Creating a live checkers-like web app with PHP, JS, CSS and HTML?

Question

I want to create a live, checkers-like app, which will work like this: There will be multiple icons/avatars displayed on this checkerboard like surface. I want to have a com

Answer 1

MySQL and XCache !!!!

Make sure you use predefined statements so MySQL does not need to compile the SQL again. Also memtables could be used to use memory storage

Of course make use of indexes appropriately.

If the 'gamestate' is not that important you can even store everything in XCache. Remember that XCache does not store data persistently (after Apache restart)

Answer 2

Sounds like a great project for node.js!

To clarify, node.js is a server-side implementation of javascript. What you'll want is a comet based application (a web-based client application that receives server side pushes instead of the client constantly polling the server), which is exactly what node.js is good at.

Traditional ajax calls for your clients to poll the server for data. This creates enormous overhead for both the client and the server. Allowing the server to push requests directly to the client without the client repeatedly asking solves the overhead issue and creates a more responsive interface. This is accomplished by holding asynchronous client connections on the server and only returning when the server has something to respond with. Once the server responds with data, another connection is immediately created and held by the server again until data is ready to be sent.

You may be able to accomplish the same thing with PHP, but I'm not that familiar with PHP and Comet type applications.

Number of users and hosting costs will play into your file vs DB options. If you're planning on more than a couple of users, I'd stick to the database. There are some NoSQL options available out there, but in my experience MySQL is much faster and more reliable than those options.

Good luck with your project!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_%28programming%29

http://www.nodejs.org/

http://zenmachine.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/node-js-and-comet/

http://socket.io/ - abstracts away the communication layer with your clients based on their capability (LongPolling, WebSockets, etc.)