We are currently developing a server whereby a client requests interest in changes to specific data elements and when that data changes the server pushes the data back to the client. There has vigorous debate at work about whether or not it would be better for the client to poll for this data.
What is considered to be the ideal method, in terms of performance, scalability and network load, of data transfer in a near real time environment?
Update: Here’s a Link that gives some food for thought with regards to UI updates.
There’s probably no ideal method for every situation, but push is usually better and used more often. It allows to optimize server caching and data transfers, which helps performance and scalability, and cuts network traffic a bit by avoiding client requests and empty responses. It can be important advantage for a server to operate in it’s own pace and supply clients with data when it is ready.
Industry standarts – such as OPC, GID – support both. Server pushes updates to subscribed clients, but client can pull some rarely used data out without bothering with subscription.