react-native-mauron85-background-geolocation

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Description

React Native fork of cordova-plugin-background-geolocation with battery-saving "circular region monitoring" and "stop detection".

Plugin can be used for geolocation when app is running in foreground or background.

On Android you can choose from two location location providers:

• ANDROID_DISTANCE_FILTER_PROVIDER
• ANDROID_ACTIVITY_PROVIDER

See Which provider should I use? for more information about providers.

Compatibility

Due to the rapid changes being made in the React Native ecosystem, this module will support only latest version of React Native. Older versions will only be supported, if they're compatible with this module.

Required peerDependencies	Version
React Native	>=0.33
React	>=15.3.1

If you are using an older version of React Native with this module some features may be buggy.

If you are using react-native-maps or another lib that requires react-native-maps such as Exponent.js or airbnb's react-native-maps then aditionally to the instalation steps described here, you must also change node_modules/react-native-mauron85-background-geolocation/android/lib/build.gradle in order to gms:play-services-locations match the same version used by those libraries. (in this case 9.8.0)

dependencies {
    ...
    compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-location:9.8.0'
    ...
}

Submitting issues

All new issues should follow instructions in ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md. Properly filled issue report will significantly reduce number of follow up questions and decrease issue resolving time. Most issues cannot be resolved without debug logs. Please try to isolate debug lines related to your issue. Instructions how to prepare debug logs can be found in section Debugging. If you're reporting app crash, debug logs might not contain all needed informations about the cause of the crash. In that case, also provide relevant parts of output of adb logcat command.

Example Apps

Repository react-native-background-geolocation-example is hosting example app for both iOS and Android platform.

Quick example

import React, { Component } from 'react';
import BackgroundGeolocation from 'react-native-mauron85-background-geolocation';

class BgTracking extends Component {
  componentWillMount() {
    BackgroundGeolocation.configure({
      desiredAccuracy: 10,
      stationaryRadius: 50,
      distanceFilter: 50,
      locationTimeout: 30,
      notificationTitle: 'Background tracking',
      notificationText: 'enabled',
      debug: true,
      startOnBoot: false,
      stopOnTerminate: false,
      locationProvider: BackgroundGeolocation.provider.ANDROID_ACTIVITY_PROVIDER,
      interval: 10000,
      fastestInterval: 5000,
      activitiesInterval: 10000,
      stopOnStillActivity: false,
      url: 'http://192.168.81.15:3000/location',
      httpHeaders: {
        'X-FOO': 'bar'
      }
    });

    BackgroundGeolocation.on('location', (location) => {
      //handle your locations here
      Actions.sendLocation(location);
    });

    BackgroundGeolocation.on('stationary', (stationaryLocation) => {
      //handle stationary locations here
      Actions.sendLocation(stationaryLocation);
    });

    BackgroundGeolocation.on('error', (error) => {
      console.log('[ERROR] BackgroundGeolocation error:', error);
    });

    BackgroundGeolocation.start(() => {
      console.log('[DEBUG] BackgroundGeolocation started successfully');    
    });
  }
}

export default BgTracking;

Instalation

Add package to your project

npm install react-native-mauron85-background-geolocation --save

Android setup

In android/settings.gradle

...
include ':react-native-mauron85-background-geolocation', ':app'
project(':react-native-mauron85-background-geolocation').projectDir = new File(rootProject.projectDir, '../node_modules/react-native-mauron85-background-geolocation/android/lib')
...

In android/app/build.gradle

dependencies {
    ...
    compile project(':react-native-mauron85-background-geolocation')
    ...
}

In android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml

Properties @account_type and @content_authority should be prefixed with your application package class.

<resources>
<!-- Make sure you override following in your app res/values/strings.xml -->
    <string name="app_name">APP_NAME</string>
    <string name="account_type">com.yourcompany.account</string>
    <string name="content_authority">com.yourcompany.authority</string>
</resources>

Register module (in MainApplication.java)

import com.marianhello.react.BackgroundGeolocationPackage;  // <--- Import Package

public class MainApplication extends Application implements ReactApplication {
  ...
  /**
   * A list of packages used by the app. If the app uses additional views
   * or modules besides the default ones, add more packages here.
   */
  @Override
  protected List<ReactPackage> getPackages() {
      return Arrays.<ReactPackage>asList(
          new MainReactPackage(),
          new BackgroundGeolocationPackage() // <---- Add the Package
      );
  }
  ...
}

Dependencies

You will need to ensure that you have installed the following items through the Android SDK Manager:

Name	Version
Android SDK Tools	24.4.1
Android SDK Platform-tools	23.1
Android SDK Build-tools	23.0.1
Android Support Repository	25
Android Support Library	23.1.1
Google Play Services	29
Google Repository	24

iOS setup

1. In XCode, in the project navigator, right click Libraries ➜ Add Files to [your project's name]
2. add ./node_modules/react-native-mauron85-background-geolocation/ios/RCTBackgroundGeolocation.xcodeproj
3. In the XCode project navigator, select your project, select the Build Phases tab and in the Link Binary With Libraries section add libRCTBackgroundGeolocation.a
4. add UIBackgroundModes location to Info.plist
5. add NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription App requires background tracking to Info.plist

API

configure(success, fail, options)

Parameter	Type	Platform	Description
options	JSON Object	all	Configure options

Configure options:

Parameter	Type	Platform	Description
desiredAccuracy	Number	all	Desired accuracy in meters. Possible values [0, 10, 100, 1000]. The lower the number, the more power devoted to GeoLocation resulting in higher accuracy readings. 1000 results in lowest power drain and least accurate readings. @see Apple docs
stationaryRadius	Number	all	Stationary radius in meters. When stopped, the minimum distance the device must move beyond the stationary location for aggressive background-tracking to engage.
debug	Boolean	all	When enabled, the plugin will emit sounds for life-cycle events of background-geolocation! See debugging sounds table.
distanceFilter	Number	all	The minimum distance (measured in meters) a device must move horizontally before an update event is generated. @see Apple docs.
stopOnTerminate	Boolean	all	Enable this in order to force a stop() when the application terminated (e.g. on iOS, double-tap home button, swipe away the app). (default true)
startOnBoot	Boolean	Android	Start background service on device boot. (default false)
startForeground	Boolean	Android	If false location service will not be started in foreground and no notification will be shown. (default true)
interval	Number	Android	The minimum time interval between location updates in milliseconds. @see [Android docs](http://developer.android.com/reference/android/location/LocationManager.html#requestLocationUpdates(long,%20float,%20android.location.Criteria,%20android.app.PendingIntent) for more information.
notificationTitle	String optional	Android	Custom notification title in the drawer.
notificationText	String optional	Android	Custom notification text in the drawer.
notificationIconColor	String optional	Android	The accent color to use for notification. Eg. #4CAF50.
notificationIconLarge	String optional	Android	The filename of a custom notification icon. See android quirks.
notificationIconSmall	String optional	Android	The filename of a custom notification icon. See android quirks.
locationProvider	Number	Android	Set location provider @see wiki
activityType	String	iOS	[AutomotiveNavigation, OtherNavigation, Fitness, Other] Presumably, this affects iOS GPS algorithm. @see Apple docs for more information
url	String	all	Server url where to send HTTP POST with recorded locations @see HTTP locations posting
syncUrl	String	all	Server url where to send fail to post locations @see HTTP locations posting
syncThreshold	Number	all	Specifies how many previously failed locations will be sent to server at once (default: 100)
httpHeaders	Object	all	Optional HTTP headers sent along in HTTP request
saveBatteryOnBackground	Boolean	iOS	Switch to less accurate significant changes and region monitory when in background (default)
maxLocations	Number	all	Limit maximum number of locations stored into db (default: 10000)

Following options are specific to provider as defined by locationProvider option

ANDROID_ACTIVITY_PROVIDER provider options

Parameter	Type	Platform	Description
interval	Number	Android	Rate in milliseconds at which your app prefers to receive location updates. @see android docs
fastestInterval	Number	Android	Fastest rate in milliseconds at which your app can handle location updates. @see android docs.
activitiesInterval	Number	Android	Rate in milliseconds at which activity recognition occurs. Larger values will result in fewer activity detections while improving battery life.
stopOnStillActivity	Boolean	Android	stop() is forced, when the STILL activity is detected (default is true)

Location callback will be called with one argument - location object, which tries to mimic w3c Coordinates interface.

Callback parameter	Type	Description
locationId	Number	ID of location as stored in DB (or null)
provider	String	gps, network, passive or fused
locationProvider	Number	Location provider
debug	Boolean	true if location recorded as part of debug
time	Number	UTC time of this fix, in milliseconds since January 1, 1970.
latitude	Number	latitude, in degrees.
longitude	Number	longitude, in degrees.
accuracy	Number	estimated accuracy of this location, in meters.
speed	Number	speed if it is available, in meters/second over ground.
altitude	Number	altitude if available, in meters above the WGS 84 reference ellipsoid.
bearing	Number	bearing, in degrees.

Note: Android currently returns time as type of String (instead of Number) @see issue #9685

start()

Platform: iOS, Android

Start background geolocation.

stop()

Platform: iOS, Android

Stop background geolocation.

isLocationEnabled(success, fail)

Platform: iOS, Android

One time check for status of location services. In case of error, fail callback will be executed.

Success callback parameter	Type	Description
enabled	Boolean	true/false (true when location services are enabled)

showAppSettings()

Platform: Android >= 6, iOS >= 8.0

Show app settings to allow change of app location permissions.

showLocationSettings()

Platform: iOS, Android

Show system settings to allow configuration of current location sources.

watchLocationMode(success, fail)

Platform: iOS, Android

Method can be used to detect user changes in location services settings. If user enable or disable location services then success callback will be executed. In case or error (SettingNotFoundException) fail callback will be executed.

Success callback parameter	Type	Description
enabled	Boolean	true/false (true when location services are enabled)

stopWatchingLocationMode()

Platform: iOS, Android

Stop watching for location mode changes.

getLocations(success, fail)

Platform: iOS, Android

Method will return all stored locations. This method is useful for initial rendering of user location on a map just after application launch.

NOTE: Returned locations does not contain locationId.

Success callback parameter	Type	Description
locations	Array	collection of stored locations

backgroundGeolocation.getLocations(
  function (locations) {
    console.log(locations);
  }
);

switchMode(modeId, success, fail)

Platform: iOS

Normally plugin will handle switching between BACKGROUND and FOREGROUND mode itself. Calling switchMode you can override plugin behavior and force plugin to switch into other mode.

In FOREGROUND mode plugin uses iOS local manager to receive locations and behavior is affected by option.desiredAccuracy and option.distanceFilter.

In BACKGROUND mode plugin uses significant changes and region monitoring to receive locations and uses option.stationaryRadius only.

// switch to FOREGROUND mode
backgroundGeolocation.switchMode(backgroundGeolocation.mode.FOREGROUND);

// switch to BACKGROUND mode
backgroundGeolocation.switchMode(backgroundGeolocation.mode.BACKGROUND);

getLogEntries(limit, success, fail)

Platform: Android

Return all logged events. Useful for plugin debugging. Parameter limit limits number of returned entries. @see Debugging for more information.

HTTP locations posting

All locations updates are recorded in local db at all times. When App is in foreground or background in addition to storing location in local db, location callback function is triggered. Number of location stored in db is limited by option.maxLocations a never exceeds this number. Instead old locations are replaced by new ones.

When option.url is defined, each location is also immediately posted to url defined by option.url. If post is successful, the location is marked as deleted in local db. All failed to post locations will be coalesced and send in some time later in one single batch. Batch sync takes place only when number of failed to post locations reaches option.syncTreshold. Optionally different url for batch sync can be defined by option.syncUrl. If option.syncUrl is not set then option.url will be used instead.

When only option.syncUrl is defined. Locations are send only in single batch, when number of locations reaches option.syncTreshold. (No individual location will be send)

Request body of posted locations is always array, even when only one location is sent.

Example of express (nodejs) server

var express    = require('express');
var bodyParser = require('body-parser');

var app = express();

// parse application/json
app.use(bodyParser.json({ type : '*/*' })); // force json

app.post('/locations', function(request, response){
    console.log('Headers:\n', request.headers);
    console.log('Body:\n', request.body);
    console.log('------------------------------');
    response.sendStatus(200);
});

app.listen(3000);
console.log('Server started...');

Debugging

Plugin logs all activity into database. Logs are retained for 7 days. You can use following snippets in your app.

Print Android logs:

backgroundGeolocation.getLogEntries(100, printAndroidLogs);

Print iOS logs:

backgroundGeolocation.getLogEntries(100, printIosLogs);

function padLeft(nr, n, str) {
  return Array(n - String(nr).length + 1).join(str || '0') + nr;
}

function printLogs(logEntries, logFormatter, COLORS, MAX_LINES) {
  MAX_LINES = MAX_LINES || 100; // maximum lines to print per batch
  var batch = Math.ceil(logEntries.length / MAX_LINES);
  var logLines = Array(MAX_LINES); //preallocate memory prevents GC
  var logLinesColor = Array(MAX_LINES * 2);
  for (var i = 0; i < batch; i++) {
    var it = 0;
    var logEntriesPart = logEntries.slice((i * MAX_LINES), (i + 1) * MAX_LINES);
    for (var j = 0; j < logEntriesPart.length; j++) {
      var logEntry = logEntriesPart[j];
      logLines[j] = logFormatter(logEntry);
      logLinesColor[it++] = ('background:white;color:black');
      logLinesColor[it++] = (COLORS[logEntry.level]);      
    }
    if (logEntriesPart.length < MAX_LINES) {
      console.log.apply(console, [logLines.slice(0,logEntriesPart.length).join('\n')]
        .concat(logLinesColor.slice(0,logEntriesPart.length*2)));
    } else {
      console.log.apply(console, [logLines.join('\n')].concat(logLinesColor));
    }
  }
}

function printAndroidLogs(logEntries) {
  var COLORS = Object();
  COLORS['ERROR'] = 'background:white;color:red';
  COLORS['WARN'] = 'background:black;color:yellow';
  COLORS['INFO'] = 'background:white;color:blue';
  COLORS['TRACE'] = 'background:white;color:black';
  COLORS['DEBUG'] = 'background:white;color:black';

  var logFormatter = function(logEntry) {
    var d = new Date(logEntry.timestamp);
    var dateStr = [d.getFullYear(), padLeft(d.getMonth()+1,2), padLeft(d.getDate(),2)].join('/');
    var timeStr = [padLeft(d.getHours(),2), padLeft(d.getMinutes(),2), padLeft(d.getSeconds(),2)].join(':');
    return ['%c[', dateStr, ' ', timeStr, '] %c', logEntry.logger, ':', logEntry.message].join('');
  }

  return printLogs(logEntries, logFormatter, COLORS);
}

function printIosLogs(logEntries) {
  var COLORS = Array();
  COLORS[1] = 'background:white;color:red';
  COLORS[2] = 'background:black;color:yellow';
  COLORS[4] = 'background:white;color:blue';
  COLORS[8] = 'background:white;color:black';
  COLORS[16] = 'background:white;color:black';

  var logFormatter = function(logEntry) {
    var d = new Date(logEntry.timestamp * 1000);
    var dateStr = [d.getFullYear(), padLeft(d.getMonth()+1,2), padLeft(d.getDate(),2)].join('/');
    var timeStr = [padLeft(d.getHours(),2), padLeft(d.getMinutes(),2), padLeft(d.getSeconds(),2)].join(':');
    return ['%c[', dateStr, ' ', timeStr, '] %c', logEntry.logger, ':', logEntry.message].join('');
  }

  return printLogs(logEntries, logFormatter, COLORS);
}

Debugging sounds

ios	android
Exit stationary region	Calendar event notification sound	dialtone beep-beep-beep
Geolocation recorded	SMS sent sound	tt short beep
Aggressive geolocation engaged	SIRI listening sound
Passive geolocation engaged	SIRI stop listening sound
Acquiring stationary location sound	"tick,tick,tick" sound
Stationary location acquired sound	"bloom" sound	long tt beep

NOTE: For iOS in addition, you must manually enable the Audio and Airplay background mode in Background Capabilities to hear these debugging sounds.

Geofencing

There is nice cordova plugin cordova-plugin-geofence, which does exactly that. Let's keep this plugin lightweight as much as possible.

Changelog

See CHANGES.md