Watch channels

You can let users watch a given channel and its messages using the connect() method, without the need to join the channel as members.

Under the hood, this method allows your app to receive messages on a given channel by subscribing it to a message event listener underneath to receive all message events of type text. This method also returns a function you can invoke to stop receiving message events and unsubscribe from the channel.

Method signature

connect() returns an asynchronous stream which produces a new value whenever someone sends a message on the given channel.

This method takes the following parameters:

channel.connect() -> AsyncStream<MessageImpl>

Input

This method doesn't take any parameters.

Output

Parameter	Description
AsyncStream<MessageImpl>	An asynchronous stream that emits a new value whenever a new message is published in the current channel.

Basic usage

Sample code

The code samples in Swift Chat SDK focus on asynchronous code execution.

You can also write synchronous code as the parameters are shared between the async and sync methods but we don't provide usage examples of such.

Start receiving messages on the support channel.

AsyncStream

// Assuming you have a reference of type "ChatImpl" named "chat"
Task {
  if let channel = try await chat.getChannel(channelId: "support") {
    for await message in channel.connect() {
      debugPrint("Received message: \(message)")
    }
  } else {
    debugPrint("Channel 'support' not found")
  }
}

Closure

// Important: Keep a strong reference to the returned "AutoCloseable" object as long as you want
// to receive updates. If the "AutoCloseable" is deallocated, the stream will be cancelled,
// and no further items will be produced. You can also stop receiving messages manually
// by calling the "close()" method on the "AutoCloseable" object.

// Assuming you have a reference of type "ChannelImpl" named "channel"
autoCloseable = channel.connect { message in
  debugPrint("Received message: \(message.content)")
}