Layout Options
When using Texture, you have three options for layout. Note that UIKit Autolayout is not supported by Texture. #Manual Sizing & Layout
This original layout method shipped with Texture 1.0 and is analogous to UIKit’s layout methods. Use this method for ASDKViewControllers (unless you subclass the node).
[ASDisplayNode calculateSizeThatFits:] vs. [UIView sizeThatFits:]
[ASDisplayNode layout] vs. [UIView layoutSubviews]
###Advantages (over UIKit)
- Eliminates all main thread layout cost
- Results are cached
###Shortcomings (same as UIKit):
- Code duplication between methods
- Logic is not reusable
#Unified Sizing & Layout
This layout method does not have a UIKit analog. It is implemented by calling
- (ASLayout *)calculateLayoutThatFits: (ASSizeRange)constraint
###Advantages
- zero duplication
- still async, still cached
###Shortcomings
- logic is not reusable, and is still manual
Automatic, Extensible Layout
This is the reccomended layout method. It does not have a UIKit analog and is implemented by calling
- (ASLayoutSpec *)layoutSpecThatFits:(ASSizeRange)constraint
###Advantages
- can reuse even complex, custom layouts
- built-in specs provide automatic layout
- combine to compose new layouts easily
- still async, cached, and zero duplication
The diagram below shows how options #2 and #3 above both result in an ASLayout, except that in option #3, the ASLayout is produced automatically by the ASLayoutSpec.