🎓 Netflix Clone using Astra DB and GraphQL

50 minutes, Intermediate, Start Building

A simple ReactJS Netflix homepage clone running on Astra DB that leverages the GraphQL API with paging and infinite scrolling. This application is the result of the collaboration between Ania Kubow and the Datastax Developer Advocate team.

See the Video Demo of what you will build!

🎯 Objectives

• Build and run a Netflix clone.
• Learn GraphQL API and how to use it with a database to create the tables and navigate the data.
• Learn about pagination and infinite scrolling in a Web UI.
• Leverage Netlify and DataStax Astra DB.
• Deploy the Netflix clone to production with Netlify.

ℹ️ Frequently asked questions ℹ️

Materials for the Session

It doesn't matter if you join our workshop live or you prefer to do at your own pace, we have you covered. In this repository, you'll find everything you need for this workshop:

• Slide deck
• Discord chat
• "cassandra" on StackOverflow
• "cassandra" on DBA StackExchange

Let's start

Table of contents

Part I - DB Setup & Data Ingest

1. Create Astra DB Instance
2. Create a security token
3. Create table for genres with GraphQL
4. Insert genre data with GraphQL
5. Retrieve genres with GraphQL
6. Create a table for movies
7. Insert a few movies
8. Retrieve movies: Pagination

Part II - Build and Deploy Front-End

1. Deploy skeletal GUI to Netlify
2. Launch Gitpod from YOUR Github repo
3. Set up and use astra-cli
4. Serverless Functions
5. Fetching from the Front-End
6. Install the Netlify CLI
7. Provide DB connection parameters
8. Run the app in dev mode
9. Connect to your Netlify site
10. Deploy in production!

🎓 Complete the assignment, receive your Badge!

Extra resources

• Intro to GraphQL Workshop
• React starter using NPX
• React ToDo app
• What is JamStack?
• Video tutorial with Ania Kubow

Part 1 - DB Setup & Data Ingest

1. Login or Register to AstraDB and create database

🎁 When creating your instance, use the promotion code ANIA200 to get 200$ of additional free credit!

ASTRA DB is the simplest way to run Cassandra with zero operations at all - just push the button and get your cluster. No credit card required, 40M read/write operations and about 80GB storage monthly for free - sufficient to run small production workloads. If you use up your credits the databases will pause, no charge, and you will be given the option to upgrade to a higher tier.

Leveraging Database creation guide create a database. Right-Click the following button and Open in a new TAB.

ℹ️ Note: If you already have a database workshops, simply add a keyspace netflix using the Add Keyspace button on the bottom right hand corner of the DB Dashboard page. You may have to "Resume" the database first in case it is in "hibernated" state.

While the database is being created, you will also get a Security token (needed to authenticate with your database and start using it): please IGNORE THIS ONE, as we will be soon creating a new, more powerful token for today.

The status will change from Pending to Active when the database is ready, this usually only takes 2-3 minutes.

2. Create a security token

Note: this step is very important, as the token generated automatically for you with the database lacks some permissions we'll use in the workshop.

Create a token for your app, using the "Database Administrator" role. Keep it handy for later use (best to download it in CSV format, as the values will not be visible afterward). This will provide authentication later when interacting with the database. Today, in particular, you'll need the string labeled "token" (the one starting with AstraCS:...).

⚠️ Important The instructor will show the token creation on screen, but will then destroy it immediately for security reasons.

3. Create table for genres with GraphQL

✅ Step 3a: Open GraphQL Playground:

0. Ensure you are logged on to your Astra account
1. Click on the "workshops" database on the left (expanding the list if needed)
2. Click Connect TAB
3. Click the APIs connection method
4. Make sure GraphQL API is selected
5. Locate the link to your GraphQL Playground in the text

Note: in the following, we will refer to "playground tabs". These are not the tabs in your browser, rather they are tabs within the Playground application, to switch between the (logically distinct) realms of "managing schema" and "managing data in the tables" (more on that later).

✅ Step 3b: Provide the database token as header

In the GraphQL Playground, Populate HTTP HEADER variable x-cassandra-token on the bottom of the page with your token (including the AstraCS: part). This is the "Database Administrator" token you created earlier on the Astra DB dashboard (Step 2 above).

Note: the GraphQL Playground starts with a ready-to-use temporary token as the x-cassandra-token header. But you want the queries run in the Playground to be identical to those that the Netlify functions will run from code, so please replace the token with your DB token as instructed.

✅ Step 3c: In GraphQL Playground, create the reference_list table:

Copy the following mutation to the left panel

mutation createReferenceList {
  reference_list: createTable(
    keyspaceName:"netflix",
    tableName:"reference_list",
    ifNotExists:true
    partitionKeys: [ 
      { name: "label", type: {basic: TEXT} }
    ]
    clusteringKeys: [
      { name: "value", type: {basic: TEXT}, order: "ASC" }
    ]
  )
}

GraphQL Playground troubleshooting (covers this whole section)

4. Insert genre data with GraphQL

✅ Step 4a: Get to the API URL for your keyspace

In graphQL playground, change playground tab to now use graphql. The Playground has its own address bar (note: it's not the address bar of your browser). Edit the ending of the URL shown there, from system to the name of the keyspace: netflix

✅ Step 4b: Repeat the insertion of the x-cassandra-token header for this playground tab (as you did for the first one):

✅ Step 4c: In the GraphQL Playground, run the mutation that writes genre data:

Copy the following mutation on the left panel:

mutation insertGenres {
  action: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Action"}) {
    value{value}
  }
  anime: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Anime"}) {
     value{value}
  }
  award: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Award-Winning"}) {
     value{value}
  }
  children: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Children & Family"}) {
     value{value}
  }
  classic: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Classic"}) {
     value{value}
  } 
  comedies: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Comedies"}) {
     value{value}
  }
  crime: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Crime"}) {
     value{value}
  } 
  cult: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Cult"}) {
     value{value}
  }  
  documentaries: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Documentaries"}) {
     value{value}
  }
  drama: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Dramas"}) {
     value{value}
  }
  fantasy: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Fantasy"}) {
     value{value}
  }
  french: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"French"}) {
     value{value}
  }
  horror: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Horror"}) {
     value{value}
  }
  independent: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Independent"}) {
     value{value}
  }
  international: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"International"}) {
     value{value}
  } 
  italian: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Italian"}) {
     value{value}
  } 
  musicmusicals: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Music & Musicals"}) {
     value{value}
  } 
  realitytv: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Reality TV"}) {
     value{value}
  } 
  romance: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Romance"}) {
     value{value}
  }
  scifi: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Sci-Fi"}) {
     value{value}
  }
  thriller: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"Thriller"}) {
     value{value}
  } 
  tvshow: insertreference_list(value: {label:"genre", value:"TV Show"}) {
     value{value}
  } 
}

then click on the big "play button" arrow in the center to execute the mutation

5. Retrieve genres with GraphQL

✅ Step 5a: In GraphQL Playground, not changing playground tab (stay on the second: "graphql", yeah) run the following query to read the value column of all table rows:

query getAllGenres {
    reference_list (value: {label:"genre"}) {
      values {
      	value
      }
    }
}

6. Create a table for movies

✅ Step 6a: Switch back to first playground tab ("graphql-schema"; the token header will be already set).

Use the following mutation to create a new table:

mutation createMoviesTable {
  movies_by_genre: createTable(
    keyspaceName:"netflix",
    tableName:"movies_by_genre",
    ifNotExists: true,
    partitionKeys: [
      { name: "genre", type: {basic: TEXT} }
    ]
    clusteringKeys: [ 
      { name: "year", type: {basic: INT}, order: "DESC" },
      { name: "title", type: {basic: TEXT}, order: "ASC" }
    ]
    values: [
      { name: "synopsis", type: {basic: TEXT} },
      { name: "duration", type: {basic: INT} },
      { name: "thumbnail", type: {basic: TEXT} }
    ]
  )
}

7. Insert a few movies

✅ Step 7a: Go to playground tab "graphql" again.

Use the following mutation to populate the movies_by_genre table with four movies:

mutation insertMovies {
  inception: insertmovies_by_genre(
    value: { 
      genre:"Sci-Fi", 
      year:2010,
      title:"Inception",
      synopsis:"Cobb steals information from his targets by entering their dreams.",
      duration:121,
      thumbnail:"https://i.imgur.com/RPa4UdO.mp4"}) {
        value{title}
    }
  
  prometheus: insertmovies_by_genre(value: { 
      genre:"Sci-Fi", 
      year:2012,
      title:"Prometheus",
      synopsis:"After a clue to mankind's origins is discovered, explorers are sent to the darkest corner of the universe.",
      duration:134,
      thumbnail:"https://i.imgur.com/L8k6Bau.mp4"}) {
        value{title}
    }
  
  	aliens: insertmovies_by_genre(value: { 
      genre:"Sci-Fi", 
      year:1986,
      title:"Aliens",
      synopsis:"Ellen Ripley is sent back to the planet LV-426 to establish contact with a terraforming colony.",
      duration:134,
      thumbnail:"https://i.imgur.com/QvkrnyZ.mp4"}) {
        value{title}
    }
  
    bladeRunner: insertmovies_by_genre(value: { 
      genre:"Sci-Fi", 
      year:1982,
      title:"Blade Runner",
      synopsis:"Young Blade Runner K's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former Blade Runner Rick Deckard.",
      duration:145,
      thumbnail:"https://i.imgur.com/xhhvmj1.mp4"}) {
        value{title}
    }
  }

8. Retrieve movies: Pagination

✅ Step 8a: In GraphQL Playground, not changing playground tab (stay on the second tab, "graphql", yeah) list values from the table with the following command:

query getMovieAction {
  movies_by_genre (
      value: {genre:"Sci-Fi"},
      orderBy: [year_DESC]
  ) {
    values {
      year,
      title,
      duration,
      synopsis,
      thumbnail
    }
  }
}

✅ Step 8b: Enable pagination: On a small dataset, you can retrieve all values in the table at once; but in general, for performance or network reasons, you'll need pagination. Run a similar query as before, but this time asking for a page size of 2:

query getMovieActionPag1 {
    movies_by_genre (
        value: {genre:"Sci-Fi"},
        options: {pageSize: 2},
        orderBy: [year_DESC]
    ) {
      values {
        year,
        title,
        duration,
        synopsis,
        thumbnail
      }
    pageState
    }
}

✅ Step 8c: Fetch the next page:

Notice that pageState now is also returned. Use it to fetch the next 2 items (next page): edit the next query to replace YOUR_PAGE_STATE with your own string value:

query getMovieActionNextPage {
    movies_by_genre (
        value: {genre:"Sci-Fi"},
        options: {pageSize: 2, pageState: "YOUR_PAGE_STATE"},
        orderBy: [year_DESC]
    ) {
      values {
        year,
        title,
        duration,
        synopsis,
        thumbnail
      }
    pageState
    }
}

If you try to paste the newly-obtained value for pageState and re-run the query, you get an empty list and a null pageState in return. D'oh! You had scrolled through all rows already: this is how pagination signals the end of the full results list.

Part 2 - Build and Deploy Front-End

1. Deploy skeletal GUI to Netlify

✅ Step 1a: Netlify Button: Click the following button to deploy the skeletal GUI to Netlify. There is no data since there is no database connected to the app (yet); we will connect the database to the app shortly.

Note: preferrably Ctrl-click for a new tab.

This will take a few minutes:

• you may have to authenticate through Github in the process;
• confirm the repo name and "Save & Deploy" when asked.

Note: if there is an existing account in Netlify, check the settings to make sure the Netlify account is connected to your Github account.

✅ Step 1b: Check the deploy logs: Click on Site deploy in progress within the Netlify UI.

Then click the top deploy link to see the build process.

✅ Step 1c: Complete the build: Wait until the build shows Netlify Build Complete, When you see "Pushing to repository..." you're ready to move on.

✅ Step 1d: Get back to your new site: Scroll up to the top and click on the site name (it'll be after "[your login]'s Team" next to the Netlify button). Then locate your app's full URL and click to open it.

2. Launch Gitpod from YOUR Github repo

✅ Step 2a: Jump to YOUR repo: Click on the GitHub in Deploys from GitHub to get to your new repository on Github. Scroll to where you were in the README.

Note At this point, you MUST be reading this README from YOUR Github repository. That is, if the address bar still says https://github.com/datastaxdevs/... please head over to YOUR copy of the repo before going the Gitpod route!

✅ Step 2b: Launch Gitpod:

Use this link to open Gitpod from YOUR repository! (Tip: Ctrl-click on the button to open in new tab.)

Note: the button works on Chrome and Firefox.

Click to troubleshoot if you have another browser

ℹ️ It may take a few minutes (approx. 3-5) for GitPod to fully initialize. Please wait until the console in the lower half of Gitpod is responsive.

You may see a dialog about "opening this workspace in VS Code Desktop": you can safely dismiss it.

Gitpod will be your IDE from now on. If you are familiar with VSCode, you can probably just use it. Otherwise, take a moment to review a separate page "Know your Gitpod" and then come back here.

3. Set up and use astra-cli

You are going to use a CLI tool to simplify operations with Astra DB. The tool is preinstalled on your Gitpod.

✅ Step 3a: Set up the CLI:

Run the following in the Gitpod terminal and, when prompted, enter the AstraCS:... you obtained at the beginning.

astra setup

✅ Step 3b: Bulk data load: Load a large movie dataset in the database. This command installs and properly launches the DSBulk tool (docs):

astra db load workshops \
  -url data/movies_by_genre.csv \
  -k netflix \
  -t movies_by_genre

astra db dsbulk workshops load \
  -url data/movies_by_genre.csv \
  -k netflix \
  -t movies_by_genre

Note: we mock the trailers for these thousands of movies by using a handful of them over and over. Don't be surprised if you'll see the wrong trailers for your favorite movie!

That's it! All 6000+ movies are now loaded and ready to go!

4. Serverless Functions

Note: this section and the next one ("Fetching from the Front-End") are not steps to "perform", rather suggestions to dive in the app code and figure out how the various parts (React components, Netlify functions and finally the GraphQL server in Astra DB) fit together. You can skip these and jump to the next practical step if you are in a hurry, but please come back to these for reference if you want to dissect the code!

const fetch = require('node-fetch')

exports.handler = async function (event) {

  const body = JSON.parse(event.body)
  const url = process.env.ASTRA_DB_GRAPHQL_URL
  const query = `
    query getAllGenres {
      reference_list (
        value: { label: "genre"},
        options: {
          pageSize: ${JSON.stringify(body.pageSize)},
          pageState: ${JSON.stringify(body.pageState)}
        }
      ) {
        values {
          value
        }
        pageState
      }
    }
  `

  const response = await fetch(url, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
      "x-cassandra-token": process.env.ASTRA_DB_APPLICATION_TOKEN
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({ query })
  })

  try {
    const responseBody = await response.json()
    return {
      statusCode: 200,
      body: JSON.stringify(responseBody)
    }
  } catch (e) {
    console.log(e)
    return {
      statusCode: 500,
      body: JSON.stringify(e)
    }
  }
}

options: {
  pageSize: ${JSON.stringify(body.pageSize)},
  pageState: ${JSON.stringify(body.pageState)}
}

{
  values {
    value
  }
  pageState
}

query {
  movies_by_genre (
    value: { genre: ${JSON.stringify(genre)}},
    orderBy: [year_DESC],
    options: { pageSize: 6, pageState: ${JSON.stringify(pageState)} }
  ) {
    values {
      year,
      title,
      duration,
      synopsis,
      thumbnail
    }
    pageState
  }
}

5. Fetching from the Front-End

const fetchData = async () => {
  if (! isFetching)  {
    setIsFetching(true)
    const response = await fetch("/.netlify/functions/getGenres", {
      method: "POST",
      body: JSON.stringify({pageState, pageSize}),
    })
    const responseBody = await response.json()
    setPageState(responseBody.data.reference_list.pageState)
    setGenres(gs => (gs || []).concat(responseBody.data.reference_list.values))
    setIsFetching(false)
  }
}

<>
  <NavBar />
  <HeroSection />
  {genres && (
    <div className="container">
      {Object.values(genres).map((genre) => (
        <Section key={genre.value} genre={genre.value} />
      ))}
    </div>
  )}
  <div
    className="page-end"
    onMouseEnter={() => {
      setRequestedPage( np => np + 1 )
    }}
  />
</>

const fetchData = async () => {
  const response = await fetch("/.netlify/functions/getMovies", {
    method: "POST",
    body: JSON.stringify({ genre: genre, pageState: pageState }),
  })
  const responseBody = await response.json()
  setMovies(responseBody.data.movies_by_genre.values)
  setPageState(responseBody.data.movies_by_genre.pageState)
}

6. Install the Netlify CLI

In the workshop-graphql-netflix directory, run the following:

npm install -g netlify-cli

With the Netlify command-line interface you will build and deploy the application directly from the Gitpod terminal.

7. Provide DB connection parameters

The "serverless functions" part of your app, in order to speak to your DB through GraphQL, needs two important pieces of information: the API endpoint and the token. You will now create a .env file which defines them as environment variables.

The quickest way is to have astra-cli generate one for you:

astra db create-dotenv -k netflix workshops

8. Run the app in dev mode

✅ Step 8a: Install dependencies:

npm install

✅ Step 8b: Start the app: With the command

netlify dev

the application should automatically be displayed in GitPod's "simple browser". Note that in this dev-mode run everything is local to your Gitpod instance: the "serverless functions", in particular, are actually running there, alongside the rest of the application!

You can copy the URL found in Gitpod's simple browser and open in a new tab (of your real browser, that is) for a better experience. But now it's time to move to the actual deploy phase.

9. Connect to your Netlify site

✅ Step 9a: Stop the dev run with Ctrl-C.

✅ Step 9b: Authenticate with Netlify: run

netlify login

then grab the URL printed on the console (something like https://app.netlify.com/authorize?response[...]) and manually open it in a new tab (Gitpod blocks it for security). You will be asked to authorize "netlify-cli" to access your Netlify account in the process.

Once you complete the login, you will see a console output like this:

✅ Step 9c: Associate to your Netlify site: run

netlify link

and make sure you confirm the choice of associating to "current git remote origin".

10. Deploy in production!

✅ Step 10a: Inject secrets to the Netlify site

netlify env:import .env

Now the (actually) serverless functions in Netlify have the connection parameters they need.

✅ Step 10b: Build the app

Run

netlify build

✅ Step 10c: Deploy!

netlify deploy --prod

✅ Step 10d: Visit your site.

netlify open:site

If needed, manually copy-paste your site URL in a new browser tab... and enjoy your work!

The END

Congratulations, you made it!

Now don't forget to complete your assignment and submit it to get your badge of completion!

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Homework

🎓 Complete your upgrade and get your verified skill badge! Do the assignment and submit your homework!

1. Complete the practice steps from this repository as described below.
2. Insert a movie OR genre of your choice in the database (It's OK to re-use the trailer file URL from another movie! Just make the title recognizable as yours).
3. Take a screenshot of your Netflix clone running either from your Gitpod or (better) deployed to production in Netlify (in this case, you could also give us the Netlify URL).
4. The screenshot should clearly show the movie/genre you added (make sure you tell us its name when submitting).
5. (Optional for extra wisdom) Watch the 2-hour video by Ania HERE, build the app yourself, and show us the running final result.
6. Submit your homework here.

That's it, you are done: expect an email in the next days!

Extra resources

Video tutorial with Ania Kubow

Thank you to our wonderful friend Ania Kubow for producing the Netflix clone. If you are not aware of Ania and love learning about coding you should absolutely check out her YouTube channel listed below.

While we focused on getting you up and running to production with Astra DB and Netlify, Ania's video will dig into more details on the app itself. Check it out to dig in more.

Ania's Netflix Video