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Android common ViewModel for two Compose screens

I have an issue with refreshing Compose Lazy List, based on changes in persistence.
The business case - I have a screen (Fragment) with MyObject list contains all objects, there is another screen with only favorites MyObjects. Both use the same Composable as a list element with name, description and "heart" icon to set/unset favorite flag.
On "all" list setting and unsetting favorite flag works well - click on IconToggleButton sets boolean in DB and then switching to Favorite screen shows new item. Unset favorite on "all" screen sets flag to false as expected and when navigates to Favorite screen removes item.
But toggling favorite icon on Favorite screen change boolean in DB - BUT does not refresh and recompose LazyList content. I have to manually switch few times between screens, then eventually both are, let's say, synchronized with DB.
Unset favorite on the last element on Favorite list does not refresh it at all - I have to "like" another object on "all" list, then the Favorite list content is recompose with replacing items.
Moreover - there are some cases, that items on both lists disappears, while they are still in DB. I need to dig it deeper and debug this case, but maybe is related.
Some code's details:
There is a simple Entity
#Entity(tableName = "my_objects")
data class MyObject(
#PrimaryKey(autoGenerate = true)
var id: Long = 0,
#ColumnInfo(name = "name")
val name: String,
#ColumnInfo(name = "favorite")
val favorite: Boolean = false
)
Then there are also DAO, Provider and Repository with Domain Model. In DAO there are methods:
#Query("SELECT * FROM my_objects")
fun getAll(): List<MyObject>
#Query("SELECT * FROM my_objects WHERE favorite = 1")
fun getFavorites(): List<MyObject>
called in Provider and then in Repository.
In MyObjectListViewModel (with mapping from DB model do domain model):
#HiltViewModel
class MyObjectListViewModel #Inject constructor(
private val updateMyObject: UpdateMyObject,
private val getOrderedMyObjectList: GetOrderedMyObjectList,
private val dispatchers: CoroutineDispatcherProvider
) : ViewModel() {
private val mutableMyObjects = MutableLiveData<List<ItemMyObjectModel>>()
val myObjects: LiveData<List<ItemMyObjectModel>> = mutableMyObjects
fun loadMyObjects() {
viewModelScope.launch(dispatchers.io) {
val myObjectListResult = getOrderedMyObjectList()
withContext(dispatchers.main) {
when (myObjectListResult) {
is MyObjectListResult.Success -> {
val viewModelList = myObjectListResult.list.map {
ItemMyObjectModel(it)
}
mutableMyObjects.postValue(viewModelList)
}
}
}
}
}
fun switchFavoriteFlag(itemMyObjectModel: ItemMyObjectModel) {
val myObject = itemMyObjectModel.itemMyObject
myObject.favorite = !myObject.favorite
viewModelScope.launch(dispatchers.io) {
val updatedObject = updateMyObject(myObject) //save via DAO
}
}
}
MyObjectFavoriteListViewModel looks exactly the same, except that load function calls loadFavoriteMyObjects() and it uses GetOrderedFavoriteMyObjectList Repository. BTW - maybe it could be aggregate to one ViewModel, but with pair of LiveData and load function - one pair for all item and one for favorites?
Last but not least - Composables:
#OptIn(ExperimentalMaterial3Api::class)
#Composable
fun MyObjectFavoriteListScreen(
viewModel: MyObjectFavoriteListViewModel,
navigator: MyObjectNavigator
) {
val list by viewModel.myObjects.observeAsState()
val lazyListState = rememberLazyListState()
Scaffold(
floatingActionButton = {
MyObjectListFloatingActionButton(
extended = lazyListState.isScrollingUp() //local extension
) { navigator.openNewMyObjectFromObjectList() }
}
) { padding ->
if (list != null) {
LazyColumn(
contentPadding = PaddingValues(
horizontal = dimensionResource(id = R.dimen.margin_normal),
vertical = dimensionResource(id = R.dimen.margin_normal)
),
state = lazyListState,
modifier = Modifier.padding(padding)
) {
items(list!!) { item ->
MyObjectListItem( // with Card() includes Text() and IconToggleButton()
item = item,
onCardClick = { myObjectId -> navigator.openMyObjectDetailsFromFavouriteList(myObjectId) },
onFavoriteClick = { itemMyObjectModel -> viewModel.switchFavoriteFlag(itemMyObjectModel) }
)
}
}
} else {
Box(
modifier = Modifier
.fillMaxSize(),
contentAlignment = Alignment.Center
) {
Text(text = stringResource(id = "No objects available"))
}
}
}
}
I think that one issue could be related with if (list != null) {} (list is observed as State<T?>).
But for sure there is something wrong with states, I am pretty sure that the list should be triggered to recompose, but there is no(?) state to do so.
Any ideas?

I see inconsistent behavior with Android Compose and Mutable objects (newbie?)

I need help with composables and mutableStates!
In the example below, I have a list of classes.
I want to try to manipulate the list to
a. swap the position of two items
b. change the "data" in one of the classes
c. get a copy of the classes "flattened"
I have in the main composable a text field displaying the items
a. a copy of the list from the viewModel
b. a button to move the 1st item to the 3rd position
c. a button to get the "flattened" data
d. a button to modify the data in the 3rd item.
I expected each of these actions to modify the visible contents
of the items.
When I run this I see the items on the screen.
When I click "move 2nd to 4th", the list of items does not update on the screen.
But, clicking to get the flattened layout shows the flattened data correctly.
Now, I click "change data" and the data is changed in the items on the screen!
If I click on get flat layout, the original list reappears and the
flattened list shows the original rlattened list again!
What is happening and how can I fix it? I don't expect coroutine calls are
needed here.
I also have the problem of losing data when I rotate the screen (newbie here.)
Pertinent code of MainActivity:
#Composable
fun Screen() {
val vm = MyViewModel()
val items = vm.items.collectAsState()
var flat by remember{ mutableStateOf ("")}
var newItem by remember { mutableStateOf(MyClass("",""))}
Column {
Text(text = items.toString().split("MyC").joinToString("\nMyC"))
Spacer(Modifier.height(8.dp))
Button(
onClick = {vm.moveList(1,3)} // swap 2nd and 4th items on list
) { Text( text = "move 2nd to 4th")}
Spacer(Modifier.height(8.dp))
Button(
onClick = {flat = vm.getLayout()}
) { Text( text = "get flat layout")}
Spacer(Modifier.height(8.dp))
Text(text = flat)
Spacer(Modifier.height(8.dp))
Button(
onClick = { vm.changeData(2,"NEW")
newItem = vm.items.value[2]}
) { Text( text = "get change heading on 3rd")}
Spacer(Modifier.height(8.dp))
Text(text = newItem.toString())
}
}
And here is code from the viewModel:
data class MyClass(
val key: String,
val data: String,
)
class MyViewModel: ViewModel(){
companion object {
private const val DEFAULT_LAYOUT = "0|A,1|B,2|C,3|D,4|E"
}
private val _items: MutableStateFlow<List<MyClass>> =
MutableStateFlow(
DEFAULT_LAYOUT.split(",").map{ MyClass(it.split("|").first(),it.split("|").last())})
val items: StateFlow<List<MyClass>> = _items
fun getLayout(): String {
return items.value.map { it.key + "|" + it.data }.joinToString(",")
}
fun changeData(
index: Int,
newData: String
) {
val mC : MyClass = items.value[index].copy(data = newData)
_items.update {
it.toMutableList().apply {
set(index,mC)
}
}
}
fun moveList(from: Int, to: Int) {
_items.update {
it.toMutableList().apply {
add(to, removeAt(from))
}
}
}
fun removeElement(idx: Int) {
_items.update {
it.toMutableList().apply {
removeAt(idx)
}
}
}
}

When using List as State, how to update UI when item`attribute change in Jetpack Compose?

For example, I load data into a List, it`s wrapped by MutableStateFlow, and I collect these as State in UI Component.
The trouble is, when I change an item in the MutableStateFlow<List>, such as modifying attribute, but don`t add or delete, the UI will not change.
So how can I change the UI when I modify an item of the MutableStateFlow?
These are codes:
ViewModel:
data class TestBean(val id: Int, var name: String)
class VM: ViewModel() {
val testList = MutableStateFlow<List<TestBean>>(emptyList())
fun createTestData() {
val result = mutableListOf<TestBean>()
(0 .. 10).forEach {
result.add(TestBean(it, it.toString()))
}
testList.value = result
}
fun changeTestData(index: Int) {
// first way to change data
testList.value[index].name = System.currentTimeMillis().toString()
// second way to change data
val p = testList.value[index]
p.name = System.currentTimeMillis().toString()
val tmplist = testList.value.toMutableList()
tmplist[index].name = p.name
testList.update { tmplist }
}
}
UI:
setContent {
LaunchedEffect(key1 = Unit) {
vm.createTestData()
}
Column {
vm.testList.collectAsState().value.forEachIndexed { index, it ->
Text(text = it.name, modifier = Modifier.padding(16.dp).clickable {
vm.changeTestData(index)
Log.d("TAG", "click： ${index}")
})
}
}
}

Both Flow and Compose mutable state cannot track changes made inside of containing objects.
But you can replace an object with an updated object. data class is a nice tool to be used, which will provide you all copy out of the box, but you should emit using var and only use val for your fields to avoid mistakes.
Check out Why is immutability important in functional programming?
testList.value[index] = testList.value[index].copy(name = System.currentTimeMillis().toString())

How to disable simultaneous clicks on multiple items in Jetpack Compose List / Column / Row (out of the box debounce?)

I have implemented a column of buttons in jetpack compose. We realized it is possible to click multiple items at once (with multiple fingers for example), and we would like to disable this feature.
Is there an out of the box way to disable multiple simultaneous clicks on children composables by using a parent column modifier?
Here is an example of the current state of my ui, notice there are two selected items and two unselected items.
Here is some code of how it is implemented (stripped down)
Column(
modifier = modifier
.fillMaxSize()
.verticalScroll(nestedScrollParams.childScrollState),
) {
viewDataList.forEachIndexed { index, viewData ->
Row(modifier = modifier.fillMaxWidth()
.height(dimensionResource(id = 48.dp)
.background(colorResource(id = R.color.large_button_background))
.clickable { onClick(viewData) },
verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
) {
//Internal composables, etc
}
}

Check this solution. It has similar behavior to splitMotionEvents="false" flag. Use this extension with your Column modifier
import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
import androidx.compose.ui.input.pointer.PointerEventPass
import androidx.compose.ui.input.pointer.pointerInput
import kotlinx.coroutines.coroutineScope
fun Modifier.disableSplitMotionEvents() =
pointerInput(Unit) {
coroutineScope {
var currentId: Long = -1L
awaitPointerEventScope {
while (true) {
awaitPointerEvent(PointerEventPass.Initial).changes.forEach { pointerInfo ->
when {
pointerInfo.pressed && currentId == -1L -> currentId = pointerInfo.id.value
pointerInfo.pressed.not() && currentId == pointerInfo.id.value -> currentId = -1
pointerInfo.id.value != currentId && currentId != -1L -> pointerInfo.consume()
else -> Unit
}
}
}
}
}
}

Here are four solutions:
Click Debounce (ViewModel)r
For this, you need to use a viewmodel. The viewmodel handles the click event. You should pass in some id (or data) that identifies the item being clicked. In your example, you could pass an id that you assign to each item (such as a button id):
// IMPORTANT: Make sure to import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.collect
class MyViewModel : ViewModel() {
val debounceState = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
init {
viewModelScope.launch {
debounceState
.debounce(300)
.collect { buttonId ->
if (buttonId != null) {
when (buttonId) {
ButtonIds.Support -> displaySupport()
ButtonIds.About -> displayAbout()
ButtonIds.TermsAndService -> displayTermsAndService()
ButtonIds.Privacy -> displayPrivacy()
}
}
}
}
}
fun onItemClick(buttonId: String) {
debounceState.value = buttonId
}
}
object ButtonIds {
const val Support = "support"
const val About = "about"
const val TermsAndService = "termsAndService"
const val Privacy = "privacy"
}
The debouncer ignores any clicks that come in within 500 milliseconds of the last one received. I've tested this and it works. You'll never be able to click more than one item at a time. Although you can touch two at a time and both will be highlighted, only the first one you touch will generate the click handler.
Click Debouncer (Modifier)
This is another take on the click debouncer but is designed to be used as a Modifier. This is probably the one you will want to use the most. Most apps will make the use of scrolling lists that let you tap on a list item. If you quickly tap on an item multiple times, the code in the clickable modifier will execute multiple times. This can be a nuisance. While users normally won't tap multiple times, I've seen even accidental double clicks trigger the clickable twice. Since you want to avoid this throughout your app on not just lists but buttons as well, you probably should use a custom modifier that lets you fix this issue without having to resort to the viewmodel approach shown above.
Create a custom modifier. I've named it onClick:
fun Modifier.onClick(
enabled: Boolean = true,
onClickLabel: String? = null,
role: Role? = null,
onClick: () -> Unit
) = composed(
inspectorInfo = debugInspectorInfo {
name = "clickable"
properties["enabled"] = enabled
properties["onClickLabel"] = onClickLabel
properties["role"] = role
properties["onClick"] = onClick
}
) {
Modifier.clickable(
enabled = enabled,
onClickLabel = onClickLabel,
onClick = {
App.debounceClicks {
onClick.invoke()
}
},
role = role,
indication = LocalIndication.current,
interactionSource = remember { MutableInteractionSource() }
)
}
You'll notice that in the code above, I'm using App.debounceClicks. This of course doesn't exist in your app. You need to create this function somewhere in your app where it is globally accessible. This could be a singleton object. In my code, I use a class that inherits from Application, as this is what gets instantiated when the app starts:
class App : Application() {
override fun onCreate() {
super.onCreate()
}
companion object {
private val debounceState = MutableStateFlow { }
init {
GlobalScope.launch(Dispatchers.Main) {
// IMPORTANT: Make sure to import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.collect
debounceState
.debounce(300)
.collect { onClick ->
onClick.invoke()
}
}
}
fun debounceClicks(onClick: () -> Unit) {
debounceState.value = onClick
}
}
}
Don't forget to include the name of your class in your AndroidManifest:
<application
android:name=".App"
Now instead of using clickable, use onClick instead:
Text("Do Something", modifier = Modifier.onClick { })
Globally disable multi-touch
In your main activity, override dispatchTouchEvent:
class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
override fun dispatchTouchEvent(ev: MotionEvent?): Boolean {
return ev?.getPointerCount() == 1 && super.dispatchTouchEvent(ev)
}
}
This disables multi-touch globally. If your app has a Google Maps, you will want to add some code to to dispatchTouchEvent to make sure it remains enabled when the screen showing the map is visible. Users will use two fingers to zoom on a map and that requires multi-touch enabled.
State Managed Click Handler
Use a single click event handler that stores the state of which item is clicked. When the first item calls the click, it sets the state to indicate that the click handler is "in-use". If a second item attempts to call the click handler and "in-use" is set to true, it just returns without performing the handler's code. This is essentially the equivalent of a synchronous handler but instead of blocking, any further calls just get ignored.

The most simple approach that I found for this issue is to save the click state for each Item on the list, and update the state to 'true' if an item is clicked.
NOTE: Using this approach works properly only in a use-case where the list will be re-composed after the click handling; for example navigating to another Screen when the item click is performed.
Otherwise if you stay in the same Composable and try to click another item, the second click will be ignored and so on.
for example:
#Composable
fun MyList() {
// Save the click state in a MutableState
val isClicked = remember {
mutableStateOf(false)
}
LazyColumn {
items(10) {
ListItem(index = "$it", state = isClicked) {
// Handle the click
}
}
}
}
ListItem Composable:
#Composable
fun ListItem(
index: String,
state: MutableState<Boolean>,
onClick: () -> Unit
) {
Text(
text = "Item $index",
modifier = Modifier
.clickable {
// If the state is true, escape the function
if (state.value)
return#clickable
// else, call onClick block
onClick()
state.value = true
}
)
}

Trying to turn off multi-touch, or adding single click to the modifier, is not flexible enough. I borrowed the idea from #Johann‘s code. Instead of disabling at the app level, I can call it only when I need to disable it.
Here is an Alternative solution:
class ClickHelper private constructor() {
private val now: Long
get() = System.currentTimeMillis()
private var lastEventTimeMs: Long = 0
fun clickOnce(event: () -> Unit) {
if (now - lastEventTimeMs >= 300L) {
event.invoke()
}
lastEventTimeMs = now
}
companion object {
#Volatile
private var instance: ClickHelper? = null
fun getInstance() =
instance ?: synchronized(this) {
instance ?: ClickHelper().also { instance = it }
}
}
}
then you can use it anywhere you want:
Button(onClick = { ClickHelper.getInstance().clickOnce {
// Handle the click
} } ) { }
or:
Text(modifier = Modifier.clickable { ClickHelper.getInstance().clickOnce {
// Handle the click
} } ) { }

fun singleClick(onClick: () -> Unit): () -> Unit {
var latest: Long = 0
return {
val now = System.currentTimeMillis()
if (now - latest >= 300) {
onClick()
latest = now
}
}
}
Then you can use
Button(onClick = singleClick {
// TODO
})

Here is my solution.
It's based on https://stackoverflow.com/a/69914674/7011814
by I don't use GlobalScope (here is an explanation why) and I don't use MutableStateFlow as well (because its combination with GlobalScope may cause a potential memory leak).
Here is a head stone of the solution:
#OptIn(FlowPreview::class)
#Composable
fun <T>multipleEventsCutter(
content: #Composable (MultipleEventsCutterManager) -> T
) : T {
val debounceState = remember {
MutableSharedFlow<() -> Unit>(
replay = 0,
extraBufferCapacity = 1,
onBufferOverflow = BufferOverflow.DROP_OLDEST
)
}
val result = content(
object : MultipleEventsCutterManager {
override fun processEvent(event: () -> Unit) {
debounceState.tryEmit(event)
}
}
)
LaunchedEffect(true) {
debounceState
.debounce(CLICK_COLLAPSING_INTERVAL)
.collect { onClick ->
onClick.invoke()
}
}
return result
}
#OptIn(FlowPreview::class)
#Composable
fun MultipleEventsCutter(
content: #Composable (MultipleEventsCutterManager) -> Unit
) {
multipleEventsCutter(content)
}
The first function can be used as a wrapper around your code like this:
MultipleEventsCutter { multipleEventsCutterManager ->
Button(
onClick = { multipleClicksCutter.processEvent(onClick) },
...
) {
...
}
}
And you can use the second one to create your own modifier, like next one:
fun Modifier.clickableSingle(
enabled: Boolean = true,
onClickLabel: String? = null,
role: Role? = null,
onClick: () -> Unit
) = composed(
inspectorInfo = debugInspectorInfo {
name = "clickable"
properties["enabled"] = enabled
properties["onClickLabel"] = onClickLabel
properties["role"] = role
properties["onClick"] = onClick
}
) {
multipleEventsCutter { manager ->
Modifier.clickable(
enabled = enabled,
onClickLabel = onClickLabel,
onClick = { manager.processEvent { onClick() } },
role = role,
indication = LocalIndication.current,
interactionSource = remember { MutableInteractionSource() }
)
}
}

Just add two lines in your styles. This will disable multitouch in whole application:
<style name="AppTheme" parent="...">
...
<item name="android:windowEnableSplitTouch">false</item>
<item name="android:splitMotionEvents">false</item>
</style>

Jetpack compose update list element

I am currently trying to write an App for my thesis and currently, I am looking into different approaches. Since I really like Flutter and the Thesis requires me to use Java/Kotlin I would like to use Jetpack compose.
Currently, I am stuck trying to update ListElements.
I want to have a List that shows Experiments and their state/result. Once I hit the Button I want the experiments to run and after they are done update their state. Currently, the run Method does nothing besides setting the state to success.
The problem is I don't know how to trigger a recompose from the viewModel of the ExperimentRow once an experiment updates its state.
ExperimentsActivity:
class ExperimentsActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
val exViewModel by viewModels<ExperimentViewModel>()
override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
//For now this is just Dummy Data and will be replaced
exViewModel.experiments += listOf(
Experiment("Test1", exViewModel::experimentStateChanged),
Experiment("Strongbox", exViewModel::experimentStateChanged)
)
setContent {
TpmTheme {
// A surface container using the 'background' color from the theme
Surface {
ExperimentScreen(
exViewModel.experiments,
exViewModel::startTests
)
}
}
}
}
}
ExperimentViewModel:
class ExperimentViewModel : ViewModel() {
var experiments by mutableStateOf(listOf<Experiment>())
fun startTests() {
for (exp in experiments) {
exp.run()
}
}
fun experimentStateChanged(experiment: Experiment) {
Log.i("ViewModel", "Changed expState of ${experiment.name} to ${experiment.state}")
// HOW DO I TRIGGER A RECOMPOSE OF THE EXPERIMENTROW FOR THE experiment????
//experiments = experiments.toMutableList().also { it.plus(experiment) }
Log.i("Vi", "Size of Expirments: ${experiments.size}")
}
}
ExperimentScreen:
#Composable
fun ExperimentScreen(
experiments: List<Experiment>,
onStartExperiments: () -> Unit
) {
Column {
LazyColumnFor(
items = experiments,
modifier = Modifier.weight(1f),
contentPadding = PaddingValues(top = 8.dp),
) { ep ->
ExperimentRow(
experiment = ep,
modifier = Modifier.fillParentMaxWidth(),
)
}
Button(
onClick = { onStartExperiments() },
modifier = Modifier.padding(16.dp).fillMaxWidth(),
) {
Text("Run Tests")
}
}
}
#Composable
fun ExperimentRow(experiment: Experiment, modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
Row(
modifier = modifier
.padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 8.dp),
horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.SpaceBetween
) {
Text(experiment.name)
Icon(
asset = experiment.state.vAsset,
)
}
Experiment:
class Experiment(val name: String, val onStateChanged: (Experiment) -> Unit) {
var state: ExperimentState = ExperimentState.DEFAULT
set(value) {
field = value
onStateChanged(this)
}
fun run() {
state = ExperimentState.SUCCESS;
}
}
enum class ExperimentState(val vAsset: VectorAsset) {
DEFAULT(Icons.Default.Info),
RUNNING(Icons.Default.Refresh),
SUCCESS(Icons.Default.Done),
FAILED(Icons.Default.Warning),
}

There's a few ways to address this but key thing is that you need to add a copy of element (with state changed) to experiments to trigger the recomposition.
One possible example would be
data class Experiment(val name: String, val state: ExperimentState, val onStateChanged: (Experiment) -> Unit) {
fun run() {
onStateChanged(this.copy(state = ExperimentState.SUCCESS))
}
}
and then
fun experimentStateChanged(experiment: Experiment) {
val index = experiments.toMutableList().indexOfFirst { it.name == experiment.name }
experiments = experiments.toMutableList().also {
it[index] = experiment
}
}
though I suspect there's probably cleaner way of doing this.