How to integrate MessageViewController with MessageKit or JSQMessageViewController

[Julien Karst]

This library is really nice, but I'm wondering how to integrate it with others libraries to create a chat

MessageKit has it's own Controller to inherit and MessageViewController too, what is the best pratique to mix theses libraries ?

I've try to make a parent controller with MessageViewController and use JSQMessageViewController as a child (I know this library is deprecated)

I've try to make the configuration of MessageViewController in both viewdidload but it crash because of UI constraint

Thank you so much for your help

[Steven Deutsch]

Hey @JulienKode,

This library is not compatible with MessageKit or JSQMessagesViewController. They’re 3 separate solutions to providing a chat UI. It’s not really possible to replace the controllers from JSQMVC or MessageKit with this controller as their controllers are so tightly coupled to the rest of the library. Both JSQMVC and MessageKit don’t require you to dequeue cells for example, you just have to adopt the respective delegate and return your data model. If you try to swap out this controller the rest of the library really wouldn’t know how to operate.

MessageViewController is a very lightweight solution for chat UI. I recommend you use it as is and provide your own cells rather than try to mix and match libraries. It will save you a ton of time in the long run

_{Sent with GitHawk}

[Julien Karst]

Hey @SD10,

Thanks for your reply and your advice,
MessageViewController provide only the keyboard with TextView with many feature for the TextView

So if I want a chat with a keyboard like slack it's better to use MessageViewController,
If you have other advice let me know

Thanks for your help

[Steven Deutsch]

@JulienKode I think you're on the right track. You can use this library for the textView and keyboard handling. Then handle your collectionView/tableView and all the cells you need for your messages yourself

[Ryan Nystrom]

Closing seems like this is answered. GitHawk did exactly that: we use the control for text entry and then use our own collection view architecture to display data. This design lets you have control over how stuff is rendered and updated.

_{Sent with GitHawk}

[Julien Karst]

Thanks for your advice @SD10 @rnystrom

You just have to use a basic collectionView or you've made a lot of optimisation ?

[Ryan Nystrom]

IGListKit

_{Sent with GitHawk}