- ## The Challenge
Building scheduling systems that handle multiple users isn't trivial. You need:
- Conflict detection and prevention
- Real-time availability updates
- Efficient time slot algorithms
- Permission management
Core Architecture
Database Schema: Design with user, time slot, and reservation tables. Index on (user_id, start_time) for fast queries.
Conflict Resolution: Use pessimistic locking to prevent race conditions when checking availability.
Real-time Updates: Implement WebSockets to push availability changes to clients instantly.
Caching Strategy: Cache free slots with TTL to reduce database load.
Implementation Tips
- Use interval trees for efficient slot management
- Implement exponential backoff for retry logic
- Add event sourcing for audit trails
- Monitor query performance on time-based searches
The Results
Businesses implementing these patterns report:
- 40% fewer scheduling conflicts
- 99.9% system uptime
- Sub-100ms response times
Originally published on BarberPro Studio Blog
