Socket.IO vs SocketCluster vs deepstream.io: What are the differences?

Introduction

Socket.IO, SocketCluster, and deepstream.io are all real-time frameworks used in building applications that require real-time communication between clients and servers.

1. Protocol Support: Socket.IO primarily uses WebSockets as the main transport protocol, but it also provides fallback options like polling and long-polling. SocketCluster, on the other hand, focuses on using WebSocket over HTTP/2, which can provide better performance and efficiency. deepstream.io also supports WebSockets along with other protocols like MQTT and HTTP.

2. Scalability: SocketCluster and deepstream.io are designed with scalability in mind from the ground up, using features like horizontal scaling, load balancing, and clustering to handle a large number of concurrent users seamlessly. Socket.IO, while capable of handling multiple connections, may require additional configuration and third-party tools for efficient scaling in high-demand scenarios.

3. RPC Support: SocketCluster provides built-in support for Remote Procedure Calls (RPC), allowing for easy communication between different parts of the application or even between different nodes in a cluster. deepstream.io also offers similar RPC capabilities for orchestrating interactions between clients and servers. Socket.IO, while versatile, may require custom implementation for achieving the same level of RPC functionality.

4. Presence Management: deepstream.io, in particular, excels in providing robust presence management features that allow developers to track online/offline status, user metadata, and other real-time presence information within the application. While both SocketCluster and Socket.IO offer some level of presence functionality, deepstream.io is specifically tailored for scenarios where real-time collaboration and user tracking are crucial aspects of the application.

5. Authentication and Authorization: SocketCluster and deepstream.io come with built-in support for authentication and authorization mechanisms, making it easier for developers to secure their real-time applications using various strategies like JWT tokens, OAuth, and custom authentication plugins. Socket.IO, while flexible, may require more manual configuration and third-party modules to achieve the same level of security features.

6. Community and Ecosystem: Socket.IO boasts a large and active community of developers, extensive documentation, and a wide ecosystem of plugins and integrations, making it a popular choice for real-time applications with varying requirements. SocketCluster and deepstream.io, while not as widely adopted as Socket.IO, have their dedicated communities and offer unique features that cater to specific use cases, providing a more specialized approach to real-time communication.

In Summary, SocketCluster, deepstream.io, and Socket.IO offer different approaches to real-time communication, with distinct features like protocol support, scalability options, RPC capabilities, presence management, authentication mechanisms, and community support that cater to diverse use cases in real-time application development.