Latest Tutorials

In the thriving world of Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platforms, developers have a host of options. Today, we'll focus on two popular platforms, Supabase and Convex . Both of these BaaS providers offer an array of features to aid in web application development. We'll dive into the similarities and differences, the advantages of each, and when to use each platform. My aim with this article is to help you make an informed decision on the best platform for your real-time project. Supabase and Convex share several key features: Choosing between these platforms depends on the specific requirements and priorities of your project: A comparison table to further illustrate the differences between Supabase and Convex : Database Type : NoSQL (with schema enforcement) Schema Definition : Defined through TypeScript code Developer Experience : Focuses on automation and reducing boilerplate Query Language : Simplified, JavaScript-like syntax Performance : Potentially optimized for complex queries Community & Resources : Growing community, good documentation Real-time Features : Real-time subscriptions for data updates Offline Support : Not currently supported Integrations : Actions for seamless external API calls Cost : Free tier with usage limits Database Type: Relational (PostgreSQL) Schema Definition: Defined separately using a schema editor Developer Experience: Might require more manual configuration Query Language: Standard SQL Performance: Performance may vary depending on application Community & Resources: Larger community, more resources available Real-time Features: Real-time subscriptions for data updates Offline Support: Potential for offline functionality with Edge Functions Integrations: Supports various external integrations Cost: Free tier with generous resource limits Self-Hosting: Available To conclude, both Convex and Supabase bring robust features to the table for web application development. While they have many commonalities, their differences can be determinative depending on your specific needs and preferences. Keep in mind, that this article offers a general comparison; it's encouraged to dig into the documentation and experiment with both platforms to find out which one best meets your unique requirements. If you really want to learn about actually implementing and using Supabase for your next Indie Dev Real-Time Collaboration project then check out my course Real-Time Collaborative Apps with Next.js and Supabase to learn more and get started on building your project right away.

In the evolving space of modern software development, the desire to develop real-time full-stack applications holds considerable worth. These applications flourish on frameworks such as React and Angular, curated for building real-time client-side applications. However, the complexity introduced by server-client communication can be intimidating. Thus, I present to you, "Why opt for Supabase for the construction of real-time applications?" This comprehensive guide aims to shed light on the benefits of Supabase and how it stands out among alternatives like WebSockets or methodologies such as Conflict-free Replicated Data Type (CRDT) or Operational Transformation (OT) . The focal point of this discourse is the development of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and the swift progression and testing of features. A crucial skill for software developers is the aptitude to select the appropriate technology, a decision that predominantly relies on experience and knowledge. So why should one consider a cloud-based solution like Supabase over building a real-time algorithm from the ground up? The justification lies in the challenges of managing WebSockets and the related costs. To learn more about Supabase and WebSockets, and how they can be used to create a real-time collaborative app effectively, visit Real-Time Collaborative Apps with Next.js and Supabase . WebSockets provide real-time communication and two-way data flow between clients and servers, making them a suitable choice for real-time applications. However, their deployment is not without challenges: To further expand on the challenges of managing WebSockets and the advantages of implementing Supabase , let's examine a practical example. Figma , a renowned vector graphics editor and prototyping tool, encountered escalating complexity when developing its real-time collaborative editing feature. The conflict resolution algorithm presented numerous technical obstacles. Coordinating changes to certain properties on an object became a potential source of conflicts. Significant performance issues required measurement and tuning, including revamping their file format for enhanced efficiency. This instance highlights the intricacies and challenges that accompany the development of real-time applications, and why a solution like Supabase can be a potential game-changer. The journey of constructing real-time applications can be intricate, given the factors around scalability, network configurations, overhead, and connection maintenance. The selection of technology can heavily influence the development process and the final product. In this context, Supabase surfaces as a promising choice, proposing a cloud-based solution that bypasses the obstacles linked with self-managing WebSockets . By opting for Supabase , developers can concentrate on the swift development and testing of features, hastening the transition from concept to MVP.

WebRTC is a collection of APIs and protocols that facilitates real-time communication directly between browsers. This article dives into the fundamental workings, main components, benefits, use cases, and appropriate use cases for WebRTC usage. The WebRTC journey starts with the MediaStream API . This component provides access to a user's camera and microphone, simplifying the capture of audio and video content, and thereby, playing a crucial role in real-time communication. Central to the functionality of WebRTC is the RTCPeerConnection interface. This component oversees the management of peer-to-peer communication, handling key tasks such as encryption, encoding, and transmission of audio and video data. WebRTC extends beyond media data exchange by offering the RTCDataChannel for the exchange of non-media data. This feature allows peer-to-peer communication of a variety of data types, enhancing its versatility for a range of applications beyond audio and video streaming. Gaining a clear understanding of the WebRTC workflow is integral to fully grasping its capabilities and how it enables seamless real-time communication. Before peers can engage in communication, it's necessary for them to exchange session information. A signaling server aids this exchange of metadata between peers, assisting them in establishing a connection. WebRTC employs the "Offer/Answer" model to negotiate parameters such as codecs, resolutions, and network addresses. This model involves one peer making an offer, and the other responding with an answer, thereby establishing a common base for communication. To navigate obstacles like firewalls and NATs, WebRTC utilizes the Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) framework. This framework employs various techniques, including STUN (Session Traversal Utilities for NAT) and TURN (Traversal Using Relays around NAT) , to enhance connectivity. Upon connection establishment, the MediaStream API captures audio and video from the user's device. The RTCPeerConnection then handles the encoding, encryption, and transmission of this media data between peers. If there's a need to exchange non-media data, the RTCDataChannel is established. This channel facilitates peer-to-peer communication of arbitrary data in a reliable and ordered fashion. WebRTC enables direct communication between peers without the need for intermediaries, ensuring efficient data transfer and low latency. Being supported by major browsers, WebRTC ensures a consistent and reliable user experience. Prioritizing security, WebRTC encrypts media streams and offers mechanisms for secure data transmission. WebRTC proves its efficiency in various real-time communication applications: WebRTC is the technology of choice in the following scenarios: WebRTC has brought about a revolution in the realm of real-time web communication, owing to its simplicity, security features, and cross-browser compatibility. It's a favored technology for developers constructing applications that require peer-to-peer interactions. As the advancement in web technologies continues, WebRTC is poised to remain a significant contributor to the future of online communication. To learn more about WebSockets, and how they can be used to create a real-time collaborative app effectively, visit Real-Time Collaborative Apps with Next.js and Supabase .

Real-time communication between a server and client is a key requirement for the majority of today's web applications. Server-Sent Events (SSE) is a technology that satisfies this need, enabling real-time server-to-client updates over a single HTTP connection. This article dives into the intricacies of SSE, explaining its fundamental concepts, operation, and use cases to help understand how it facilitates seamless and continuous updates in web applications. To fully comprehend SSE, it's vital to note that it is a unidirectional communication channel. This implies that it's primarily designed for use cases where the server has to push updates to the client. Built on standard web technologies, SSE amalgamates the simplicity of HTTP with the familiarity of event-driven programming. The procedure to set up an SSE connection commences with the client initiating an HTTP request. This is achieved by creating an EventSource object in JavaScript. Shown below is a simple piece of code that illustrates this: const eventSource = new EventSource('/sse-endpoint'); The server then reacts to the client's request with the appropriate headers, indicating that this connection will be dedicated to Server-Sent Events . The headers typically appear as follows: HTTP/1.1 200 OK Content-Type: text/event-stream Cache-Control: no-cache Connection: keep-alive Here, the Content-Type is specified as text/event-stream , suggesting that the content will be event-based. Following the establishment of the SSE connection, the server can dispatch events to the client whenever required. Each event is a basic plain-text message with a specific format. An example of such an event is: event: update data: This is a message from the server! In this event, the event field represents the type of event, while the data field carries the actual message. One notable feature of SSE is the persistent, keep-alive connection it retains between the client and the server, allowing for continuous communication. Additionally, if the connection gets interrupted, the browser automatically attempts to reconnect. This behavior is ingrained in the SSE specification, ensuring a steady stream of updates. SSE presents several advantages: SSE is useful in various scenarios like live scoreboards, chat applications, and any situation where real-time server-to-client updates are important. SSE is the best choice in the following use cases: Server-Sent Events (SSE) is an efficient and straightforward technology that facilitates real-time server-to-client communication. By utilizing SSE, developers can build highly interactive and responsive web applications that offer users with continuous, real-time updates. With this knowledge, you are now better equipped to make informed decisions when developing real-time collaborative applications. For more insights like this visit Real-Time Collaborative Web Applications .

In the ever-evolving landscape, enhancing server-client communication has always been a pivotal goal. A key player in this evolution has been Long Polling . The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive overview of the Long Polling , its process, benefits, challenges, and where it fits best in web development. Long Polling is a communication strategy between the server and the client where the client sends a request to the server. Instead of an immediate response, the server holds the request until fresh data is ready. In this section, I will dissect the Long Polling process into more digestible steps: Long Polling offers several advantages: While Long Polling has its strengths, it also brings several challenges: Long Polling is suitable for specific use cases: Long Polling has been a significant milestone in the evolution of real-time communication on the web. Despite its merits and challenges, web developers should evaluate if Long Polling is the best fit for their specific use case. While newer technologies like WebSockets and SSE offer more efficient alternatives, understanding Long Polling provides valuable insights into the history and advancement of web development techniques. For more insights like this visit Real-Time Collaborative Web Applications .