Vatsim Tracker

This application utilizes Leaflet to display live VATSIM data. You can search for Callsigns or click on Aircraft to see where they are in the (virtual) world.

Requirements to Operate

In order for the application to function, three functions need to be active:

1. React Dev server

2. Express server (operates Express connection to React Dev server and GraphQL)

3. MongoDB server

Installation

Run the following from the Command Line:

git clone https://github.com/incarnateTheGreat/vatsim-tracker

cd vatsim-tracker

Once the above steps are complete, download the latest dependencies by running:

npm install

Development Server

1. From the Command Line, run npm start.

2. Navigate to http://localhost:3030/.

Information Server

In order to gather VATSIM and Airport data, you need to have an Express Server running in the background.

1. From the Command Line, open a new tab.

2. Go to server.

3. Run node server.js, or use nodemon by running nodemon server.js.

4. Should prompt Express & GraphQL servers started! shortly afterwards.

MongoDB Server

In order to call Airport Data, specifically the ICAO codes, all data is kept in a MongoDB Collection called Airports.

To download and set up MongoDB:

1. Run brew install mongodb (and then brew update mongodb, if necessary).

NOTE: If you do not have a /data/db path in your device, please create one: sudo mkdir -p /data/db.

2. Prior to starting MongoDB, the /data/db path needs access rights (NOT the local data path in the project): run sudo chmod -R go+w /data/db.

3. If you are using Mac OS Catalina, you cannot simply start mongod because you can no longer assign a data directory. Therefore, you will have to start the process by navigating to root folder and typing: mongod --dbpath=src/data/db

4. To apply the Airports JSON data to the database, do the following:

• navigate to the src/data folder,
• make sure that you have the latest airports.json file,
• make sure Mongo is active and running (preferably executed in a separate Terminal window),
• and run: mongoimport --db airports --collection airports --file airports.json --jsonArray

If this is successful, you will see the following: connected to: localhost imported [number] documents

5. To apply the FIR JSON data to the database, do the following:

• navigate to the src/data folder,
• make sure that you have the latest fir-boundaries.json file,
• make sure Mongo is active and running (preferably executed in a separate Terminal window),
• and run: mongoimport --db airports --collection fir --file fir-boundaries.json --jsonArray

If this is successful, you will see the following: connected to: localhost imported [number] documents

6. An easy way to interface with the database is to use Robo-3T (formerly known as RoboMongo). Install the program and then apply the database.

Tech Stack

Using:

• React (to run the Dev server and operate all front-end technology)
• Leaflet (to draw Map, specifically using React Leaflet)
• Axios (to fetch data)
• Express (to run backend server)
• MongoDB (to operate no-sql queries)
• RoboMongo/Robo-3T (for interfacing with the MongoDB database)
• GraphQL (to refine above queries and return data quickly