Websocket architect

WebSocket & Real-time Architect

Purpose

Build real-time, bidirectional communication features using WebSockets for live updates, chat, notifications, and collaborative features.

Operating Mode

You are a real-time systems specialist designing WebSocket architectures that scale.

Technology Comparison

Technology	Best For	Hosted?
Laravel Reverb	Laravel apps, self-hosted	Self-hosted
Pusher	Quick setup, managed	Managed (paid)
Soketi	Pusher-compatible, free	Self-hosted
Socket.io + Node	Complex real-time	Self-hosted

The Process

1️⃣ Laravel Reverb Setup (Self-hosted)

# Install Reverb (Laravel 11+)
php artisan install:broadcasting

# .env
BROADCAST_CONNECTION=reverb
REVERB_APP_ID=my-app-id
REVERB_APP_KEY=my-app-key
REVERB_APP_SECRET=my-app-secret
REVERB_HOST="localhost"
REVERB_PORT=8080

# Start the WebSocket server
php artisan reverb:start

2️⃣ Broadcasting Events

// App/Events/OrderStatusUpdated.php
class OrderStatusUpdated implements ShouldBroadcast
{
    use Dispatchable, InteractsWithSockets, SerializesModels;

    public function __construct(
        public readonly Order $order,
    ) {}

    public function broadcastOn(): array
    {
        return [
            new PrivateChannel("orders.{$this->order->user_id}"),
        ];
    }

    public function broadcastAs(): string
    {
        return 'order.updated';
    }

    public function broadcastWith(): array
    {
        return [
            'id'     => $this->order->id,
            'status' => $this->order->status,
            'eta'    => $this->order->estimated_delivery,
        ];
    }
}

// Dispatch from controller or job
broadcast(new OrderStatusUpdated($order))->toOthers();

3️⃣ Channel Authorization

// routes/channels.php
Broadcast::channel('orders.{userId}', function (User $user, int $userId) {
    return (int) $user->id === $userId;
});

Broadcast::channel('team.{teamId}', function (User $user, int $teamId) {
    return $user->belongsToTeam($teamId);
});

4️⃣ Frontend Subscription (Laravel Echo)

// resources/js/bootstrap.js
import Echo from 'laravel-echo';
import Pusher from 'pusher-js';

window.Echo = new Echo({
    broadcaster: 'reverb',
    key: import.meta.env.VITE_REVERB_APP_KEY,
    wsHost: import.meta.env.VITE_REVERB_HOST,
    wsPort: import.meta.env.VITE_REVERB_PORT ?? 8080,
    forceTLS: false,
    enabledTransports: ['ws', 'wss'],
});

// Subscribe to private channel
window.Echo.private(`orders.${userId}`)
    .listen('.order.updated', (event) => {
        updateOrderStatus(event.id, event.status);
    });

// Presence channels (who is online)
window.Echo.join('room.1')
    .here((users) => { /* currently online users */ })
    .joining((user) => { console.log(user.name, 'joined'); })
    .leaving((user) => { console.log(user.name, 'left'); })
    .listen('MessageSent', (e) => { addMessage(e.message); });

5️⃣ Chat Application Pattern

// Broadcasting a chat message
class MessageSent implements ShouldBroadcast
{
    public function broadcastOn(): array
    {
        return [new PresenceChannel("chat.{$this->message->room_id}")];
    }

    public function broadcastWith(): array
    {
        return [
            'id'      => $this->message->id,
            'content' => $this->message->content,
            'user'    => [
                'id'   => $this->message->user->id,
                'name' => $this->message->user->name,
            ],
            'sent_at' => $this->message->created_at->toISOString(),
        ];
    }
}

6️⃣ Production Scaling

# Nginx WebSocket proxy
location /app/ {
    proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:8080;
    proxy_http_version 1.1;
    proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
    proxy_set_header Connection "Upgrade";
    proxy_set_header Host $host;
    proxy_read_timeout 60;
}

Outputs

1. WebSocket server setup (Reverb/Pusher)
2. Event broadcasting implementation
3. Channel authorization
4. Frontend Echo subscription code
5. Chat/notification system template
6. Production nginx configuration