Background: I have a PostgreSQL (v8.3) database that is heavily optimized for OLTP. I need to extract data from it on a semi real-time basis (some-one is bound to ask what semi real-time means a...

Questions How much more expensive is it to load small files (eg. 4K) using Snowpipe than say 16K, 500K or 1-10Mb (the recommended file size). Note: This question implies it is more expensive to l...

I'm about to develop a website that has near real time chat. I know that it can be implemented using xmpp or websocket protocols. I know also that the xmpp protocol has been developed in 1999...

I recently came across WebSockets and my mind was blown about the possibilities they bring. I searched for a full list of such realtime (and near-realtime) communication protocols and technologies ...

I have a good old-style LAMP webapp. A week ago I needed to add a push notification mechanism to it. Therefore, what I did was to add node.js+socket.io on the server and poll the MySQL database eve...

I am having trouble deciding on whether to classify my application as 'real time' or 'near real time', or perhaps even something else. The software receives data immediately as it is generated from...