum) return
    const accounts = await window.ethereum?.request<string[]>({
      method: 'eth_accounts',
      params: []
    })
    if (accounts) setAccount(accounts[0])
    setProvider(window.ethereum)
  }, [])

  useEffect(() => {
    window.ethereum?.on('accountsChanged', args => {
      const accounts = args as string[]
      if (accounts) setAccount(accounts[0])
      setProvider(window.ethereum)
    })
  }, [])

  return {
    account,
    provider,
    connect,
    eagerConnect
  }
}

4. GlacierDB Integration

Next, integrate with GlacierDB using a hook, useGlacier.ts:

import { useState, useEffect, useCallback, useMemo } from 'react'
import { GlacierClient, NamespaceRecord } from '@glacier-network/client'
import useWallet from './useWallet'

export default function useGlacier() {
  const [monsters, setMonsters] = useState<any[]>([])
  const { provider, account, connect } = useWallet()

  const client = useMemo(() => {
    return new GlacierClient('https://your-glacier-endpoint.com', { provider })
  }, [provider])

  const listMonsters = useCallback(async () => {
    if (!account) return
    const monsterData = await client.getData('monsters', account)
    setMonsters(monsterData || [])
  }, [client, account])

  const createMonster = useCallback(
    async monster => {
      const createdMonster = await client.createData('monsters', monster)
      setMonsters(prevMonsters => [...prevMonsters, createdMonster])
    },
    [client]
  )

  const updateMonster = useCallback(
    async (monsterId, updates) => {
      const updatedMonster = await client.updateData(
        'monsters',
        monsterId,
        updates
      )
      setMonsters(prevMonsters =>
        prevMonsters.map(mon => (mon.id === monsterId ? updatedMonster : mon))
      )
    },
    [client]
  )

  useEffect(() => {
    listMonsters()
  }, [listMonsters])

  return {
    monsters,
    createMonster,
    updateMonster,
    connect
  }
}

5. Blog Component

Create a new component Blog.tsx:

import { useState } from 'react'
import { Button, Form, ListGroup } from 'react-bootstrap'
import useGlacier from './useGlacier'

const Blog = () => {
  const [post, setPost] = useState('')
  const {
    account,
    connect,
    eagerConnect
    // Add other necessary methods to handle blog data
  } = useGlacier()

  // ... Additional logic ...

  return <div className="container">{/* Blog UI components and logic */}</div>
}

export default Blog

6. Creating and Displaying Posts

In the Blog.tsx component:

// ... Component logic ...

const createPost = async () => {
  try {
    // Logic to create a new post using GlacierDB
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to create post:', error)
  }
}

return (
  <div className="container">
    {/* UI for creating a new post */}
    <Form>
      <Form.Group className="mb-3">
        <Form.Control
          type="text"
          placeholder="Write your post"
          value={post}
          onChange={e => setPost(e.target.value.trim())}
        />
      </Form.Group>
      <Button onClick={createPost}>Publish</Button>
    </Form>

    {/* Display the list of posts */}
    <ListGroup>{/* Map through the posts and display them */}</ListGroup>
  </div>
)

7. Styling and UI Enhancements

Using react-bootstrap, enhance the UI components, and style them as per your needs.

8. Running the Application

To start your decentralized blog:

pnpm run dev

Open a browser to view and interact with your blog.

info

Congratulations! You've built a decentralized blog using GlacierDB and Web3. Users can now create and manage their own posts using their Ethereum wallets.