Deploying a Java/React multiplayer game on Google App Engine: Best practices?

Frontend
1

Hey everyone! I’m new to web dev and I’ve built this cool Connect 4 game using Java/Spring for the backend and React for the frontend. I know it might’ve been easier to do it all in React, but I’m learning Java and wanted to show off my skills.

I’ve got the backend up on Google Cloud App Engine, but I’m stuck on how to deploy the whole thing properly. Right now, when two people open the game in different browsers, they end up in the same game instance. That’s not what I want!

How can I set it up so each player gets their own game? I’m totally lost here. Any tips on deploying a full-stack app like this? Thanks a bunch!

public class GameController {
    private List<GameSession> activeSessions;

    public GameSession createNewGame() {
        GameSession newGame = new GameSession();
        activeSessions.add(newGame);
        return newGame;
    }

    // Other methods...
}

function App() {
  const [gameState, setGameState] = useState(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    // Fetch new game state from backend
    fetchNewGame().then(data => setGameState(data));
  }, []);

  // Render game board...
}
2

hey liam, maybe try websockets to connect diffrent players. assign a uniq game id for each session and use a realtime db like firestore to manage state. that should keep sessions separate. good luck!

3

hey liam! have u considered using a session management system? it could help keep games separate. what about implementing a lobby system where players can create or join specific game rooms? that way, each game gets its own instance. curious to hear what you think about this approach!

4

Implementing a proper session management system is crucial for your multiplayer game. Consider using Spring Session with Redis for efficient session handling. This approach allows you to store session data separately from your application, ensuring each player gets their own game instance.

For deployment, you might want to containerize your application using Docker. This makes it easier to manage dependencies and ensures consistency across different environments. Google Cloud Run could be a good option for deploying containerized applications, offering better scalability than App Engine in some cases.

Remember to implement proper error handling and logging. This will help you diagnose issues in production. Also, consider setting up a CI/CD pipeline for smoother deployments and testing. These practices will greatly improve your application’s reliability and maintainability.