Location Handler Plugin

A Form Flow Manager plugin for capturing user location using browser geolocation API.

Features

✅ Browser geolocation capture (GPS coordinates)
✅ Reverse geocoding (coordinates → address)
✅ Map snapshot generation (Google Maps / Mapbox)
✅ Address component extraction (street, city, region, etc.)
✅ Accuracy measurement
✅ Auto-registration with Form Flow Manager

Installation

composer require 3neti/form-handler-location:^1.2

That's it! The handler automatically registers itself with the Form Flow Manager.

Configuration

Publish the config file:

php artisan vendor:publish --tag=location-handler-config

Edit config/location-handler.php:

return [
    'opencage_api_key' => env('VITE_OPENCAGE_KEY'),  // For reverse geocoding
    'map_provider' => env('LOCATION_HANDLER_MAP_PROVIDER', 'google'),
    'mapbox_token' => env('VITE_MAPBOX_TOKEN'),
    'google_maps_api_key' => env('GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY'),
    'capture_snapshot' => true,
    'require_address' => false,
];

Environment Variables

Add to .env:

# OpenCage API (reverse geocoding)
VITE_OPENCAGE_KEY=your_opencage_api_key

# Map Provider (optional)
LOCATION_HANDLER_MAP_PROVIDER=google  # or 'mapbox'

# Mapbox (if using Mapbox)
VITE_MAPBOX_TOKEN=your_mapbox_token

# Google Maps (optional, for static maps)
GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY=your_google_maps_key

Usage

In a Form Flow

const response = await fetch('/form-flow/start', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
        reference_id: 'unique-id',
        steps: [
            {
                handler: 'location',
                config: {
                    title: 'Your Location',
                    description: 'We need your location to continue',
                    require_address: true,
                    capture_snapshot: true,
                    map_provider: 'google'
                }
            }
        ],
        callbacks: {
            on_complete: 'https://your-app.test/callback'
        }
    })
});

Configuration Options

Collected Data

The handler returns the following data structure:

[
    'latitude' => 14.5995,
    'longitude' => 120.9842,
    'formatted_address' => 'Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines',
    'address_components' => [
        'street' => 'Ayala Avenue',
        'barangay' => 'Poblacion',
        'city' => 'Makati City',
        'region' => 'Metro Manila',
        'country' => 'Philippines',
        'postal_code' => '1200'
    ],
    'map' => 'data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KG...',  // Map image
    'accuracy' => 10.5,  // meters
    'timestamp' => '2024-12-12T10:30:00+08:00'
]

Testing

composer test
composer pint -- --test

Test Coverage

• ✅ Interface implementation
• ✅ Coordinate validation
• ✅ Address handling
• ✅ Map snapshot support
• ✅ Accuracy metrics
• ✅ Config schema
• ✅ Inertia rendering

How It Works

1. Plugin Auto-Registration

// LocationHandlerServiceProvider::boot()
protected function registerHandler(): void
{
    $handlers = config('form-flow.handlers', []);
    $handlers['location'] = LocationHandler::class;
    config(['form-flow.handlers' => $handlers]);
}

2. Browser Geolocation

The Vue component (LocationCapturePage.vue) uses:

navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition((position) => {
    const coords = {
        latitude: position.coords.latitude,
        longitude: position.coords.longitude,
        accuracy: position.coords.accuracy
    };
    // Submit to handler...
});

3. Reverse Geocoding

Uses OpenCage API to convert coordinates to address:

(14.5995, 120.9842) → "Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines"

4. Map Snapshot

Generates static map image via Google Maps or Mapbox API.

Architecture

This is a plugin package for Form Flow Manager:

form-handler-location/     (Plugin)
├── Implements FormHandlerInterface
├── Self-registers via service provider
└── Optional dependency

form-flow-manager/         (Core)
├── Discovers plugins automatically
└── Orchestrates flow with registered handlers

redeem-x/                  (Host App)
└── Installs: core + chosen plugins

Plugin Benefits

✅ Optional - Install only if needed
✅ Independent - Tested separately
✅ Reusable - Works across different apps
✅ Maintainable - Clean separation of concerns

Requirements

• PHP 8.2+
• Laravel 11, 12, or 13
• 3neti/form-flow 1.8+
• Browser with geolocation support

API Keys

OpenCage (Free Tier)

• Sign up: https://opencagedata.com/
• Free: 2,500 requests/day
• Used for: Reverse geocoding

Mapbox (Optional)

• Sign up: https://account.mapbox.com/
• Free: 50,000 requests/month
• Used for: Static map images

Google Maps (Optional)

• Sign up: https://console.cloud.google.com/
• Free: Basic usage (with limits)
• Used for: Static map images

Troubleshooting

"Handler not found: location"

Solution:

php artisan config:clear
php artisan cache:clear
composer dump-autoload

Location not captured

Check:

1. HTTPS enabled? (required for geolocation)
2. User granted permission?
3. Browser supports geolocation?

Reverse geocoding fails

Check:

1. OpenCage API key configured?
2. API key valid?
3. Request quota not exceeded?

Related Packages

• form-flow-manager - Core orchestration
• form-handler-selfie - Camera capture
• form-handler-signature - Digital signature
• form-handler-kyc - Identity verification

License

MIT

Author

3neti info@3neti.com