Contents
Roadmap info from roadmap website
Here’s a comparison of Melody and Centrifugo in a markdown table:
| Feature | Melody | Centrifugo |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | WebSocket framework for handling connections and messages | Scalable real-time messaging server for WebSockets, HTTP, and other protocols |
| Architecture | Simple, library-based approach, runs inside your Go app | Standalone server that integrates with your backend |
| Use Case | Suitable for small to medium real-time WebSocket applications | Ideal for high-scale real-time applications and broadcasting |
| Scaling | Requires manual scaling or external solutions | Built-in horizontal scaling with Redis or NATS for pub/sub |
| Protocol Support | WebSocket only | WebSocket, HTTP-streaming, SSE, GRPC |
| Persistence | Does not provide built-in persistence | Built-in support for persistence with Redis |
| Authentication | Simple, needs to be implemented in your app | Provides JWT-based authentication and API support |
| Load Balancing | Needs manual setup for load balancing | Automatic load balancing with Redis or NATS |
| Message Delivery | Manages connections and messaging in your app logic | Guarantees message delivery with pub/sub mechanisms |
| Client Support | Focus on Go-based WebSocket servers | Multiple clients: Web, Mobile, GRPC, etc. |
| Documentation | Lightweight and straightforward | More extensive due to its larger scope |
| Community/Support | Smaller, more niche | Larger, with more enterprise-level use cases |
| Built-in Features | Lightweight WebSocket management, connection handling | More comprehensive: channels, presence, history, etc. |
Summary
- Melody is a lightweight WebSocket library that integrates directly into Go applications. It is best for projects that need basic WebSocket support without additional layers of complexity.
- Centrifugo is a more feature-rich, scalable real-time messaging server, which supports multiple protocols and is ideal for larger applications that require distributed systems and high concurrency.
Here are example use cases for both Melody and Centrifugo:
When to Choose Melody vs Centrifugo__
-
Use Melody when:
- You need simple WebSocket support in a Go application.
- You don’t require horizontal scaling or external pub/sub services.
- The use case involves a small or medium-sized project with fewer concurrent users.
-
Use Centrifugo when:
- You require high scalability, fault tolerance, and horizontal scaling.
- You need features like channel history, presence, and built-in pub/sub systems.
- The project involves large-scale real-time messaging (e.g., live dashboards, games, social networks).