gRPC

Website

grpc.io

$ Details

Categories

#Web Servers #Web And Application Servers #Load Balancer / Reverse Proxy #Developer Tools

memcached

Website

memcached.org

$ Details

Categories

#Key-Value Database #Databases #NoSQL Databases #Graph Databases

gRPC features and specs

• Performance
  gRPC uses Protocol Buffers, which are more efficient in terms of serialization and deserialization compared to text-based formats like JSON. This leads to lower CPU usage and faster transmission, making it suitable for high-performance applications.
• Bi-directional Streaming
  gRPC supports bi-directional streaming, enabling both client and server to send a series of messages through a single connection. This is particularly useful for real-time communication applications.
• Strongly Typed APIs
  gRPC uses Protocol Buffers for defining service methods and message types, providing a strong type system that can catch potential issues at compile-time rather than runtime.
• Cross-language Support
  gRPC supports a wide range of programming languages, including but not limited to Java, C++, Python, Go, and C#. This allows for flexible integration in polyglot environments.
• Built-in Deadlines/Timeouts
  gRPC natively supports deadlines and timeouts to help manage long-running calls and avoid indefinite blocking, improving robustness and reliability.
• Automatic Code Generation
  gRPC provides tools for automatic code generation from .proto files, reducing boilerplate code and speeding up the development process.

Possible disadvantages of gRPC

• Learning Curve
  The complexity of gRPC and Protocol Buffers may present a steep learning curve for developers who are not familiar with these technologies.
• Limited Browser Support
  gRPC was not originally designed with browser support in mind, making it challenging to directly call gRPC services from web applications without additional tools like gRPC-Web.
• Verbose Configuration
  Setting up gRPC and defining .proto files can be more verbose compared to simpler RESTful APIs, which might be a deterrent for smaller projects.
• HTTP/2 Requirement
  gRPC relies on HTTP/2 for transport, which can be problematic in environments where HTTP/2 is not supported or requires additional configuration.
• Limited Monitoring and Debugging Tools
  Compared to REST, there are fewer tools available for monitoring, debugging, and testing gRPC services, which might complicate troubleshooting and performance tuning.
• Protobuf Ecosystem Requirement
  Depending on the language, integrating Protocol Buffers might require additional dependencies and tooling, which could add to the maintenance overhead.

memcached features and specs

• High Performance
  Memcached is incredibly fast and efficient at caching data in memory, enabling quick data retrieval and reducing the load on databases. Its in-memory nature significantly reduces latency.
• Scalability
  Memcached can be easily scaled horizontally by adding more nodes to the caching cluster. This allows it to handle increased loads and large datasets without performance degradation.
• Simplicity
  Memcached has a simple design and API, making it easy to implement and use. Developers can quickly integrate it into their applications without a steep learning curve.
• Open Source
  Memcached is free and open-source software, which means it can be used and modified without any licensing fees. This makes it a cost-effective solution for caching.
• Language Agnostic
  Memcached supports multiple programming languages through various client libraries, making it versatile and suitable for use in diverse tech stacks.

Possible disadvantages of memcached

• Data Volatility
  Memcached stores data in RAM, so all cached data is lost if the server is restarted or crashes. This makes it unsuitable for storing critical or persistent data.
• Limited Data Types
  Memcached primarily supports simple key-value pairs. It lacks the rich data types and more complex structures supported by some other caching solutions like Redis.
• No Persistence
  Memcached does not offer any data persistence features. It cannot save data to disk, so all information is ephemeral and will be lost on system reset.
• Size Limitation
  Memcached has a memory limit for each instance, thus, large-scale applications may need to manage multiple instances and ensure data is properly distributed.
• Security
  Memcached does not provide built-in security features such as authentication or encryption. This can be a concern in environments where data privacy and security are critical.

Analysis of memcached

gRPC, Protobufs and Go... OH MY! An introduction to building client/server systems with gRPC

More videos:

Course Preview: Using Memcached and Varnish to Speed Up Your Linux Web App