How to force update Single Page Application (SPA) pages?
In fully server side based rendering (non Web 2.0), deploying server side code would directly update client side pages upon page reload. In contrast, in React based Single Page Application, even after React components were updated, there would be still some clients using old version of the components (they only get the new version upon browser reload, which should rarely happen) -> If the pages are fully SPA, it's possible that some clients only refresh the pages after a few hours.
What techniques should be employed to make sure the old components versions are not used anymore by any clients?
Update: the API doesn't changed, only React Component is updated with newer version.
Solution 1:
You can have a React component make an ajax request to your server, when the application loads, to fetch "interface version". In the server API, you can maintain an incremental value for the client version. The React component can store this value on the client (cookie/local storage/etc). When it detects a change, it can invoke window.location.reload(true); which should force the browser to discard client cache and reload the SPA. Or better still, inform the end-user that a new version will be loaded and ask them if they wish to save the work and then reload etc. Depends on what you wanna do.
Solution 2:
Similar to Steve Taylor's answer but instead of versioning API endpoints I would version the client app, in the following way.
With each HTTP request send a custom header, such as:
X-Client-Version: 1.0.0
The server would then be able to intercept such header and respond accordingly.
If the server is aware that the client's version is stale, for example if the current version is 1.1.0, respond with an HTTP status code that will be appropriately handled by the client, such as:
418 - I'm a Teapot
The client can then be programmed to react to such a response by refreshing the app with:
window.location.reload(true)
The underlying premise is that the server is aware of the latest client version.
EDIT:
A similar answer is given here.