When HTTP polling is the problem, WebSockets are the fix.
WebSocket implementation for real-time features — live data feeds, chat, notifications, presence, and collaborative state that requires persistent bidirectional connections. We build WebSocket architectures that scale and handle reconnection correctly.
Application that polls the server every few seconds for updates — causing unnecessary server load, delayed data, and a poor user experience compared to real-time alternatives
HTTP is request-response: the client asks, the server responds. For real-time features, the server needs to push data to the client when something happens — not wait for the client to ask.
The options:
HTTP Polling. Client asks every N seconds for new data. Simple to implement. Wasteful: most requests return "no new data." Introduces up-to-N-second latency for updates.
Server-Sent Events (SSE). Server pushes a stream of events to the client over a persistent HTTP connection. One-directional (server to client). Built into browsers, works through HTTP/2. Good for: live dashboards, activity feeds, and notifications where the client doesn't need to send messages back.
WebSockets. Persistent bidirectional connection. Both client and server can send messages at any time. Better for: chat, collaborative features, and any case where the client also sends real-time events.
Managed services (Pusher, Ably). Managed WebSocket infrastructure. No server management. The right choice for most applications.
Self-managed WebSocket server. For applications where managed services are too expensive at scale or where the data can't leave the infrastructure.
WebSocket implementation with proper connection management, reconnection logic, message serialization, and the pub/sub infrastructure needed to scale across multiple server instances
Managed service (Pusher/Ably)
Pusher Channels or Ably integration. Channel authorization endpoint. Client subscription. Server-side publish on data changes. Scales horizontally without coordination.
Socket.io server
Socket.io on Express or standalone. Redis adapter for multi-instance pub/sub. Namespace and room configuration. Authentication middleware.
Server-Sent Events
Next.js Route Handler with `TransformStream`. Client `EventSource` connection. Event type handling. Reconnection with `Last-Event-ID`.
Connection management
Reconnection with exponential backoff. Connection state display in UI. Message queue during disconnection.
Message protocol
JSON message types with discriminated union TypeScript types. Message validation on receipt.
One honest number to start.
Fixed-scope, fixed-price. The number below is the starting point — final scope is built from your brief.
WebSocket implementation with proper connection management, reconnection logic, message serialization, and the pub/sub infrastructure needed to scale across multiple server instances
Three steps, every time.
The same repeatable engagement on every project. No surprises, no mystery, no billable ambiguity.
Brief & discovery.
We send you questions, then get on a call. Output: a written scope with every step, feature, and integration listed.
Build & ship.
Fixed schedule, weekly reviews. No scope creep unless you change the scope — and if you do, we reprice it transparently.
Warranty & retainer.
30-day warranty on every launch. Most clients stay on a monthly retainer for ongoing features and maintenance.
Why Fixed-Price Matters Here
Real-time feature scope is defined by the message types and the connection model. Fixed price.
Questions, answered.
SSE for: server-to-client push only (notifications, live feed updates, progress events). WebSockets for: bidirectional communication (chat, collaborative editing, where the client also sends events). SSE is simpler to implement and works through HTTP/2 multiplexing.
Polling works. For infrequent updates (every 30+ seconds), polling is fine. For frequent updates (< 5 seconds), WebSockets or SSE reduce server load significantly and eliminate the update latency.
Real-time features as part of the application build. Full application from $25k. Fixed-price.
Tell Ryel about your project.
Describe what you’re building and what outcome you need. You’ll have a written, fixed-price scope within the week.