Efficient Client-Server Communication with Differential Synchronization

In this session, we'll look at a technique known as Differential Synchronization, building on top of HTTP PATCH and JSON Patch to enable efficient two-way conversation between clients and the servers they deal with.

At some point, almost all client applications communicate with a server backend. But such communication comes with a cost. Network latency and bandwidth limitations can bring clients to their knees. And if the client is running on a mobile device, unnecessary communication can effect a drain on the device's battery.

Traditional REST, through which many clients and servers communicate, can be chatty, exhibiting the problems that kill client performance. In the interest of more efficient communication, it may be helpful to look beyond traditional REST. HTTP PATCH (and more specifically, JSON Patch) go a long way toward reducing the chatter. But these specifications introduce their own problems and fail to properly address two-way data binding between client and server.

About Craig Walls

Craig Walls is a Principal Engineer, Java Champion, Alexa Champion, and the author of Spring AI in Action, Spring in Action, and Build Talking Apps. He's a zealous promoter of the Spring Framework, speaking frequently at local user groups and conferences and writing about Spring. When he's not slinging code, Craig is planning his next trip to Disney World or Disneyland and spending as much time as he can with his wife, two daughters, 1 bird and 2 dogs.

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