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is there a server load issue using setInterval() with a message board/list or... is there a better way?

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    is there a server load issue using setInterval() with a message board/list or... is there a better way?

    In an App near completion, I included messaging functionality with a list displaying new messages. I used setInterval() of 15 seconds with refreshListData(). It works well but when there were several local preview browser tabs open while tweaking visual elements, the developer felt sluggish like the development server was working too hard. Or it was in my head.

    Is this an issue? It seems that a board with sparse messaging could still have thousands of calls a day.

    Is there a better way to implement a message board/list?

    #2
    Re: is there a server load issue using setInterval() with a message board/list or... is there a better way?

    refreshListData()
    The timer event is deadly in apps as you have no control over the number of user browsers hitting the server at any one time and with a 15 second window, you could have 400 callbacks hitting the server every minute for a 100 uses service, you should look at the new Pusher option, run the callback once (may be from a runtime) and push it to member browsers, also the function has been a contributor to memory leakage in the past. Just saying.
    Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
    Albert Einstein, (attributed)
    US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

    Comment


      #3
      Re: is there a server load issue using setInterval() with a message board/list or... is there a better way?

      Thanks for replying again Pete. I have never used a timer before and it felt problematic which is why I asked. I have a question and a little bit of a rant.

      First the question: How new is the pusher option? I have not upgraded since Alpha radically raised prices and stopped perpetual licences. V12 build 2999 (2015) is my version.

      Now the rant: Alpha is spectacular and even a middling developer like me can finish a fully functioning court appearance (w/pvt. atty./client meetings) app in a weekend+. However, they have priced hobby/spec programmers out of the market. Even the court app was built on spec and mostly for the satisfaction of the build. That does not justify $5,000+/yr. I do wish Alpha offered a "lower tier" version (limiting concurrent sessions or the like) which would allow spec and personal/limited app development but would be useless for companies willing to spend 5k/yr to start. Of course, if a spec app gets "picked up," they (my court e.g.) would need the full version for it to be useful.

      I have read the other discussions on here on this issue and am not looking to start another. I am just frustrated as it looks like I am running into an upgrade for 5k or fail wall.

      So, the pusher option, how new is it?

      Has anyone built a message board without a timer?

      Comment


        #4
        Re: is there a server load issue using setInterval() with a message board/list or... is there a better way?

        The Pusher service was implemented around Build 6402-5418 19-JAN-2020, so it is pretty new.
        But, it does work great, I am using it in my app to send messages to client dashboards.

        As for the rant, we used to see these kind of complaints a few years back when Alpha started gearing more towards corporate developers and moving to the subscription model. Those complaints seemed to mostly go on deaf ears at the time, but who knows, maybe contact Alpha sales directly and let them know your dilemma. You never know.
        Last edited by iRadiate; 03-31-2020, 03:47 PM. Reason: typo
        Alpha Anywhere v12.4.6.5.2 Build 8867-5691 IIS v10.0 on Windows Server 2019 Std in Hyper-V

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          #5
          Re: is there a server load issue using setInterval() with a message board/list or... is there a better way?

          Thanks Stephen, I was one of those complainers years ago. The deaf ears were frustrating then and more so after this weekend's build (more accurately, after Pete's "solution.").

          Comment


            #6
            Re: is there a server load issue using setInterval() with a message board/list or... is there a better way?

            OK, you still have access to web-sockets, that can do it as well, just a bit more messing around, but you will see how in the examples.
            https://documentation.alphasoftware....%20Actions.xml

            Also re the Sole Trader Model request - it really doesn't make sense this does not exist at the development level whatever way you look at it. The money side of the business is about runtime and server pricing, after all it's the end user client that is the one with the need and has most to benefit from its use case, Alpha should view the development of a product and sale of the end product as same as the rest of the world, that is, the end-user pays after all, Apple makes everyone buy and apple product to use the apps built, same logic should apply to the runtime and the servers cost. I think a Sole Trader Model around say $499 a year for ST developers use only, would see exponentiation growth in developers and products released, and server sales. - Just sayin.

            Stay Safe, Pete.
            Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
            Albert Einstein, (attributed)
            US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

            Comment


              #7
              Re: is there a server load issue using setInterval() with a message board/list or... is there a better way?

              Thanks Pete. I took a look and it seems the websocket action JS (which seems perfect) was also implemented after my version unless I am missing something. For now, as the app is not "adopted" yet, I just reset the timer to 1 minutes and added a refresh button. For demo use it will be fine. If it does get picked up, I expect I will upgrade.

              And Ya, it is a shame that the pricing model has limited adoption for such a great program like Alpha but maybe I am missing something there too.
              Last edited by ecalan; 04-01-2020, 01:35 AM.

              Comment


                #8
                Re: is there a server load issue using setInterval() with a message board/list or... is there a better way?

                Sounds like a good solution as Pusher makes it a no brainer. - Good luck.
                Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
                Albert Einstein, (attributed)
                US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: is there a server load issue using setInterval() with a message board/list or... is there a better way?

                  Originally posted by ecalan View Post
                  Thanks Pete. I took a look and it seems the websocket action JS (which seems perfect) was also implemented after my version unless I am missing something. For now, as the app is not "adopted" yet, I just reset the timer to 1 minutes and added a refresh button. For demo use it will be fine. If it does get picked up, I expect I will upgrade.

                  And Ya, it is a shame that the pricing model has limited adoption for such a great program like Alpha but maybe I am missing something there too.
                  Build 2999 do have Nodejs integration available so you do have both Pusher and Websockets available in your version. There is just a little learning curve but then almost all what you can do with Nodejs you can also bring it to Alpha.

                  Kenneth

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: is there a server load issue using setInterval() with a message board/list or... is there a better way?

                    Thanks Kenneth, I have never used nodeJS but took an initial peak and it looks perfect. Luckily, there are several videos and Alpha documentation pages on it. And, it turns out, I have the time........

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: is there a server load issue using setInterval() with a message board/list or... is there a better way?

                      Awesome.
                      Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
                      Albert Einstein, (attributed)
                      US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

                      Comment

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