mixpanel-react-native 3.1.1 → 3.1.3

package/Samples/MixpanelStarter/INTEGRATION_GUIDE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,606 @@
+# Integration Guide: Adding Mixpanel to Your React Native App
+
+This guide provides step-by-step instructions for integrating Mixpanel into your React Native application using the patterns demonstrated in MixpanelStarter.
+
+## Prerequisites Checklist
+
+Before you begin, ensure you have:
+
+- [ ] React Native app (0.70+) with TypeScript
+- [ ] Mixpanel project token ([create one](https://mixpanel.com/register))
+- [ ] `@react-native-async-storage/async-storage` installed (required dependency)
+
+## 8-Step Integration Process
+
+### Step 1: Install Dependencies
+
+```bash
+npm install mixpanel-react-native @react-native-async-storage/async-storage
+```
+
+For iOS, install pods:
+
+```bash
+cd ios && pod install && cd ..
+```
+
+### Step 2: Set Up Environment Variables (Optional but Recommended)
+
+Install dotenv support:
+
+```bash
+npm install react-native-dotenv --save-dev
+```
+
+Configure `babel.config.js`:
+
+```javascript
+module.exports = {
+  presets: ['module:@react-native/babel-preset'],
+  plugins: [
+    [
+      'module:react-native-dotenv',
+      {
+        moduleName: '@env',
+        path: '.env',
+        safe: false,
+        allowUndefined: true,
+      },
+    ],
+  ],
+};
+```
+
+Create `.env`:
+
+```bash
+MIXPANEL_TOKEN=your_token_here
+```
+
+Create type definitions in `src/@types/env.d.ts`:
+
+```typescript
+declare module '@env' {
+  export const MIXPANEL_TOKEN: string;
+}
+```
+
+### Step 3: Define Event Constants
+
+Create `src/constants/tracking.ts`:
+
+```typescript
+// Event Names
+export const Events = {
+  // Screen Views
+  SCREEN_VIEWED: 'Screen Viewed',
+
+  // User Actions
+  USER_SIGNED_UP: 'User Signed Up',
+  USER_LOGGED_IN: 'User Logged In',
+  USER_LOGGED_OUT: 'User Logged Out',
+
+  // Add your app-specific events here
+} as const;
+
+// Property Names
+export const Properties = {
+  SCREEN_NAME: 'screen_name',
+  USER_ID: 'user_id',
+  TIMESTAMP: 'timestamp',
+
+  // Add your app-specific properties here
+} as const;
+
+// Super Property Keys
+export const SuperProperties = {
+  APP_VERSION: 'App Version',
+  PLATFORM: 'Platform',
+  ENVIRONMENT: 'Environment',
+} as const;
+```
+
+**Why?** Constants prevent typos, enable autocomplete, and make refactoring easier.
+
+### Step 4: Create Type Definitions
+
+Create `src/types/mixpanel.types.ts`:
+
+```typescript
+import {Mixpanel} from 'mixpanel-react-native';
+
+export interface MixpanelContextValue {
+  mixpanel: Mixpanel | null;
+  isInitialized: boolean;
+  isLoading: boolean;
+  error: Error | null;
+
+  // Convenience methods
+  track: (eventName: string, properties?: Record<string, any>) => void;
+  identify: (distinctId: string) => void;
+  alias: (alias: string, distinctId?: string) => void;
+  reset: () => void;
+  flush: () => Promise<void>;
+}
+```
+
+### Step 5: Create Mixpanel Context
+
+Create `src/contexts/MixpanelContext.tsx`:
+
+```typescript
+import React, {
+  createContext,
+  useContext,
+  useEffect,
+  useState,
+  useCallback,
+  ReactNode,
+} from 'react';
+import {Mixpanel} from 'mixpanel-react-native';
+import {Platform} from 'react-native';
+import {MixpanelContextValue} from '../types/mixpanel.types';
+import {SuperProperties} from '../constants/tracking';
+
+const MixpanelContext = createContext<MixpanelContextValue | undefined>(
+  undefined,
+);
+
+interface MixpanelProviderProps {
+  children: ReactNode;
+  token: string;
+  trackAutomaticEvents?: boolean;
+  useNative?: boolean;
+}
+
+export const MixpanelProvider: React.FC<MixpanelProviderProps> = ({
+  children,
+  token,
+  trackAutomaticEvents = true,
+  useNative = true,
+}) => {
+  const [mixpanel, setMixpanel] = useState<Mixpanel | null>(null);
+  const [isInitialized, setIsInitialized] = useState(false);
+  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);
+  const [error, setError] = useState<Error | null>(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const initMixpanel = async () => {
+      try {
+        setIsLoading(true);
+        setError(null);
+
+        const instance = new Mixpanel(token, trackAutomaticEvents, useNative);
+        await instance.init();
+
+        // Set default super properties
+        instance.registerSuperProperties({
+          [SuperProperties.APP_VERSION]: '1.0.0', // Replace with actual version
+          [SuperProperties.PLATFORM]: Platform.OS,
+          [SuperProperties.ENVIRONMENT]: __DEV__ ? 'development' : 'production',
+        });
+
+        if (__DEV__) {
+          instance.setLoggingEnabled(true);
+        }
+
+        setMixpanel(instance);
+        setIsInitialized(true);
+      } catch (err) {
+        const error = err instanceof Error ? err : new Error(String(err));
+        setError(error);
+        console.error('Failed to initialize Mixpanel:', error);
+      } finally {
+        setIsLoading(false);
+      }
+    };
+
+    initMixpanel();
+  }, [token, trackAutomaticEvents, useNative]);
+
+  // Convenience wrapper methods
+  const track = useCallback(
+    (eventName: string, properties?: Record<string, any>) => {
+      if (!mixpanel || !isInitialized) {
+        console.warn('Mixpanel not initialized. Event:', eventName);
+        return;
+      }
+      mixpanel.track(eventName, properties);
+    },
+    [mixpanel, isInitialized],
+  );
+
+  const identify = useCallback(
+    (distinctId: string) => {
+      if (!mixpanel || !isInitialized) return;
+      mixpanel.identify(distinctId);
+    },
+    [mixpanel, isInitialized],
+  );
+
+  const alias = useCallback(
+    (aliasValue: string, distinctId?: string) => {
+      if (!mixpanel || !isInitialized) return;
+      mixpanel.alias(aliasValue, distinctId);
+    },
+    [mixpanel, isInitialized],
+  );
+
+  const reset = useCallback(() => {
+    if (!mixpanel || !isInitialized) return;
+    mixpanel.reset();
+  }, [mixpanel, isInitialized]);
+
+  const flush = useCallback(async () => {
+    if (!mixpanel || !isInitialized) return;
+    await mixpanel.flush();
+  }, [mixpanel, isInitialized]);
+
+  const value: MixpanelContextValue = {
+    mixpanel,
+    isInitialized,
+    isLoading,
+    error,
+    track,
+    identify,
+    alias,
+    reset,
+    flush,
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <MixpanelContext.Provider value={value}>
+      {children}
+    </MixpanelContext.Provider>
+  );
+};
+
+export const useMixpanel = (): MixpanelContextValue => {
+  const context = useContext(MixpanelContext);
+  if (context === undefined) {
+    throw new Error('useMixpanel must be used within a MixpanelProvider');
+  }
+  return context;
+};
+```
+
+### Step 6: Wrap Your App Root
+
+In your root `App.tsx`:
+
+```typescript
+import {MixpanelProvider} from './src/contexts/MixpanelContext';
+import {MIXPANEL_TOKEN} from '@env';
+
+function App() {
+  return (
+    <MixpanelProvider token={MIXPANEL_TOKEN} trackAutomaticEvents={true}>
+      {/* Your app content */}
+    </MixpanelProvider>
+  );
+}
+```
+
+### Step 7: Use in Components
+
+Track events in any component:
+
+```typescript
+import {useMixpanel} from '../contexts/MixpanelContext';
+import {Events, Properties} from '../constants/tracking';
+
+function MyScreen() {
+  const {track, isInitialized} = useMixpanel();
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (isInitialized) {
+      track(Events.SCREEN_VIEWED, {
+        [Properties.SCREEN_NAME]: 'MyScreen',
+        [Properties.TIMESTAMP]: new Date().toISOString(),
+      });
+    }
+  }, [isInitialized, track]);
+
+  const handleButtonClick = () => {
+    track('Button Clicked', {
+      button_name: 'Submit',
+      screen: 'MyScreen',
+    });
+  };
+
+  return (
+    // Your UI
+  );
+}
+```
+
+### Step 8: Test Your Integration
+
+1. **Enable Logging** (in development):
+   ```typescript
+   // Already enabled in context if __DEV__ is true
+   ```
+
+2. **Check Console**: Look for `[Mixpanel]` logs showing events being tracked
+
+3. **Verify in Dashboard**:
+   - Go to Mixpanel dashboard
+   - Navigate to "Events" or "Live View"
+   - Confirm events are arriving
+
+4. **Test Key Flows**:
+   ```typescript
+   // Test user identification
+   identify('user123');
+
+   // Test event tracking
+   track('Test Event', {test: true});
+
+   // Test manual flush
+   await flush();
+   ```
+
+## Testing Validation Checklist
+
+- [ ] Events appear in Mixpanel dashboard
+- [ ] `getDistinctId()` returns a valid ID
+- [ ] Console shows `[Mixpanel]` logs in development
+- [ ] User profiles appear after `identify()` + `getPeople().set()`
+- [ ] Super properties are included in all events
+
+## Best Practices
+
+### Event Naming Conventions
+
+```typescript
+// ✅ Good: Noun + Verb (Past Tense)
+'Product Viewed'
+'Purchase Completed'
+'Video Started'
+
+// ❌ Bad: Vague or inconsistent
+'click'
+'ProductView'
+'video_start'
+```
+
+### Property Naming Conventions
+
+```typescript
+// ✅ Good: snake_case, descriptive
+{
+  product_id: 'prod-123',
+  product_name: 'Sample Product',
+  product_price: 29.99,
+}
+
+// ❌ Bad: Inconsistent casing
+{
+  ProductID: 'prod-123',
+  'product name': 'Sample Product',
+  price: 29.99,
+}
+```
+
+### Code Organization
+
+```
+your-app/
+├── src/
+│   ├── contexts/
+│   │   └── MixpanelContext.tsx    # Keep in contexts/
+│   ├── constants/
+│   │   └── tracking.ts            # Centralize event definitions
+│   └── screens/
+│       └── MyScreen.tsx           # Import useMixpanel() as needed
+```
+
+### When to Track
+
+**✅ Track:**
+- User actions (button clicks, form submissions)
+- Navigation (screen views, tab switches)
+- Key conversions (signup, purchase, subscription)
+- Feature usage (search, filter, share)
+
+**❌ Don't Track:**
+- Every render or state change
+- Internal errors (use error monitoring instead)
+- PII without consent (email, phone without user permission)
+
+## Common Pitfalls
+
+### 1. Tracking Before Initialization
+
+```typescript
+// ❌ Bad
+track('Event'); // Might not be initialized yet
+
+// ✅ Good
+if (isInitialized) {
+  track('Event');
+}
+```
+
+### 2. Forgetting to Alias
+
+```typescript
+// ❌ Bad: User's anonymous events are lost
+identify(userId);
+
+// ✅ Good: Preserve event history
+const previousId = await mixpanel.getDistinctId();
+identify(userId);
+alias(userId, previousId);
+```
+
+### 3. Not Flushing Before Logout
+
+```typescript
+// ❌ Bad: Queued events are lost
+reset();
+
+// ✅ Good: Send events before clearing
+track('User Logged Out');
+await flush();
+reset();
+```
+
+### 4. Hardcoding Event Names
+
+```typescript
+// ❌ Bad: Typos cause tracking issues
+track('Screen Viewd'); // Typo!
+
+// ✅ Good: Use constants
+track(Events.SCREEN_VIEWED);
+```
+
+### 5. Over-Tracking
+
+```typescript
+// ❌ Bad: Too noisy
+onChange={(text) => track('Input Changed', {text})}
+
+// ✅ Good: Track meaningful actions
+onSubmit={() => track('Form Submitted', {form: 'login'})}
+```
+
+## Essential Methods Reference
+
+| Method | Purpose | Example |
+|--------|---------|---------|
+| `track()` | Send an event | `track('Button Clicked', {button: 'Submit'})` |
+| `identify()` | Set user ID | `identify('user123')` |
+| `alias()` | Link IDs | `alias('user123', 'anon-456')` |
+| `getPeople().set()` | Set profile property | `getPeople().set({plan: 'premium'})` |
+| `registerSuperProperties()` | Set global property | `registerSuperProperties({theme: 'dark'})` |
+| `reset()` | Clear all data | `reset()` // Call on logout |
+| `flush()` | Send queued events | `await flush()` // Before logout |
+| `optInTracking()` | Enable tracking | `await optInTracking()` |
+| `optOutTracking()` | Disable tracking | `await optOutTracking()` |
+| `getDistinctId()` | Get current ID | `const id = await getDistinctId()` |
+
+## Advanced Patterns
+
+### User Identification Flow
+
+```typescript
+const handleLogin = async (email: string, password: string) => {
+  // 1. Authenticate user (your auth logic)
+  const user = await authenticate(email, password);
+
+  // 2. Get previous anonymous ID
+  const previousId = await mixpanel.getDistinctId();
+
+  // 3. Identify with user ID
+  identify(user.id);
+
+  // 4. Link anonymous events to this user
+  alias(user.id, previousId);
+
+  // 5. Set user profile
+  mixpanel.getPeople().set({
+    $email: user.email,
+    $name: user.name,
+    plan: user.plan,
+  });
+
+  // 6. Track login event
+  track(Events.USER_LOGGED_IN, {
+    method: 'email',
+    timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+  });
+};
+```
+
+### GDPR-Compliant Logout
+
+```typescript
+const handleLogout = async () => {
+  // 1. Track logout event
+  track(Events.USER_LOGGED_OUT, {
+    timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+  });
+
+  // 2. Flush queued events
+  await flush();
+
+  // 3. Clear all Mixpanel data
+  reset();
+
+  // 4. Your app logout logic
+  await signOut();
+};
+```
+
+### Timed Events
+
+```typescript
+const handleVideoStart = () => {
+  // Start timer
+  mixpanel.timeEvent('Video Completed');
+
+  track('Video Started', {
+    video_id: 'intro-123',
+    video_title: 'Introduction',
+  });
+};
+
+const handleVideoEnd = () => {
+  // Duration is automatically calculated
+  track('Video Completed', {
+    video_id: 'intro-123',
+    video_title: 'Introduction',
+  });
+};
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Events Not Showing Up
+
+1. Check token: `console.log(MIXPANEL_TOKEN)`
+2. Verify initialization: `console.log(isInitialized)`
+3. Check opt-out status: `const hasOptedOut = await mixpanel.hasOptedOutTracking()`
+4. Enable logging: Already enabled if `__DEV__` is true
+5. Manual flush: `await flush()`
+
+### TypeScript Errors
+
+```bash
+# Clear Metro cache
+npm start -- --reset-cache
+
+# Reinstall pods (iOS)
+cd ios && pod install && cd ..
+```
+
+### Build Issues
+
+```bash
+# iOS
+cd ios && xcodebuild clean && cd ..
+
+# Android
+cd android && ./gradlew clean && cd ..
+```
+
+## Next Steps
+
+1. ✅ Complete the 8-step integration
+2. ✅ Validate with the testing checklist
+3. 📊 Define your tracking plan (which events, which properties)
+4. 🎨 Customize super properties for your app
+5. 🧪 Test in development before production
+6. 📈 Monitor your Mixpanel dashboard
+
+## Resources
+
+- [Mixpanel React Native SDK Docs](https://docs.mixpanel.com/docs/tracking/advanced/react-native)
+- [Mixpanel Best Practices](https://docs.mixpanel.com/docs/tracking/how-tos/events-and-properties)
+- [MixpanelStarter Sample Code](./src)
+
+---
+
+**Questions?** Check the [README](./README.md) or [Mixpanel Community](https://community.mixpanel.com/).