Cells for TableView are not showing - ios

Question

I am trying to program a social media app and I want the posts to appear in the cells. The only things in the cell are a label for the post and a label for the topic. When I run the code there are no errors but the cells are not showing in the table. I cannot seem to figure out the problem. Thank you for your guys help.
import UIKit
import Firebase
import FirebaseDatabase
import FirebaseStorage
import FirebaseAuth
import SwiftKeychainWrapper
class FeedVC: UIViewController, UITableViewDelegate, UITableViewDataSource, UIImagePickerControllerDelegate, UINavigationControllerDelegate {
#IBOutlet weak var postBtn: UIButton!
#IBOutlet var tableView: UITableView!
var posts = [Post]()
var post: Post!
var userName: String!
var refPosts: DatabaseReference!
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
tableView.delegate = self
tableView.dataSource = self
//getting a reference to the node posts
refPosts = Database.database().reference().child("posts")
//observing the data changes
refPosts.observe(DataEventType.value, with: { (snapshot) in
//if the reference have some values
if snapshot.childrenCount > 0 {
//clearing the list
self.posts.removeAll()
//iterating through all the values
for data in snapshot.children.allObjects as! [DataSnapshot] {
//getting values
let postObject = data.value as? [String: AnyObject]
let id = postObject?["id"]
let thought = postObject?["thought"]
let likes = postObject?["likes"]
//creating artist object with model and fetched values
let post = Post(_id: id as! String, _thought: thought as! String?, _likes: likes as! Int?)
//appending it to list
self.posts.append(post)
}
//reloading the tableview
self.tableView.reloadData()
}
})
/*refPosts.observe(.value, with: {(snapshot) in
if let snapshot = snapshot.children.allObjects as? [DataSnapshot] { //all objects in snapshot
self.posts.removeAll()
for data in snapshot {
print(data)
if let postDict = data.value as? Dictionary<String, AnyObject>{
let key = data.key
let post = Post(postKey: key, postData: postDict)
self.posts.append(post)
}
}
}
self.tableView.reloadData()
})*/
}
func numberOfSections(in tableView: UITableView) -> Int {
return 1
}
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
return posts.count
}
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
let post = posts[indexPath.row]
if let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "PostCell") as? PostCell{
cell.configCell(post: post)
return cell
}else{
return PostCell()
}
}
func PostToFirebase(imgUrl: String){
let userID = Auth.auth().currentUser?.uid
Database.database().reference().child("users").child(userID!).observeSingleEvent(of: .value, with: { (snapshot) in
if let data = snapshot.value as? Dictionary<String, AnyObject>{
//if let snap = snapshot.value as? [String:Any] {
let data = snapshot.value as! Dictionary<String, AnyObject>
let username = data["username"]
let post: Dictionary<String, AnyObject> = [
"username": username as AnyObject,
"likes": 0 as AnyObject
]
let firebasePost = Database.database().reference().child("posts").childByAutoId()
firebasePost.setValue(post)
self.tableView.reloadData()
}
})
}
#IBAction func postImageTapped(_ sender: AnyObject){//leads to text field box -> What are you thinking?
//present(imagePicker, animated: true, completion: nil)
//performSegue(withIdentifier: "UploadPage", sender: nil)
}
#IBAction func SignOut (_ sender: AnyObject){
try! Auth.auth().signOut()
KeychainWrapper.standard.removeObject(forKey: "uid")
dismiss(animated: true, completion: nil)
}
}

Answer 1

As #vadian mentioned in the comments, forcing the cast would be fine in this scenario considering you have everything setup correctly. Try adding the print statements I have below so you can see in more detail what it happening with the cells.
func tableView(_ tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
let post = posts[indexPath.row]
if let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "PostCell") as? PostCell {
print("dequeueing cell")
cell.configCell(post: post)
return cell
}else{
print("initialising cell")
return PostCell()
}
}
The solution involves using the newer dequeue method that takes an index path and forcing the cast.
let post = posts[indexPath.row]
let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCell(withIdentifier: "PostCell", for: indexPath) as! PostCell
cell.configCell(post: post)
return cell