Systems | Development | Analytics | API | Testing

Realtime features make apps feel modern, collaborative, and up-to-date. The features predominantly require sharing changes triggered by one user to other users, as the changes are happening. This typically means your server needs to send data to some set of clients, where those clients don’t know they are missing the data. These patterns rely on a connection between the client and the server, where the server can notify the client of some data.

What it means to be a fan is changing. Whether the fandom focuses on a sports team, a streaming drama series, or a musical artist, fans no longer want to be passive consumers. Instead, they’re looking to feel as though they are a part of the action through channels such as live chat, realtime stats, and behind the scenes insights. But there’s a tension in delivering those fan engagement experiences. Without the right strategy, technology costs can quickly make them economically unviable.

Fandom is now global. And the extraordinary opportunity that presents is balanced by the demands that fan expectations place on your digital platform. No matter where they are–front-row seats or five timezones away–people engage with your fan experience to enjoy an immersive, immediate experience. However, as more fans take part, you might find that your platform hits a reliability and scale ceiling.