12- Appwrite Backend Setup

1. What is Appwrite?

Appwrite is a Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS). It allows you to add complex features to your React Native app without writing server-side code (Node.js, Python, etc.) or managing your own database.

Services we'll use:

• Auth: For user registration and login.
• Databases: To persist data (like your book lists).
• Storage: For uploading files or images.
• Avatars: To generate profile icons.

2. Registering the Platform

In the Appwrite Console, you must tell the backend which specific app is allowed to talk to it.

• Platform: Select React Native.
• Bundle ID: Use a unique reverse-domain string (e.g., com.saqib.shelfie). This must match the identifier in your app.json.

3. Installation

You need two main packages: the Appwrite SDK and a URL polyfill (to ensure networking works correctly in the React Native environment).

Terminal Command:

npx expo install react-native-appwrite react-native-url-polyfill

4. Creating the Config File

We centralize the Appwrite connection logic in a single file so it can be reused across all pages.