Real-time applications: the essence, types and testing peculiarities

Real-time applications (RTA) are now essential components in the digital world, a world in which speed and relevance of information determine success. These applications allow users to get the most recent information, ensuring an immediate response to changes in real-time.

What is a real-time application?

A real-time application is software intended to provide users with updated information without delay. In other words, it is the instant data transfer between two or more points (clients, servers, etc.). Such applications use technologies that allow them to quickly update data and present them to users in real-time. These apps can range from instant messengers to financial trading platforms; from transmitting data such as video, audio, or text to user interaction in games.

Among other examples are sending in-app notifications in real-time or integration with Internet of Things (IoT) devices. 

Real-time apps often rely on event-driven architecture for asynchronous processing of streaming data.

Real-time application types

Real-time application types include: 

• social media: platforms like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram that provide real-time updates and messages; 
• financial applications: services for monitoring financial markets and stock trading, such as Bloomberg Terminal Robinhood, as well as mobile banking applications such as PayPal and Revolut;
• navigation applications: provide relevant traffic and routing information, for example, Google Maps or Waze;
• messengers: platforms for real-time message exchange and voice calls, for example, WhatsApp or Telegram;
• games: online games that allow players to play together with other users in real-time, such as Fornite or League of Legends.

Real-time application classification

The main feature of real-time applications is that they perform tasks in real-time within a certain time constraint. Real-time applications are classified based on the severity of the consequences of not completing a task within a specified time limit.

The classifications of real-time applications include the following types:

• Hard. A hard real-time system leads to a crash of the entire system in case it fails to meet a deadline or time constraint. For example, an industrial safety system with an unacceptable time delay can result in physical damage to the equipment.
• Firm. Missing a deadline is acceptable in this type, but it causes a significant quality decrease. For example, in a videoconference, latency can degrade the quality of the call, but the computer system can still be used.
• Soft. In these programs, the results decrease in quality after the deadline, regardless of whether the deadline is met or not. A good example of a soft real-time system is video games. Video games depend on user input and have limited processing time; for this reason, result degradation can sometimes be expected.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• relevance: users are provided with updated information without delay;
• efficiency: quick response to changes in real-time, as well as interaction with other users;
• convenience: communication and work are simplified;
• engagement: real-time applications offer an immediacy that engages users unlike traditional applications, which allows companies to connect with their customers in a more meaningful way.

Disadvantages:

• dependence on the network: the apps require a stable internet connection to work effectively;
• resource consumption: some applications can consume a lot of energy and device resources;
• privacy and security: the risk of personal data leakage caused by the use of real-time applications.

Specifics of testing

Testing real-time applications requires the use of particular approaches and tools. The main focus is to check the performance, stability, and accuracy of real-time data transmission. Apart from general types of testing, such as functional testing and user interaction testing, there are also more specialized approaches.

Some of the key aspects of testing include:

• load testing: verifying the quality of the application with a large amount of data and users;
• speed testing: measuring the response time of the application to user requests;
• recovery testing: testing the ability of the application to quickly recover from failures;
• security testing: checking vulnerability to attacks and protection against them, along with the protection of users' personal data.

The success of real-time applications is heavily dependent on their reliability, efficiency, and security. This is why testing plays a critical role in ensuring these characteristics and helps to provide a positive user experience.

Real-time applications serve a key role in today's digital world, providing users with the necessary current information and the ability to interact quickly. They require specialized testing and attention to detail to guarantee their effectiveness and reliability.