Table only shows when interacting and not by default - ios

Question

I have a table in a view controller that is populated through a dictionary from which information is retrieved via a JSON request. In the viewDidLoad() function, I call the function that retrieves the data which is added to `IncompletedDeadlines dictionary:
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
self.IncompleteDeadlines = [String:AnyObject]()
self.retrieveIncompletedDeadlines()
}
Everything works however the table only shows when interacted with. I thought maybe the best way to show the table the moment the view appears is by adding a tableView.reload to viewDidAppear as so:
override func viewDidAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
self.tableView.reloadData()
}
But this doesn't fix it. I have attached pictures for clarity of the situation. Picture one shows the view the moment the view appears. Picture 2 only happens once the table is interacted with i.e. swiped. So my question is how can I get the table to show immediately? I understand there can be a delay because of the load, but I shouldn't have to interact with it for it to show:
When the view is interacted with i.e. swiped:
The retrieveIncompletedDeadlines() function is as so:
func retrieveIncompletedDeadlines(){
let myUrl = NSURL(string: "https://www.example.com/scripts/retrieveIncompleteDeadlines.php");
let request = NSMutableURLRequest(url:myUrl! as URL)
let user_id = UserDetails[0]
request.httpMethod = "POST";
let postString = "user_id=\(user_id)";
request.httpBody = postString.data(using: String.Encoding.utf8);
let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: request as URLRequest) {
data, response, error in
if error != nil {
print("error=\(String(describing: error))")
return
}
var err: NSError?
do {
let json = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data!, options: .mutableContainers) as? NSDictionary
if let parseJSON = json {
let checker:String = parseJSON["status"] as! String;
if(checker == "Success"){
let resultValue = parseJSON["deadlines"] as! [String:AnyObject]
self.IncompleteDeadlines = resultValue
}
self.tableView.reloadData()
}
} catch let error as NSError {
err = error
print(err!);
}
}
task.resume();
self.tableView.reloadData()
}

Answer 1

JSON will be parsed on the background thread but any update to the UI must be done on the main thread hence you have to do it inside DispatchQueue.main.async {} This article explains well what is the problem.
Furthermore I would write a completions handler which returns the data once the operation has finished. This is another interesting article about.
Completion handlers are super convenient when your app is doing something that might take a little while, like making an API call, and you need to do something when that task is done, like updating the UI to show the data.
var incompleteDeadlines = [String:AnyObject]()
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
//please note your original function has changed
self.retrieveIncompletedDeadlines { (result, success) in
if success {
// once all the data has been parsed you assigned the result to self.incompleteDeadlines
self.incompleteDeadlines = result
DispatchQueue.main.async {
self.tableView.reloadData()
}
}
}
}
func retrieveIncompletedDeadlines(_ completion:#escaping ([String:AnyObject] , _ success: Bool)-> Void){
let myUrl = NSURL(string: "https://www.example.com/scripts/retrieveIncompleteDeadlines.php");
let request = NSMutableURLRequest(url:myUrl! as URL)
let user_id = UserDetails[0]
request.httpMethod = "POST";
let postString = "user_id=\(user_id)";
request.httpBody = postString.data(using: String.Encoding.utf8);
let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: request as URLRequest) {
data, response, error in
if error != nil {
print("error=\(String(describing: error))")
return
}
var err: NSError?
do {
let json = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data!, options: .mutableContainers) as? NSDictionary
if let parseJSON = json {
let checker:String = parseJSON["status"] as! String;
var resultValue = [String:AnyObject]()
if(checker == "Success"){
resultValue = parseJSON["deadlines"] as! [String:AnyObject]
}
completion(resultValue, true)
}
} catch let error as NSError {
err = error
print(err!);
}
}
task.resume();
}
}