## Introduction

This tutorial explains `coeffects`.

It explains what they are, how they are created, how they help, and how 
to manage them in tests. There's also an adults-only moment.

## Table Of Contexts
 
- [Introduction](#introduction)
- [Table Of Contexts](#table-of-contexts)
- [Coeffects](#coeffects)
  * [What Are They?](#what-are-they-)
  * [An Example](#an-example)
  * [Let's Fix It](#let-s-fix-it)
  * [How Are Coeffect Babies Made?](#how-are-coeffect-babies-made-)
  * [So, Next Step](#so--next-step)
  * [`coeffect` the function](#-coeffect--the-function)
  * [Other Example Uses of `coeffects`](#other-example-uses-of--coeffects-)
  * [Meet `reg-cofx`](#meet--reg-cofx-)
  * [Examples](#examples)
  * [Secret Interceptors](#secret-interceptors)
  * [Testing](#testing)

## Coeffects
 
### What Are They?

`coeffects` are the input resources that an event handler requires 
to perform its computation.  By "resources" I mean "data".

Because the majority of event handlers require only `db` and 
`event`, there's a registration function, called `reg-event-db`, 
which delivers these two coeffects as arguments to an event 
handler, making it easy.

But sometimes an event handler needs other inputs
to perform their computation.  Things like a random number, or a GUID,
or the current datetime. Perhaps it might need access to an in-memory 
DataScript database.


###  An Example  

This handler obtains data directly from LocalStore
```clj
(reg-event-fx
   :load-defaults
   (fn [coeffects _]
     (let [val (js->clj (.getItem js/localStorage "defaults-key"))]  ;; <-- Problem
       (assoc db :defaults val))))
```

Because it has accessed LocalStore, this event handler has stopped being 
pure, which will trigger well documented paper cuts. 

### Let's Fix It

Here's how __we'd like to rewrite that handler__. Data should 
only come from the `coeffects` argument:
```clj
(reg-event-fx                     ;; using -fx registration
   :load-defaults
   (fn [coeffects event]         ;; 1st argument is coeffects
     (let [val (:local-store coeffects)  ;; <-- get value from argument
           db   (:db coeffects)]  
       {:db (assoc db :defaults val))})) ;; returns an effect
```

Problem solved? Well, yes, the handler is now pure.  But we have a 
new problem: how do we arrange for the right `:local-store` value 
to be available in `coeffects`.

### How Are Coeffect Babies Made?

Well ... when two coeffects love each other very much ... no, stop ... this 
is a G-rated framework. Instead ...

Every time an event handler is executed, a new `context` is created, and within that 
`context` is a new `:coeffect` map, which is initially totally empty.  

That pristine `context` value is then threaded through a chain of Interceptors, and sitting 
on the end of chain is the event handler, wrapped up as the final interceptor. We know  
this story well from a previous tutorial. 

So all members of the Interceptor chain have the opportunity to add to `:coeffects` 
via their `:before` function. 

### So, Next Step

Armed with that mindset, let's add an interceptor to the registration, which 
puts the right  localstore value into coeffect. 

Here's a sketch:   
```clj
(reg-event-fx                     
   :load-defaults
   [ (coeffect :local-store "defaults-key") ]     ;; <-- this is new
   (fn [coeffects event]         
     (let [val (:local-store coeffects)
           db  (:db coeffects)]  
       {:db (assoc db :defaults val))})) 
```

Problem solved? Well, no. We're still sketching here. What's that `coeffects` function returning 
and how does it know to load from LocalStore.   


### `coeffect` the function 

The `coeffect` function is part of re-frame API. 

It returns an Interceptor whose `:before` function loads a value into a `context's` `:coeffect` map. 

It takes either one or two arguments. The first is always the `id` of the coeffect 
required (called a `cofx-id`). The 2nd is an optional addition value.

So in the case above, the `cofx-id` was `:local-store`  and the additional value was "defaults-key". 

### Other Example Uses of `coeffects` 
 
Here's some other examples of its use:

  -  `(coeffects :random-int 10)` 
  -  `(coeffects :guid)`
  -  `(coeffects :now)`
  
So, if I wanted to,  I could create an event handler which has access to 3 coeffects:
```clj
(reg-event-fx 
    :some-id 
    [(coeffects :random-int 10) (coeffects :now)  (coeffects :local-store "blah")]  ;; 3
    (fn [coeffects _]
       ... in here I can access coeffect's keys :now :local-store and :random-int)) 
```

Probably excessive. But we're still missing the final piece. How do we register a coeffect handler so that this function 
`coeffect` knows what value you want?  

### Meet `reg-cofx`

This function allows you associate a`cofx-id` (like `:now` or `:local-store`) with a handler function.  

The handler function registered for a `cofx-id` will be passed a `:coeffects` map, and it 
is expected to return a modified map, presumably with an added key and value. 

### Examples

You saw above the use of `:now`.  He're is how a `cofx` handler could be registered:
```clj 
(reg-cofx               ;; using this new registration function
   :now                 ;; what cofx-id are we registering
   (fn [coeffects _]    ;; second parameter not used in this case
      (assoc coeffects :now (js.Date.))))   ;; add :now key, with value to coeffects
```

And then there's this example:
```clj 
(reg-cofx               ;; new registration function
   :local-store 
   (fn [coeffects lsk]    ;; second parameter is the local store key
      (assoc coeffects 
             :local-store
             (js->clj (.getItem js/localStorage lsk))))
```


With these two registrations in place, I can now use `(coefect :now)` and 
`(coeffect :local-store "blah")` in an effect handler's inteerceptor chain. 
 
### Secret Interceptors

In a previous tutorial we learned that `reg-events-db` 
and `reg-events-fx` add Interceptors to front of any chain during registration.

If you remember, they insert an Interceptor called `do-effects`, which ultimately 
actions effects, in its `:after` function.  

I can now reveal that they also add `(coeffect :db)` at the front of each chain. (Last surprise, I promise) 

Guess what that adds to coeffects? 


### Testing

re=-frame has very few XXX  

This plugable approach,