/how-to-build-lovable

How to build Map application with Lovable?

Build a powerful map application with Lovable using our step‐by‐step guide. Discover essential techniques, integration tips, and best practices for your project.

Matt Graham, CEO of Rapid Developers

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How to build Map application with Lovable?

 
Setting Up Your Lovable Map Application Project
 

  • Create a new project on Lovable by logging into your account and selecting the option to create a new project. Name the project "MapApplication".
  • This project will contain at least two main files: an index.html file and a map.js file.

 
Adding the Lovable Library Dependency
 

  • Since Lovable doesn’t have a terminal, dependencies must be added directly in your code. Open the index.html file and insert the following code inside the <head> section. This code links to the Lovable Map library along with its CSS and JavaScript files via a CDN:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>Map Application with Lovable</title>
  <!-- Lovable Map Library Dependency -->
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.lovablemaps.com/lovable.css">
  <script src="https://cdn.lovablemaps.com/lovable.js"></script>
  <style>
    /_ Custom styles for the map container _/
    #map {
      width: 100%;
      height: 500px;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <!-- Map container -->
  <div id="map"></div>
  <script src="map.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

 
Creating the Map Initialization Script
 

  • Create a new file named map.js in your project’s file explorer.
  • Insert the following code snippet into map.js. This script initializes the map by invoking Lovable’s API. It sets the initial center to San Francisco and adds a marker at that location:

// Ensure the DOM is fully loaded before initializing the map
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
  // Initialize a new map instance in the 'map' div
  var map = new LovableMap('map', {
    center: [37.7749, -122.4194], // Coordinates for San Francisco
    zoom: 12                     // Initial zoom level
  });

  // Add a marker at the map center
  map.addMarker({
    position: [37.7749, -122.4194],
    title: "Start Location"
  });

  // You can further customize the map here (e.g., add layers or controls)
});

 
Customizing Your Map Features
 

  • To add extra features like custom controls, create enhancements inside map.js after the initial setup. For example, add a button that centers the map back to the original coordinates:

// Create a custom control button to recenter the map
var recenterButton = document.createElement('button');
recenterButton.innerText = 'Recenter Map';
recenterButton.style.position = 'absolute';
recenterButton.style.top = '10px';
recenterButton.style.right = '10px';
recenterButton.onclick = function() {
  map.setCenter([37.7749, -122.4194]);
};
document.body.appendChild(recenterButton);

 
Testing Your Map Application
 

  • After saving the changes to index.html and map.js, use Lovable’s built-in preview function to open your project.
  • Verify that the map appears in the defined container, is centered at the specified coordinates, and includes the marker and any additional controls you added.

 
Deploying Your Map Application
 

  • Each time you edit your code, save the changes and refresh the Lovable preview to see the updates.
  • When you’re ready to share your map application, use Lovable’s built-in deployment feature to generate a shareable URL.

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How to create a map API endpoint for Lovable applications


const express = require('express');
const bodyParser = require('body-parser');
const app = express();
app.use(bodyParser.json());

const mapData = [
  { id: 1, name: 'Central Park', coordinates: { lat: 40.785091, lng: -73.968285 } },
  { id: 2, name: 'Statue of Liberty', coordinates: { lat: 40.689247, lng: -74.044502 } },
  { id: 3, name: 'Times Square', coordinates: { lat: 40.758896, lng: -73.985130 } },
  // ... potentially more data points
];

function haversineDistance(coord1, coord2) {
  const toRad = (x) => x \* Math.PI / 180;
  const R = 6371; // Earth's radius in kilometers
  const dLat = toRad(coord2.lat - coord1.lat);
  const dLng = toRad(coord2.lng - coord1.lng);
  const a = Math.sin(dLat / 2) \* Math.sin(dLat / 2) +
            Math.cos(toRad(coord1.lat)) _ Math.cos(toRad(coord2.lat)) _
            Math.sin(dLng / 2) \* Math.sin(dLng / 2);
  const c = 2 \* Math.atan2(Math.sqrt(a), Math.sqrt(1 - a));
  return R \* c;
}

app.post('/api/map/points', (req, res) => {
  const { latitude, longitude, radius } = req.body;
  if (typeof latitude !== 'number' || typeof longitude !== 'number' || typeof radius !== 'number') {
    return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Invalid parameters. Expect latitude, longitude, and radius as numbers.' });
  }
  const center = { lat: latitude, lng: longitude };
  const nearbyPoints = mapData.filter(point => haversineDistance(center, point.coordinates) <= radius);
  
  // Structure the result for the Lovable mapping library
  const structuredData = {
    center,
    radius,
    points: nearbyPoints.map(point => ({
      id: point.id,
      label: point.name,
      location: point.coordinates
    }))
  };
  
  res.json(structuredData);
});

const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;
app.listen(PORT, () => {
  console.log(`Map API server running on port ${PORT}`);
});

How to Build a Geocoding API Endpoint for Your Lovable Map App


const express = require('express');
const axios = require('axios');
const app = express();

app.use(express.json());

const GEOCODE_API_KEY = process.env.GEOCODE_API_KEY;
const GEOCODE_API_URL = 'https://api.opencagedata.com/geocode/v1/json';

app.post('/api/map/geocode', async (req, res) => {
  const { address, extraData } = req.body;
  if (!address) {
    return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Address parameter is required.' });
  }
  try {
    const response = await axios.get(GEOCODE_API_URL, {
      params: { q: address, key: GEOCODE_API_KEY, limit: 1 }
    });
    if (!response.data.results || response.data.results.length === 0) {
      return res.status(404).json({ error: 'No geocoding results found.' });
    }
    const { lat, lng } = response.data.results[0].geometry;
    const lovableData = {
      id: Date.now(),
      label: address,
      location: { lat, lng },
      extra: extraData || {}
    };
    res.json({ success: true, point: lovableData });
  } catch (err) {
    res.status(500).json({ error: err.message });
  }
});

const PORT = process.env.PORT || 4000;
app.listen(PORT, () => console.log(`Server listening on port ${PORT}`));

How to build an optimized route API for your Lovable map application


const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.use(express.json());

function calculateDistance(p1, p2) {
  const R = 6371; // Earth's radius in km
  const dLat = (p2.lat - p1.lat) \* Math.PI / 180;
  const dLng = (p2.lng - p1.lng) \* Math.PI / 180;
  const a = Math.sin(dLat/2) \* Math.sin(dLat/2) +
            Math.cos(p1.lat _ Math.PI/180) _ Math.cos(p2.lat _ Math.PI/180) _
            Math.sin(dLng/2) \* Math.sin(dLng/2);
  const c = 2 \* Math.atan2(Math.sqrt(a), Math.sqrt(1 - a));
  return R \* c;
}

function greedyRoute(points) {
  if (points.length === 0) return [];
  const route = [];
  let current = points[0];
  const remaining = points.slice(1);
  route.push(current);
  
  while (remaining.length) {
    let nearestIndex = 0;
    let nearestDistance = calculateDistance(current, remaining[0]);
    for (let i = 1; i < remaining.length; i++) {
      const dist = calculateDistance(current, remaining[i]);
      if (dist < nearestDistance) {
        nearestDistance = dist;
        nearestIndex = i;
      }
    }
    current = remaining.splice(nearestIndex, 1)[0];
    route.push(current);
  }
  return route;
}

app.post('/api/map/optimized-route', (req, res) => {
  const { points } = req.body;
  if (!Array.isArray(points) || points.length === 0) {
    return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Points array required with at least one point.' });
  }
  
  for (const pt of points) {
    if (typeof pt.id !== 'number' || typeof pt.lat !== 'number' || typeof pt.lng !== 'number') {
      return res.status(400).json({ error: 'Each point must have id, lat, and lng as numbers.' });
    }
  }
  
  const optimized = greedyRoute(points);
  
  const routeData = {
    start: optimized[0],
    orderedPoints: optimized.map(pt => ({
      id: pt.id,
      label: `Location ${pt.id}`,
      location: { lat: pt.lat, lng: pt.lng }
    }))
  };
  
  res.json(routeData);
});

const PORT = process.env.PORT || 5000;
app.listen(PORT, () => console.log(`Route optimization server running on port ${PORT}`));

Want to explore opportunities to work with us?

Connect with our team to unlock the full potential of no-code solutions with a no-commitment consultation!

Book a Free Consultation
Matt Graham, CEO of Rapid Developers

Book a call with an Expert

Starting a new venture? Need to upgrade your web app? RapidDev builds application with your growth in mind.

Book a free No-Code consultation

Best Practices for Building a Map application with AI Code Generators

 
Understanding Requirements and Objectives
 

  • Define the core functionalities your map application needs, such as interactive maps, location search, markers, and route planning.
  • Identify your target users and the scenarios in which they will use the application.
  • Decide which mapping API or library to integrate (for example, Google Maps, Mapbox, or OpenStreetMap).

 
Researching and Selecting AI Code Generators
 

  • Explore AI code generators like GitHub Copilot, Tabnine, or CodeWhisperer to assist in writing efficient code.
  • Review the documentation and examples provided by these tools.
  • Select a tool that fits your technology stack and skill level.

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May 2, 2023

Working with Matt was comparable to having another co-founder on the team, but without the commitment or cost. He has a strategic mindset and willing to change the scope of the project in real time based on the needs of the client. A true strategic thought partner!

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Oct 15, 2022

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