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Google Compute Engine vs Socket.IO: What are the differences?
Key differences between Google Compute Engine and Socket.IO
1. Scalability:
Google Compute Engine provides the ability to scale up or down resources based on demand, allowing users to easily handle fluctuations in traffic and workload. Socket.IO, on the other hand, is a JavaScript library that enables real-time communication between clients and servers, but it does not directly provide scalability features.
2. Purpose:
Google Compute Engine is a Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) platform that allows users to create and manage virtual machines in the cloud. It is primarily designed for running applications and hosting services. On the other hand, Socket.IO is a library mainly used for building real-time web applications that require bi-directional communication between clients and servers.
3. Flexibility:
Google Compute Engine offers a wide range of virtual machine configurations and operating system choices, providing users with flexibility in customizing their computing environment. Whereas, Socket.IO is focused on providing real-time communication capabilities and does not provide as much flexibility in terms of infrastructure setup and customization.
4. Real-time communication:
Socket.IO is specifically built to facilitate real-time communication between clients and servers, making it well-suited for applications that require instant updates and notifications. Google Compute Engine, on the other hand, provides more general computing capabilities and does not have built-in real-time communication features.
5. Managed services:
Google Compute Engine offers a range of managed services, such as managed databases and Kubernetes Engine, which simplify the deployment and management of applications. Socket.IO does not provide comparable managed services and requires users to handle the server-side infrastructure themselves.
6. Integration with other Google Cloud services:
Google Compute Engine seamlessly integrates with other Google Cloud services, allowing users to leverage services like Google Cloud Storage and BigQuery. Socket.IO, being a standalone JavaScript library, does not have direct integration with Google Cloud services.
In summary, Google Compute Engine is a scalable infrastructure platform for running applications and hosting services, offering flexibility, managed services, and integration with other Google Cloud services. Socket.IO, on the other hand, is a JavaScript library focused on facilitating real-time communication for web applications, but lacks the infrastructure capabilities and managed services of Google Compute Engine.
We are starting to work on a web-based platform aiming to connect artists (clients) and professional freelancers (service providers). In-app, timeline-based, real-time communication between users (& storing it), file transfers, and push notifications are essential core features. We are considering using Node.js, ExpressJS, React, MongoDB stack with Socket.IO & Apollo, or maybe using Real-Time Database and functionalities of Firebase.
I would recommend looking hard into Firebase for this project, especially if you do not have dedicated full-stack or backend members on your team.
The real time database, as you mentioned, is a great option, but I would also look into Firestore. Similar to RTDB, it adds more functions and some cool methods as well. Also, another great thing about Firebase is you have easy access to storage and dead simple auth as well.
Node.js Express MongoDB Socket.IO and Apollo are great technologies as well, and may be the better option if you do not wish to cede as much control to third parties in your application.
Overall, I say if you wish to focus more time developing your React application instead of other parts of your stack, Firebase is a great way to do that.
Hello Noam 👋,
I suggest taking a look at Ably, it has all the realtime features you need and the platform is designed to guarantee critical functionality at scale.
Here is an in depth comparison between Ably and Firebase
Hey Noam,
I would recommend you to take a look into 8base. It has features you've requested, also relation database and GraphQL API which will help you to develop rapidly.
Thanks, Ilya
GCE is much more user friendly than EC2, though Amazon has come a very long way since the early days (pre-2010's). This can be seen in how easy it is to edit the storage attached to an instance in GCE: it's under the instance details and is edited inline. In AWS you have to click the instance > click the storage block device (new screen) > click the edit option (new modal) > resize the volume > confirm (new model) then wait a very long time. Google's is nearly instant.
- In both cases, the instance much be shut down.
There also the preference between "user burden-of-security" and automatic security: AWS goes for the former, GCE the latter.
Pros of Google Compute Engine
- Backed by google87
- Easy to scale79
- High-performance virtual machines75
- Performance57
- Fast and easy provisioning52
- Load balancing15
- Compliance and security12
- Kubernetes9
- GitHub Integration8
- Consistency7
- Free $300 credit (12 months)4
- One Click Setup Options3
- Good documentation3
- Great integration and product support2
- Escort2
- Ease of Use and GitHub support2
- Nice UI1
- Easy Snapshot and Backup feature1
- Integration with mobile notification services1
- Low cost1
- Support many OS1
- Very Reliable1
Pros of Socket.IO
- Real-time219
- Node.js143
- Event-based communication141
- Open source102
- WebSockets102
- Binary streaming26
- No internet dependency21
- Large community10
- Push notification6
- Ease of access and setup5
- Test1
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Cons of Google Compute Engine
Cons of Socket.IO
- Bad documentation12
- Githubs that complement it are mostly deprecated4
- Doesn't work on React Native3
- Small community2
- Websocket Errors2
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