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Guide to GraphQL Redis Subscriptions in Node.js

Understanding GraphQL Subscriptions
What is Redis and How Does it Work with GraphQL Subscriptions?
Implementing GraphQL-Redis-Subscriptions in a Node.js Application
Step 1: Installing Dependencies
Step 2: Setting Up Redis Connection
Step 3: Create A PubSub Instance
Step 4: Pass The PubSub Instance To GraphQl Server
Step 5: Publish A Message
Step 6: Subscribe To Message
Example
Conclusion

In the world of modern software development, real-time communication has become a crucial aspect of many applications. Developers often face challenges in implementing efficient and reliable real-time data exchange. However, with the emergence of technologies like GraphQL and Redis, the integration of real-time capabilities has become more accessible and powerful. In this blog, we will delve into the integration of GraphQL-Redis-Subscriptions in a Node.js application, exploring its significance and understanding its implementation in depth.

Understanding GraphQL Subscriptions

GraphQL Subscriptions are a powerful feature that enables real-time data transfer between the server and clients. Unlike typical GraphQL queries and mutations that are used for fetching and modifying data, subscriptions allow clients to receive data in real time when specific events occur on the server. This feature is particularly useful in applications where users require instant updates, such as in messaging platforms, collaborative editing tools, or live tracking applications.

What is Redis and How Does it Work with GraphQL Subscriptions?

Redis, an open-source, in-memory data structure store, serves as a powerful and efficient caching and messaging broker for various use cases. When combined with GraphQL subscriptions, Redis can act as a reliable pub/sub (publish/subscribe) system, facilitating the communication between the server and subscribed clients.

The integration of Redis with GraphQL subscriptions allows the server to publish events to specific channels, and the clients can subscribe to these channels to receive real-time updates. This architecture ensures scalability, performance, and reliability, making it an ideal solution for building robust and responsive real-time applications.

Implementing GraphQL-Redis-Subscriptions in a Node.js Application

Let’s walk through the steps to integrate GraphQL-Redis-Subscriptions into a Node.js application:

Step 1: Installing Dependencies

npm install graphql-redis-subscriptions ioredis

1	npm install graphql-redis-subscriptions ioredis

Step 2: Setting Up Redis Connection

import IORedis from 'ioredis'

export default class RedisConnectionFactory {
  getNewRedisClient(name: string): IORedis.Redis {
    const client = new IORedis(REDIS_URL)

    client.on('connect', () => {
     console.log({
        msg: 'Connected to Redis',
        client: name,
      })
    })
    client.on('error', (err) => {
     console.error({ msg: 'redis error', err, client: name })
    })

    return client
  }
}

export const redisConnectionFactory = new RedisConnectionFactory()

import IORedis from 'ioredis'

export default class RedisConnectionFactory {

getNewRedisClient(name: string): IORedis.Redis {

const client = new IORedis(REDIS_URL)

client.on('connect', () => {

console.log({

msg: 'Connected to Redis',

client: name,

})

client.on('error', (err) => {

console.error({ msg: 'redis error', err, client: name })

})

return client

}

export const redisConnectionFactory = new RedisConnectionFactory()

Step 3: Create A PubSub Instance

// pubsub.ts
import { RedisPubSub } from 'graphql-redis-subscriptions'
import { redisConnectionFactory } from './redis'

export const pubsub = new RedisPubSub({
  subscriber: redisConnectionFactory.getNewRedisClient('pubsub-subscriber'),
  publisher: redisConnectionFactory.getNewRedisClient('pubsub-publisher'),
})

// pubsub.ts

import { RedisPubSub } from 'graphql-redis-subscriptions'

import { redisConnectionFactory } from './redis'

export const pubsub = new RedisPubSub({

subscriber: redisConnectionFactory.getNewRedisClient('pubsub-subscriber'),

publisher: redisConnectionFactory.getNewRedisClient('pubsub-publisher'),

})

Step 4: Pass The PubSub Instance To GraphQl Server

Import { ApolloServer } from 'apollo-server-express';
Import { pubsub } from './pubsub';

const server = new ApolloServer({
  typeDefs,
  resolvers,
  pubsub,
});

Import { ApolloServer } from 'apollo-server-express';

Import { pubsub } from './pubsub';

const server = new ApolloServer({

typeDefs,

resolvers,

pubsub,

});

Step 5: Publish A Message

export function publishMessage(
  bookingId: string,
  message: string,
  mutation?: NexusGenEnums['MutationType'],
): void {
  console.log(`publishing ${bookingId}-booking-message`)
  pubsub.publish(`${bookingId}-booking-message`, {
    bookingId: bookingId,
    message,
    mutation,
  })
}

export function publishMessage(

bookingId: string,

message: string,

mutation?: NexusGenEnums['MutationType'],

): void {

console.log(`publishing ${bookingId}-booking-message`)

pubsub.publish(`${bookingId}-booking-message`, {

bookingId: bookingId,

message,

mutation,

})

}

export const MessageSubscriptionPayload = objectType({
  name: 'MessageSubscriptionPayload',
  definition(t) {
    t.id('bookingId')
    t.field('mutation', { type: 'MutationType' })
    t.string('message')
  },
})

export const MessageSubscription = subscriptionField('onMessage', {
  type: nonNull('MessageSubscriptionPayload'),
  args: {
    bookingId: nonNull(idArg({ description: 'The booking id' })),
  },
  subscribe: (_, { bookingId }, ctx) => {
   console.log(`subscribed ${bookingId}-booking-message`)
    return ctx.pubsub.asyncIterator<number>(`${bookingId}-booking-message`)
  },
  resolve: (payload: PublishType) => payload,
})

export const MessageSubscriptionPayload = objectType({

name: 'MessageSubscriptionPayload',

definition(t) {

t.id('bookingId')

t.field('mutation', { type: 'MutationType' })

t.string('message')

})

export const MessageSubscription = subscriptionField('onMessage', {

type: nonNull('MessageSubscriptionPayload'),

args: {

bookingId: nonNull(idArg({ description: 'The booking id' })),

subscribe: (_, { bookingId }, ctx) => {

console.log(`subscribed ${bookingId}-booking-message`)

return ctx.pubsub.asyncIterator<number>(`${bookingId}-booking-message`)

resolve: (payload: PublishType) => payload,

})

Example

Here is an example of a subscription query:

subscription onMessage($bookingId: ID!) {
  onMessage(bookingId: $bookingId) {
    mutation
    message
  }
}

subscription onMessage($bookingId: ID!) {

onMessage(bookingId: $bookingId) {

mutation

message

}

This query will subscribe to the onMessage event. When a new message is published, the server will send a notification to the client with the message data.

Conclusion

Integrating GraphQL-Redis-Subscriptions in a Node.js application with the help of node.js development services can significantly enhance the real-time capabilities of your software. By leveraging the power of GraphQL for efficient data management and Redis for reliable pub/sub functionality, developers can create responsive and scalable applications across various domains, including healthcare, finance, and travel, among others.

By incorporating this technology stack, custom software development companies can build robust solutions tailored to the unique requirements of diverse industries. Whether it’s financial software development, healthcare software development, or travel software development, the integration of GraphQL-Redis-Subscriptions can elevate the performance and user experience of the applications.

In conclusion, as the demand for responsive and real-time applications continues to rise, the integration of GraphQL-Redis-Subscriptions in Node.js applications with node.js development services stands as a viable and efficient solution for meeting these evolving demands. With a deeper understanding of this integration, developers can create innovative and seamless real-time applications for various industries and domains.

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