golongpoll vs WebSockets: which should I use for real-time updates?

golongpoll is better for simpler, HTTP-based pub-sub where WebSockets are overkill or not supported, offering easier setup and compatibility with existing HTTP infrastructure. However, for low-latency, bidirectional communication like chat apps, WebSockets are more performant and real-time.

How do I add authentication to a golongpoll server?

You need to wrap the subscription and publish handlers with custom HTTP logic, as shown in the authentication example in the README. This involves checking headers or tokens before invoking the inner handlers, adding extra code for security.

What happens if my golongpoll server restarts with in-memory storage?

All events are lost unless you use the optional FilePersistorAddOn, which persists events to disk and repopulates them on restart. Without it, you'll need to handle event recovery manually, which can disrupt real-time flows.

Can I use golongpoll with frameworks other than Gin, like Echo or Fiber?

Yes, since it's based on standard Go HTTP handlers, you can wrap the managers' handlers for any framework that supports http.HandlerFunc, similar to the Gin example. However, you'll need to adapt the wrapping code yourself, as no out-of-the-box integrations are provided.

Is there a way to subscribe to multiple categories at once in golongpoll?

No, the library only supports subscribing to one category per HTTP call, as stated in the README. To monitor multiple categories, clients must make separate requests or use multiple client instances, which can increase overhead.

How does golongpoll handle high concurrent user loads?

It relies on Go's goroutines and channels for concurrency, but in-memory buffering with configurable limits (like MaxEventBufferSize) can become a bottleneck under heavy load. Scaling requires careful tuning or persistence add-ons to avoid data loss.

golongpoll — Go HTTP Long-Polling Library

What is golongpoll?

golongpoll is a Go library that simplifies implementing HTTP long-polling for web pub-sub communication. It provides both server-side and client-side components to enable real-time event delivery between web clients and servers without requiring WebSockets or complex infrastructure.

Target Audience

Go developers building web applications that need real-time updates, such as chat systems, live notifications, or dashboard monitoring, where WebSockets are not feasible or desired.

Value Proposition

Developers choose golongpoll for its simplicity and minimalism, offering a straightforward, configurable long-polling implementation with in-memory buffering, category-based events, and optional persistence, reducing internal complexity while remaining flexible for various web application needs.

golang long polling library. Makes web pub-sub easy via HTTP long-poll servers and clients :smiley: :coffee: :computer:

Use Cases

Best For

Implementing real-time notifications in web applications without WebSockets
Building lightweight chat systems using HTTP long-polling
Creating live dashboard updates for monitoring or analytics
Adding pub-sub functionality to Go HTTP servers with minimal setup
Integrating long-polling into Gin framework applications
Scenarios requiring event persistence across server restarts via file add-ons

Not Ideal For

Applications requiring real-time, bidirectional communication with low latency, such as online gaming or financial trading platforms, where WebSockets are more suitable.
Projects where clients need to subscribe to multiple event categories in a single HTTP request, as golongpoll's subscription handler only supports one category per call.
High-traffic systems with millions of concurrent connections, due to reliance on in-memory buffering that may not scale without persistence add-ons and additional infrastructure.
Teams needing built-in authentication or advanced security features out-of-the-box, as it requires custom HTTP handler wrapping, as shown in the authentication example.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Simple Setup

The QuickStart example shows creating a server with just a few lines of code using default options, making it easy to integrate long-polling into Go applications without complex configuration.

Configurable Event Management

Options like MaxEventBufferSize and EventTimeToLiveSeconds allow precise control over event storage and expiration, as documented in the go docs, enabling tailored behavior for different use cases.

Framework Integration

Works seamlessly with standard Go HTTP servers and can be wrapped for use with Gin, as demonstrated in the 'long polling and gin' section, providing flexibility for various web frameworks.

Client Library Support

Includes both Go and JavaScript clients, simplifying web integration without needing to implement the HTTP API from scratch, as highlighted in the examples directory.

Cons

Single-Category Subscription Limitation

The README explicitly states that subscription handlers support only one category per call, requiring multiple requests for multi-category needs, a design decision that reduces flexibility for complex event systems.

Default Volatile Storage

Events are stored in-memory by default, leading to data loss on server restarts unless the optional FilePersistorAddOn is used, which adds extra setup and complexity not included in the core library.

Performance Trade-offs

HTTP long-polling inherently has higher latency and resource usage compared to WebSockets or Server-Sent Events, making it less efficient for high-frequency update scenarios, as noted in the library's focus on simplicity over speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is golongpoll?

Target Audience

Go developers building web applications that need real-time updates, such as chat systems, live notifications, or dashboard monitoring, where WebSockets are not feasible or desired.

Value Proposition

Use Cases

Best For

Implementing real-time notifications in web applications without WebSockets
Building lightweight chat systems using HTTP long-polling
Creating live dashboard updates for monitoring or analytics
Adding pub-sub functionality to Go HTTP servers with minimal setup
Integrating long-polling into Gin framework applications
Scenarios requiring event persistence across server restarts via file add-ons

Not Ideal For

Applications requiring real-time, bidirectional communication with low latency, such as online gaming or financial trading platforms, where WebSockets are more suitable.
Projects where clients need to subscribe to multiple event categories in a single HTTP request, as golongpoll's subscription handler only supports one category per call.
High-traffic systems with millions of concurrent connections, due to reliance on in-memory buffering that may not scale without persistence add-ons and additional infrastructure.
Teams needing built-in authentication or advanced security features out-of-the-box, as it requires custom HTTP handler wrapping, as shown in the authentication example.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Simple Setup

The QuickStart example shows creating a server with just a few lines of code using default options, making it easy to integrate long-polling into Go applications without complex configuration.

Configurable Event Management

Options like MaxEventBufferSize and EventTimeToLiveSeconds allow precise control over event storage and expiration, as documented in the go docs, enabling tailored behavior for different use cases.

Framework Integration

Works seamlessly with standard Go HTTP servers and can be wrapped for use with Gin, as demonstrated in the 'long polling and gin' section, providing flexibility for various web frameworks.

Client Library Support

Includes both Go and JavaScript clients, simplifying web integration without needing to implement the HTTP API from scratch, as highlighted in the examples directory.

Cons

Single-Category Subscription Limitation

Default Volatile Storage

Events are stored in-memory by default, leading to data loss on server restarts unless the optional FilePersistorAddOn is used, which adds extra setup and complexity not included in the core library.

Performance Trade-offs

Frequently Asked Questions

golongpoll

What is golongpoll?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

golongpoll

What is golongpoll?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?