May 122017

Author

Peter Širka in Total.js Platform

Geolocation in Total.js

How to use Geolocation in Total.js framework? Localize each IP address in your web application.

Geolocation in Total.js

this tutorial uses a middleware
obtained data will be stored in req.geolocation variable
this tutorial extends Controller by adding geolocation() method which returns req.geolocation

Create a definition file e.g. geolocation.js:

// Temporary cache
var CACHE = {};

F.middleware('geolocation', function(req, res, next) {

    if (CACHE[req.ip] !== undefined) {
        req.geolocation = CACHE[req.ip];
        next();
        return;
    }

    var builder = new RESTBuilder();
    builder.url('https://freegeoip.net/json/' + req.ip);
    builder.get();
    builder.exec(function(err, response) {
        CACHE[req.ip] = req.geolocation = err ? null : response;
        next();
    });
});

Controller.prototype.geolocation = function() {
    return this.req.geolocation;
};

// Clears cache every 10 minutes
F.on('service', function(counter) {
    if (counter % 10 === 0)
        CACHE = {};
});

Usage

Now we extend routes where we want to use Geolocation.

exports.install = function() {
    F.route('/', view_index, ['#geolocation']);
};

function view_homepage() {

    console.log(this.geolocation());
    // or
    console.log(this.req.geolocation);

    this.view('index');
}

Result:

{ ip: '62.168.127.195',
  country_code: 'SK',
  country_name: 'Slovak Republic',
  region_code: '',
  region_name: '',
  city: '',
  zip_code: '',
  time_zone: 'Europe/Bratislava',
  latitude: 48.6667,
  longitude: 19.5,
  metro_code: 0 }

Tips

we can use a global middleware via F.use('geolocation', '*', ['web']);
we can store geolocation data in cookies or in a database

Geolocation in Total.js

Usage

Tips

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