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Mike4x4s · Nov 5, 2009, 03:36

I have a chatroom and a custom made chatroom list that displays chatrooms and next to the name the amount of users currently in the room, it pulls this information from a mysql database. I was wondering is it possible to reload just the amount of users in the chatroom only when the data is changed. I was thinking of automatically refreshing it every 10 seconds but that would take alot of server load. I would like to do this dynamically.

thanks.

Shrapnel_N5 · Nov 5, 2009, 04:03

Yes.
Modern chats are all based on AJAX technic, which don't reload page at all, but sends requests to the server and recieves data.
It's all written in javascript though.
And it sends requests every, say 10 sec too.

Mike4x4s · Nov 5, 2009, 04:06

wouldnt requests every 10 seconds slow down my server by far if i have like 300 users connected and all trying to receive data?

AnthonySterling · Nov 5, 2009, 04:11

Much less so than a full page refresh for 300 users every 10 seconds.

Shrapnel_N5 · Nov 5, 2009, 04:12

No, it wouldn't. Common server can handle thousands of requests.
Room's population is't that critical, so, it can be refreshed every 1 min

AnthonySterling · Nov 5, 2009, 04:17

Personally, I think 10 seconds is way too long for a chat application, never mind a minute.

A large delay is hardly conducive to having a conversation, hence the popularity of Instant Messenger applications.

Make this element configurable in your application, you maybe pleasantly surprised.

Mike4x4s · Nov 5, 2009, 04:38

can someone please supply me with a base ajax code?

AnthonySterling · Nov 5, 2009, 04:53

If you're using a JS framework, many provide an example. Check out jQuery or MooTools et al.

PHPycho · Nov 6, 2009, 01:42

A very good go for ajax click here

joebert · Nov 6, 2009, 15:30

If you seriously anticipate that many users being connected at one time you need to abandon the idea of a browser based chat and look into a real application for chat.

There is a lot of overhead with HTTP compared to something designed to have numerous constantly connected systems waiting for responses from a central server and occasionally sending messages.

If you are determined to stay in the browser, at least look at using Java (as in the compiled applets, *.jar files, not javascript or *.js files) or Flash. At least they can be setup to conenct to a socket server and listen constantly.

Sven S. · Nov 8, 2009, 20:40

As joebert said: Browser-based chat just sucks, sorry.

frank1 · Nov 8, 2009, 22:32

what i do is
make a function
and use ajax to call it every x second appending random number to called url....
works and simple

and one step further u can add cache feature as well...which will improve performance....

Nov 5, 2009, 03:36	#1
Mike4x4s SitePoint Guru Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 841	Reloading certain data I have a chatroom and a custom made chatroom list that displays chatrooms and next to the name the amount of users currently in the room, it pulls this information from a mysql database. I was wondering is it possible to reload just the amount of users in the chatroom only when the data is changed. I was thinking of automatically refreshing it every 10 seconds but that would take alot of server load. I would like to do this dynamically. thanks.

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Nov 5, 2009, 04:03	#2
Shrapnel_N5 SitePoint Evangelist Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 454	Yes. Modern chats are all based on AJAX technic, which don't reload page at all, but sends requests to the server and recieves data. It's all written in javascript though. And it sends requests every, say 10 sec too.

Nov 5, 2009, 04:06	#3
Mike4x4s SitePoint Guru Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 841	wouldnt requests every 10 seconds slow down my server by far if i have like 300 users connected and all trying to receive data?

Nov 5, 2009, 04:11	#4
AnthonySterling Previously, SilverBulletUK. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North-East, UK. Posts: 2,917	Much less so than a full page refresh for 300 users every 10 seconds.

Nov 5, 2009, 04:12	#5
Shrapnel_N5 SitePoint Evangelist Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 454	No, it wouldn't. Common server can handle thousands of requests. Room's population is't that critical, so, it can be refreshed every 1 min

Nov 5, 2009, 04:17	#6
AnthonySterling Previously, SilverBulletUK. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North-East, UK. Posts: 2,917	Personally, I think 10 seconds is way too long for a chat application, never mind a minute. A large delay is hardly conducive to having a conversation, hence the popularity of Instant Messenger applications. Make this element configurable in your application, you maybe pleasantly surprised.

Nov 5, 2009, 04:38	#7
Mike4x4s SitePoint Guru Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 841	can someone please supply me with a base ajax code?

Nov 5, 2009, 04:53	#8
AnthonySterling Previously, SilverBulletUK. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North-East, UK. Posts: 2,917	If you're using a JS framework, many provide an example. Check out jQuery or MooTools et al.

Nov 6, 2009, 01:42	#9
PHPycho SitePoint Guru Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 637	A very good go for ajax click here

Nov 6, 2009, 15:30	#10
joebert Floridiot Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 676	If you seriously anticipate that many users being connected at one time you need to abandon the idea of a browser based chat and look into a real application for chat. There is a lot of overhead with HTTP compared to something designed to have numerous constantly connected systems waiting for responses from a central server and occasionally sending messages. If you are determined to stay in the browser, at least look at using Java (as in the compiled applets, .jar files, not javascript or .js files) or Flash. At least they can be setup to conenct to a socket server and listen constantly.

Nov 8, 2009, 20:40	#11
Sven S. SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hamburg, Germany Posts: 53	As joebert said: Browser-based chat just sucks, sorry.

Nov 8, 2009, 22:32	#12
frank1 SitePoint Guru Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 975	what i do is make a function and use ajax to call it every x second appending random number to called url.... works and simple and one step further u can add cache feature as well...which will improve performance....