bknd-client-setup

Client Setup

Set up the Bknd TypeScript SDK in your frontend application.

Prerequisites

• Bknd backend running (local or deployed)
• Frontend project initialized (React, Vue, vanilla JS, etc.)
• bknd package installed: npm install bknd

When to Use UI Mode

Not applicable - client setup is code-only.

When to Use Code Mode

• Always - SDK setup requires code configuration
• Choose approach based on architecture:
  • Standalone API client - Connecting to separate Bknd backend
  • Embedded (BkndBrowserApp) - Bknd runs in browser (Vite/React)
  • Framework adapter - Next.js, Astro, etc.

Approach 1: Standalone API Client

Use when connecting to a separate Bknd backend server.

Step 1: Basic Setup

import { Api } from "bknd";

const api = new Api({
  host: "https://api.example.com",  // Your Bknd backend URL
});

// Make requests
const { ok, data } = await api.data.readMany("posts");

Step 2: Add Token Persistence

Store auth tokens across page refreshes:

import { Api } from "bknd";

const api = new Api({
  host: "https://api.example.com",
  storage: localStorage,  // Persists token as "auth" key
});

Custom storage key:

const api = new Api({
  host: "https://api.example.com",
  storage: localStorage,
  key: "myapp_auth",  // Custom key instead of "auth"
});

Step 3: Handle Auth State Changes

React to login/logout events:

const api = new Api({
  host: "https://api.example.com",
  storage: localStorage,
  onAuthStateChange: (state) => {
    console.log("Auth state:", state);
    // state.user - current user or undefined
    // state.token - JWT or undefined
    // state.verified - whether token was verified with server
  },
});

Step 4: Cookie-Based Auth (SSR)

For server-side rendering with cookies:

const api = new Api({
  host: "https://api.example.com",
  credentials: "include",  // Send cookies cross-origin
});

Step 5: Full Configuration

import { Api } from "bknd";

const api = new Api({
  // Required
  host: "https://api.example.com",

  // Auth persistence
  storage: localStorage,
  key: "auth",

  // Auth events
  onAuthStateChange: (state) => {
    if (state.user) {
      console.log("Logged in:", state.user.email);
    } else {
      console.log("Logged out");
    }
  },

  // Request options
  credentials: "include",  // For cookies
  verbose: true,           // Log requests (dev only)

  // Data API defaults
  data: {
    defaultQuery: { limit: 20 },
  },
});

export { api };

Approach 2: React with BkndBrowserApp (Embedded)

Use when Bknd runs entirely in the browser (Vite + React).

Step 1: Define Schema

// bknd.config.ts
import { boolean, em, entity, text } from "bknd";

export const schema = em({
  todos: entity("todos", {
    title: text(),
    done: boolean(),
  }),
});

// Type registration for autocomplete
type Database = (typeof schema)["DB"];
declare module "bknd" {
  interface DB extends Database {}
}

Step 2: Configure BkndBrowserApp

// App.tsx
import { BkndBrowserApp, type BrowserBkndConfig } from "bknd/adapter/browser";
import { schema } from "./bknd.config";

const config = {
  config: {
    data: schema.toJSON(),
    auth: {
      enabled: true,
      jwt: {
        secret: "your-secret-key",  // Use env var in production
      },
    },
  },
  options: {
    seed: async (ctx) => {
      // Initial data (runs once on empty DB)
      await ctx.em.mutator("todos").insertMany([
        { title: "Learn bknd", done: false },
      ]);
    },
  },
} satisfies BrowserBkndConfig;

export default function App() {
  return (
    <BkndBrowserApp {...config}>
      <YourRoutes />
    </BkndBrowserApp>
  );
}

Step 3: Use the useApp Hook

import { useApp } from "bknd/adapter/browser";

function TodoList() {
  const { api, app, user, isLoading } = useApp();

  if (isLoading) return <div>Loading...</div>;

  // api - Api instance for data/auth/media
  // app - Full App instance
  // user - Current user or null
  // isLoading - True while initializing

  const [todos, setTodos] = useState([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    api.data.readMany("todos").then(({ data }) => setTodos(data));
  }, [api]);

  return (
    <ul>
      {todos.map((todo) => (
        <li key={todo.id}>{todo.title}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
}

Approach 3: React Standalone (External Backend)

Use when React connects to a separate Bknd server.

Step 1: Create API Instance

// lib/api.ts
import { Api } from "bknd";

export const api = new Api({
  host: import.meta.env.VITE_BKND_URL || "http://localhost:7654",
  storage: localStorage,
});

Step 2: Create React Context

// context/BkndContext.tsx
import { createContext, useContext, useEffect, useState, ReactNode } from "react";
import { Api, type TApiUser } from "bknd";
import { api } from "../lib/api";

type BkndContextType = {
  api: Api;
  user: TApiUser | null;
  isLoading: boolean;
};

const BkndContext = createContext<BkndContextType | null>(null);

export function BkndProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
  const [user, setUser] = useState<TApiUser | null>(null);
  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);

  useEffect(() => {
    // Listen for auth changes
    api.options.onAuthStateChange = (state) => {
      setUser(state.user ?? null);
    };

    // Verify existing token on mount
    api.verifyAuth().finally(() => {
      setUser(api.getUser());
      setIsLoading(false);
    });

    return () => {
      api.options.onAuthStateChange = undefined;
    };
  }, []);

  return (
    <BkndContext.Provider value={{ api, user, isLoading }}>
      {children}
    </BkndContext.Provider>
  );
}

export function useBknd() {
  const ctx = useContext(BkndContext);
  if (!ctx) throw new Error("useBknd must be used within BkndProvider");
  return ctx;
}

Step 3: Wrap App

// main.tsx
import { BkndProvider } from "./context/BkndContext";

ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById("root")!).render(
  <BkndProvider>
    <App />
  </BkndProvider>
);

Step 4: Use in Components

function Profile() {
  const { api, user, isLoading } = useBknd();

  if (isLoading) return <div>Loading...</div>;
  if (!user) return <div>Not logged in</div>;

  return <div>Hello, {user.email}</div>;
}

Approach 4: Next.js Integration

Step 1: Create API Utility

// lib/bknd.ts
import { Api } from "bknd";

// Client-side singleton
let clientApi: Api | null = null;

export function getClientApi() {
  if (typeof window === "undefined") {
    throw new Error("getClientApi can only be used client-side");
  }

  if (!clientApi) {
    clientApi = new Api({
      host: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_BKND_URL!,
      storage: localStorage,
    });
  }

  return clientApi;
}

// Server-side (per-request)
export function getServerApi(request?: Request) {
  return new Api({
    host: process.env.BKND_URL!,
    request,  // Extracts token from cookies/headers
  });
}

Step 2: Client Component

"use client";

import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
import { getClientApi } from "@/lib/bknd";

export function PostList() {
  const [posts, setPosts] = useState([]);
  const api = getClientApi();

  useEffect(() => {
    api.data.readMany("posts").then(({ data }) => setPosts(data));
  }, []);

  return <ul>{posts.map((p) => <li key={p.id}>{p.title}</li>)}</ul>;
}

Step 3: Server Component

// app/posts/page.tsx
import { getServerApi } from "@/lib/bknd";

export default async function PostsPage() {
  const api = getServerApi();
  const { data: posts } = await api.data.readMany("posts");

  return <ul>{posts.map((p) => <li key={p.id}>{p.title}</li>)}</ul>;
}

TypeScript Type Registration

Get autocomplete for entity names and fields:

// types/bknd.d.ts
import { em, entity, text, number } from "bknd";

// Define your schema
const schema = em({
  posts: entity("posts", {
    title: text(),
    views: number(),
  }),
  users: entity("users", {
    email: text(),
    name: text(),
  }),
});

// Register types globally
type Database = (typeof schema)["DB"];
declare module "bknd" {
  interface DB extends Database {}
}

Now api.data.readMany("posts") returns typed Post[].

Api Class Methods Reference

// Auth state
api.getUser()           // Current user or null
api.isAuthenticated()   // Has valid token
api.isAuthVerified()    // Token verified with server
api.verifyAuth()        // Verify token (async)
api.getAuthState()      // { token, user, verified }

// Module APIs
api.data.readMany(...)  // CRUD operations
api.auth.login(...)     // Authentication
api.media.upload(...)   // File uploads
api.system.health()     // System checks

// Token management
api.updateToken(token)  // Manually set token
api.token_transport     // "header" | "cookie" | "none"

Environment Variables

# .env.local (Next.js)
NEXT_PUBLIC_BKND_URL=http://localhost:7654
BKND_URL=http://localhost:7654

# .env (Vite)
VITE_BKND_URL=http://localhost:7654

Common Pitfalls

Token Not Persisting

Problem: User logged out after refresh

Fix: Provide storage option:

// WRONG - no persistence
const api = new Api({ host: "..." });

// CORRECT
const api = new Api({
  host: "...",
  storage: localStorage,
});

CORS Errors

Problem: Browser blocks requests to backend

Fix: Configure CORS on backend:

// bknd.config.ts (server)
const app = new App({
  server: {
    cors: {
      origin: ["http://localhost:3000"],
      credentials: true,
    },
  },
});

Auth State Not Updating

Problem: UI doesn't reflect login/logout

Fix: Use onAuthStateChange:

const api = new Api({
  host: "...",
  onAuthStateChange: (state) => {
    // Update your UI state here
    setUser(state.user ?? null);
  },
});

SSR Hydration Mismatch

Problem: Server/client render different content

Fix: Check auth on client only:

function AuthStatus() {
  const [user, setUser] = useState(null);
  const [mounted, setMounted] = useState(false);

  useEffect(() => {
    setMounted(true);
    setUser(api.getUser());
  }, []);

  if (!mounted) return null;  // Avoid hydration mismatch

  return user ? <span>{user.email}</span> : <span>Guest</span>;
}

Using Wrong Import Path

Problem: Import errors

Fix: Use correct subpath:

// Standalone API
import { Api } from "bknd";

// React browser adapter
import { BkndBrowserApp, useApp } from "bknd/adapter/browser";

// Next.js adapter
import type { NextjsBkndConfig } from "bknd/adapter/nextjs";

Multiple Api Instances

Problem: Auth state inconsistent across app

Fix: Use singleton pattern:

// lib/api.ts
let api: Api | null = null;

export function getApi() {
  if (!api) {
    api = new Api({ host: "...", storage: localStorage });
  }
  return api;
}

Verification

Test your setup:

import { api } from "./lib/api";

async function test() {
  // 1. Check connection
  const { ok } = await api.data.readMany("posts", { limit: 1 });
  console.log("API connected:", ok);

  // 2. Check auth
  console.log("Authenticated:", api.isAuthenticated());
  console.log("User:", api.getUser());

  // 3. Test login
  const { ok: loginOk } = await api.auth.login("password", {
    email: "test@example.com",
    password: "password123",
  });
  console.log("Login:", loginOk);
}

DOs and DON'Ts

DO:

• Use storage: localStorage for token persistence
• Handle onAuthStateChange for reactive UI
• Use singleton pattern for Api instance
• Call verifyAuth() on app startup
• Use environment variables for host URL

DON'T:

• Create multiple Api instances
• Forget to configure CORS on backend
• Use Api directly in SSR without request context
• Hardcode backend URLs
• Ignore auth state changes in UI

Related Skills

• bknd-api-discovery - Explore available endpoints
• bknd-login-flow - Implement authentication
• bknd-crud-read - Query data with SDK
• bknd-session-handling - Manage user sessions
• bknd-local-setup - Set up local backend