react-native-google-cast

This library wraps the native Google Cast SDK for iOS and Android, providing a unified JavaScript interface.

This is a complete rewrite of the library. If you're still using v1, please check the v1 branch.

There's a yet new version in the works that closely resembles the native APIs. All new feature requests will be directed there. If you want to check it out, visit the v4 branch.

Getting started

$ npm install react-native-google-cast

or

$ yarn add react-native-google-cast

Installation

Linker

$ react-native link react-native-google-cast

Note: This will only link the react-native-google-cast library. You'll still need to add Google Cast SDK using the steps below.

iOS (CocoaPods)

(React Native <=0.59) Install CocoaPods and set up your Podfile like it is described in the react-native documentation.

In your ios/Podfile, add one of these snippets:

• If targeting iOS 13 and don't require guest mode, add

  pod 'react-native-google-cast/NoBluetooth', path: '../node_modules/react-native-google-cast/ios/'
  

• If you need to support guest mode, add

  pod 'react-native-google-cast', path: '../node_modules/react-native-google-cast/ios/'
  pod 'google-cast-sdk', '4.3.0'
  

  Note that due to a duplicate symbol issue, you have to use version 4.3.0 and not the latest version. Because of that, you might see issues in iOS 13.

• If you want to link the Google Cast SDK manually, add

  pod 'react-native-google-cast/Manual', path: '../node_modules/react-native-google-cast/ios/'
  

  and follow Manual Setup. Note that this option is not explored yet. If you go this route, please let us know how you made it work. :)

• Or, if you're still using v3 of the SDK (the API is compatible).

  pod 'react-native-google-cast', path: '../node_modules/react-native-google-cast/ios/'
  pod 'google-cast-sdk', '~> 3'
  

  Note that this is now considered legacy and not recommended. We encourage you to switch to SDK v4 (Google Cast iOS SDK v4, not this library's v4, which is still in the works).

Finally, run pod install.

iOS (Manually for React Native <=0.59)

• In XCode, in the project navigator, right click Libraries ➜ Add Files to [your project's name]

• Go to node_modules ➜ react-native-google-cast and add RNGoogleCast.xcodeproj

• In XCode, in the project navigator, select your project. Add libRNGoogleCast.a to your project's Build Phases ➜ Link Binary With Libraries

• Follow the instructions to install the Google Cast SDK

Android

1. Open up android/app/src/main/java/[...]/MainApplication.java

   • Add import com.reactnative.googlecast.GoogleCastPackage; to the imports at the top of the file
   • Add new GoogleCastPackage() to the list returned by the getPackages() method

2. Append the following lines to android/settings.gradle:

   include ':react-native-google-cast'
   project(':react-native-google-cast').projectDir = new File(rootProject.projectDir, '../node_modules/react-native-google-cast/android')

3. Insert the following lines inside the dependencies block in android/app/build.gradle:

   dependencies {
     implementation project(':react-native-google-cast')
   }

4. By default, the react-native-google-cast package automatically loads the latest version (+) of the Cast SDK and support libraries as its dependencies. To use a specific version, set it in the root android/build.gradle:

   buildscript {
     ext {
       buildToolsVersion = "27.0.3"
       minSdkVersion = 16
       compileSdkVersion = 27
       targetSdkVersion = 26
       supportLibVersion = "26.1.0"
       castFrameworkVersion = '16.1.2'
     }
   }

Setup

iOS

• In AppDelegate.m add

  #import <GoogleCast/GoogleCast.h>

  GCKDiscoveryCriteria *criteria = [[GCKDiscoveryCriteria alloc] initWithApplicationID:kGCKDefaultMediaReceiverApplicationID];
  GCKCastOptions* options = [[GCKCastOptions alloc] initWithDiscoveryCriteria:criteria];
  [GCKCastContext setSharedInstanceWithOptions:options];

  (or replace kGCKDefaultMediaReceiverApplicationID with your custom Cast app id).

  Make sure you also enable Access WiFi Information in: your target > capabilities.

• If you're still using Google Cast SDK v3, use this code instead:

  GCKCastOptions *options = [[GCKCastOptions alloc] initWithReceiverApplicationID:kGCKMediaDefaultReceiverApplicationID];
  [GCKCastContext setSharedInstanceWithOptions:options];

Android

• Make sure the device you're using (also applies to emulators) has Google Play Services installed.

• Add to AndroidManifest.xml

  <meta-data
    android:name="com.google.android.gms.cast.framework.OPTIONS_PROVIDER_CLASS_NAME"
    android:value="com.reactnative.googlecast.GoogleCastOptionsProvider" />

  Alternatively, you may provide your own OptionsProvider class. For example, to use a custom receiver app:

  package com.foo;
  
  import com.reactnative.googlecast.GoogleCastOptionsProvider;
  
  public class CastOptionsProvider extends GoogleCastOptionsProvider {
    @Override
    public CastOptions getCastOptions(Context context) {
      CastOptions castOptions = new CastOptions.Builder()
          .setReceiverApplicationId(context.getString(R.string.app_id))
          .build();
      return castOptions;
    }
  }

  and don't forget to set your AndroidManifest.xml:

  <meta-data
    android:name="com.google.android.gms.cast.framework.OPTIONS_PROVIDER_CLASS_NAME"
    android:value="com.foo.GoogleCastOptionsProvider" />

• Change your MainActivity to extend GoogleCastActivity.

  import com.facebook.react.GoogleCastActivity;
  
  public class MainActivity extends GoogleCastActivity {
    // ..
  }

  If you already extend other class than ReactActivity (e.g. if you use react-native-navigation) or integrate React Native in native app, make sure that the Activity is a descendant of android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity. Then add CastContext.getSharedInstance(this); to your Activity's onCreate method (this lazy loads the Google Cast context).

Usage

import GoogleCast, { CastButton } from 'react-native-google-cast'

Render the Cast button which enables to connect to Chromecast

<CastButton style={{ width: 24, height: 24 }} />

Once a user has pressed the Cast button and connected to a device (SESSION_STARTED event), you can start streaming media.

GoogleCast.castMedia({
  mediaUrl:
    'https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/gtv-videos-bucket/CastVideos/mp4/BigBuckBunny.mp4',
  imageUrl:
    'https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/gtv-videos-bucket/CastVideos/images/480x270/BigBuckBunny.jpg',
  title: 'Big Buck Bunny',
  subtitle:
    'A large and lovable rabbit deals with three tiny bullies, led by a flying squirrel, who are determined to squelch his happiness.',
  studio: 'Blender Foundation',
  streamDuration: 596, // seconds
  contentType: 'video/mp4', // Optional, default is "video/mp4"
  playPosition: 10, // seconds
  customData: {
    // Optional, your custom object that will be passed to as customData to reciever
    customKey: 'customValue',
  },
})

API

• GoogleCast.getCastState().then((state: 'NoDevicesAvailable' | 'NotConnected' | 'Connecting' | 'Connected' }) => { ... })
• GoogleCast.getCastDevice().then((device: { id, model, name, version }) => { ... })
• GoogleCast.castMedia(options)
• GoogleCast.play()
• GoogleCast.pause()
• GoogleCast.seek(playPosition) - jump to position in seconds from the beginning of the stream
• GoogleCast.setVolume(volume)
• GoogleCast.stop()
• GoogleCast.endSession(stopCasting)
• GoogleCast.initChannel('urn:x-cast:...') - initialize custom channel for communication with Cast receiver app. Once you do this, you can subscribe to CHANNEL_* events.
• GoogleCast.sendMessage('urn:x-cast:...', message) - send message over the custom channel
• GoogleCast.showCastPicker() - Custom method to manually pop the cast options picker. Not needed if you implement the button.
• GoogleCast.toggleSubtitles(enabled, languageCode) Android Only
  • Enables/Disables closed captions for the video. Enabling subtitles only results in them showing if the stream contains a caption track in the requested language.
  • Param: enabled - Required. True to enable, False to disable capions
  • Param: languageCode - Optional, used for finding the right captions track in the stream. If not provided the default value of en will be used (for English).

Components

The Google Cast SDK comes with a set of useful UI components.

Cast Button

The Cast button displays the Cast icon. It automatically changes appearance based on state (available, connecting, connected). If no Chromecasts are in range, the button is not rendered.

When clicking the button, the native Cast Dialog is presented which enables the user to connect to a Chromecast, and, when casting, to play/pause and change volume.

import { CastButton } from 'react-native-google-cast'

// ...
  render() {
    // ...
    <CastButton style={{width: 24, height: 24, tintColor: 'black'}} />
  }

The default Cast button behavior can be customized but this is not supported yet by this library.

Introductory Overlay

The introductory overlay highlights the Cast button for new users when they're near a Chromecast device for the first time. The native framework will make sure it is only ever shown to the user once.

You should include the showIntroductoryOverlay callback to every screen that contains the Cast button.

componentDidMount() {
  GoogleCast.showIntroductoryOverlay();
}

Mini Media Control

TODO

Expanded Media Control

The expanded controller is a full screen view which offers full control of the remote media playback. This view should allow a casting app to manage every manageable aspect of a cast session, with the exception of receiver volume control and session lifecycle (connect/stop casting). It also provides all the status information about the media session (artwork, title, subtitle, and so forth).

To use the default expanded controller:

• iOS: in AppDelegate.m's didFinishLaunchingWithOptions method add

  [GCKCastContext sharedInstance].useDefaultExpandedMediaControls = YES;

• Android: in AndroidManifest.xml add

  <activity android:name="com.reactnative.googlecast.GoogleCastExpandedControlsActivity" />

Then, to load the expanded controller, call

GoogleCast.launchExpandedControls()

The expanded controller will also be launched automatically when the user taps the mini controller.

Volume Control

The Cast framework automatically manages the volume for the sender app and synchronizes the sender and receiver apps so that the sender UI always reports the volume specified by the receiver.

Physical button volume control is automatically enabled on Android. On iOS, you need to enable it when initializing the cast context:

GCKDiscoveryCriteria *criteria = [[GCKDiscoveryCriteria alloc] initWithApplicationID:kGCKDefaultMediaReceiverApplicationID];
GCKCastOptions* options = [[GCKCastOptions alloc] initWithDiscoveryCriteria:criteria];
options.physicalVolumeButtonsWillControlDeviceVolume = YES; // add this row
[GCKCastContext setSharedInstanceWithOptions:options];

You can also change the volume with

GoogleCast.setVolume(volume)

Events

The library emits events to inform you about current state.

Session Events

A session is an end-to-end connection from a sender application (mobile app) to a receiver application (on Chromecast).

import GoogleCast from 'react-native-google-cast'

// Establishing connection to Chromecast
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(GoogleCast.SESSION_STARTING, () => {
  /* callback */
})

// Connection established
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(GoogleCast.SESSION_STARTED, () => {
  /* callback */
})

// Connection failed
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(GoogleCast.SESSION_START_FAILED, error => {
  console.error(error)
})

// Connection suspended (your application went to background or disconnected)
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(GoogleCast.SESSION_SUSPENDED, () => {
  /* callback */
})

// Attempting to reconnect
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(GoogleCast.SESSION_RESUMING, () => {
  /* callback */
})

// Reconnected
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(GoogleCast.SESSION_RESUMED, () => {
  /* callback */
})

// Disconnecting
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(GoogleCast.SESSION_ENDING, () => {
  /* callback */
})

// Disconnected (error provides explanation if ended forcefully)
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(GoogleCast.SESSION_ENDED, error => {
  /* callback */
})

Media Events

Remote media client controls media playback on a Cast receiver.

// Status of the media has changed. The `mediaStatus` object contains the new status.
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(
  GoogleCast.MEDIA_STATUS_UPDATED,
  ({ mediaStatus }) => {},
)

For convenience, the following events are triggered in addition to MEDIA_STATUS_UPDATED in these special cases (they're called after MEDIA_STATUS_UPDATED, if you're subscribed to them).

// Media started playing
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(
  GoogleCast.MEDIA_PLAYBACK_STARTED,
  ({ mediaStatus }) => {},
)

// Media finished playing
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(
  GoogleCast.MEDIA_PLAYBACK_ENDED,
  ({ mediaStatus }) => {},
)

// Playing progress of the media has changed. The `mediaProgress` object contains the duration and new progress.
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(
  GoogleCast.MEDIA_PROGRESS_UPDATED,
  ({ mediaProgress }) => {},
)

Channel Events

A virtual communication channel for exchanging messages between a Cast sender (mobile app) and a Cast receiver (on Chromecast).

Each channel is tagged with a unique namespace, so multiple channels may be multiplexed over a single network connection between a sender and a receiver.

A channel must be registered by calling GoogleCast.initChannel('urn:x-cast:...') before it can be used. When the associated session is established, the channel will be connected automatically and can then send and receive messages.

⚠️ To process custom events, you will need to create a custom receiver (CAF) as demonstrated in the example project. Please note that, by default, CAF tries to parse the message as JSON (only the receiver does this, not the sender). More information in this issue, specifically #7.

// Communication channel established
// ⚠️ iOS only
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(
  GoogleCast.CHANNEL_CONNECTED,
  ({ channel }) => {},
)

// Communication channel terminated
// ⚠️ iOS only
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(
  GoogleCast.CHANNEL_DISCONNECTED,
  ({ channel }) => {},
)

// Message received
GoogleCast.EventEmitter.addListener(
  GoogleCast.CHANNEL_MESSAGE_RECEIVED,
  ({ channel, message }) => {},
)

// Send message
GoogleCast.sendMessage(channel, message)

Device

Information about connected Chromecast devices.

// Get information about the currently connected device
GoogleCast.getCurrentDevice().then(device => {
  // device : {id, model, name, version}
})

Example

Refer to the example folder to find an implementation of this project.

Troubleshooting

Android

• com.google.android.gms.dynamite.DynamiteModule$zza: No acceptable module found. Local version is 0 and remote version is 0.

  You don't have Google Play Services available on your device. Make sure to install them either from http://opengapps.org/ or follow tutorials online.

  TODO: Handle gracefully and ignore the Cast library without crashing.

• java.lang.IllegalStateException: The activity must be a subclass of FragmentActivity

  Make sure your MainActivity extends GoogleCastActivity, AppCompatActivity, or some other descendant of FragmentActivity.

iOS

• duplicate symbol __ZN3fLB18FLAGS_nolog_prefixE in:
    /Users/user/Documents/Apps/test-rn/RNAwesomeProject/ios/Pods/google-cast-sdk/GoogleCastSDK-ios-4.3.1_static/GoogleCast.framework/GoogleCast(logging_f31ccd6e0091bd60840b95581a5633bf.o)
  ld: 7 duplicate symbols for architecture x86_64
  clang: error: linker command failed with exit code 1 (use -v to see invocation)
  

  This is caused by Google introducing a dynamic SDK build in 4.3.1. Please use pod 'google-cast-sdk', '4.3.0' or pod react-native-google-cast/NoBluetooth.

• Cast button isn't displayed on an iOS device (but shows in emulator)

  This can be caused by a number of reasons. Start by making sure you enabled the Access WiFi Information capability. Note: "Wireless Accessory Configuration" is unrelated. You need to be a member of the Apple Developer Program to see the "Access WiFi Information" setting.

Contribution

1. Contributions are welcome!
2. Fork the repo.
3. Implement your shiny new thing.
4. Demonstrate how to use it in the example project.
5. Make sure to manually test that the example project works as intended.*
6. Document the functionality in the README (here).
7. PR

* To test with a custom receiver:

• create a new custom app in Cast Publish
• npm i -g serve
• serve -l PORT -s example/receiver/
• set the app id in example/ios/RNGCE/AppDelegate.m (iOS) and OptionsProvider (Android)
• you can debug the receiver in Chrome by navigating to chrome://inspect