This document discusses SignalR, a library for adding real-time web functionality to applications. It introduces topics like hubs for invoking client-side methods, targeting specific clients with connection IDs, grouping clients, and scaling out across servers. Code demos are provided for using WebSockets, hubs, targeting clients and groups, and scaling out to Windows Azure. The document recommends SignalR as a rich API that supports real-time web applications using the best transport options and handles scaling challenges.

1. SignalRity
Yaniv Rodenski
Senior Architect – Sela Group
Level: Intermediate - Advanced

2. The way I used to get my data

3. The way She is Getting her Data

4. How do I get my data?

5. Real-Time Web

6. SignalRity
Yaniv Rodenski
Senior Architect – Sela Group
Level: Intermediate - Advanced

7. About me:
• Senior Architect - Sela Group
• Windows Azure MVP
• Coauthor of Developing Windows Azure
and Web Services (MOC 20487)

8. Evolution of the real-time web
Polling
Long Polling
Forever-Frame
Server-sent Events
WebSockets

9. Demo
Using WebSockets

10. Why WebSockets are not Enough?
• HTML5 standard – great if you are
living in 2020
• Low-level API
• Strict prerequisites

11. Introducing SignalR
• Rich API for real-time web applications
• Supports WebSockets
• Fallback to other mechanisms

12. Hubs
• Hubs are high-level SignalR APIs
• Provide a service-like abstraction
• Provide a mechanism for invoking client
methods

13. Demo
Hello Hubs

14. Targeting Specific Clients
• When a client calls a hub, it gets a
connection id
• You can use this connection id to send a
message to this specific client
Clients.Client(connectionId).sendMessage(message)

15. Groups
• Clients can be registered with a group
• Part of the Hubs API
Groups.Add(Context.ConnectionId, groupName);
Clients.Group(groupName).invokeSomeClientMethod(args…);

16. Demo
Clients and Groups

17. Scaling out with SignalR
• One of the biggest issues with the “real-
time web” is scaling out
• SignalR can span across multiple hosts
using either Redis, SQL Server or
Windows Azure Service Bus

18. Demo
Scaling out with Windows Azure

19. SignalR .NET Clients
• You can create SignalR clients in any .NET
environment
– .NET applications
– Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 Apps
– Even Silverlight
– Xamarin

20. Demo
A .NET Client

21. Summary
• Real-time web does not need to be painful
• SignalR can let you use the best available
option
• SignalR is not just for web clients
• SignalR scales

22. Resources
• http://signalr.net/
• Twitter: @DamianEdwards, @davidfowl
• http://sdrv.ms/152qU0b
• @YRodenski