React.js and Isotope.js

Question

I'm checking out React.js and trying to figure out how this library can work together with Isotope.js. The documentation of React says that it plays nicely with other libraries, but using it with library that changes DOM on its own seems like no sense of using React.

Can someone explain to me, how can I take advantage of React in my webapp that uses Isotope.js as layout ?

Answer 1

Here's a working version with Masonry, you should find it easy enough to port to Isotope (or use Masonry :)) http://jsfiddle.net/emy7x0dc/1/.

Here's the crux of the code that makes it work (and allow React to do its job).

var Grid = React.createClass({
    displayName: 'Grid',

    getInitialState: function(){
        return {
            masonry: null
        }
    },

    // Wrapper to layout child elements passed in
    render: function () {
        var children = this.props.children;
        return (
            <div className="grid">
                {children}
            </div>
        );
    },

    // When the DOM is rendered, let Masonry know what's changed
    componentDidUpdate: function() {
        if(this.state.masonry) {
            this.state.masonry.reloadItems();
            this.state.masonry.layout();
        }
    },

    // Set up Masonry
    componentDidMount: function() {
        var container = this.getDOMNode();
        if(!this.state.masonry) {
            this.setState({
                masonry: new Masonry( container )
            });
        } else {
            this.state.masonry.reloadItems();
        }
    }
});