PlayBroadcast Dev Update #2: Building Real-Time Chat and Smart Notifications

Hey everyone! 👋

I'm Kaleb, and I've been enlisted to help Josh to build PlayBroadcast into an amazing platform for creators and viewers. I've been building interesting live stream experiences for years in the sports space, and I'm super excited to build out and contribute to this great project.

Please note: the features discussed in this post may not all be available in our initial alpha testing phase and are subject to change over time.

After our first dev update about PlayBroadcast's foundation, we thought we'd better talk about two features that are absolutely critical to any streaming platform: live chat and notifications. Today, I want to pull back the curtain and show you exactly how we're building these systems to be faster, smarter, and more creator-friendly than anything else out there.

Why We Built Our Own Chat System

Most streaming platforms either license third-party chat solutions or build something basic that "just works." We took a different approach. When we evaluated existing chat providers, we kept running into the same problems: limited customization, high costs at scale, and features that didn't align with what gamers actually need.

So we built our own from the ground up using Cloudflare Workers and Durable Objects.

Real-Time Performance That Actually Scales

Our chat system runs on Cloudflare's edge network, which means messages are processed as close to your viewers as possible. No more delays, no more dropped messages during peak hours. When a viewer sends a message in your chat, it's delivered instantly to everyone watching.

But here's where it gets interesting: we didn't just build basic messaging. We built a complete moderation and role management system directly into the chat infrastructure.

Smart Moderation Tools That Make Sense

Every broadcaster knows that chat moderation can make or break a stream. We've implemented a comprehensive command system that gives you and your moderators real control:

• Role-based permissions: Assign mods and VIPs with granular control over what they can do
• Smart timeout and ban system: Temporary restrictions with automatic expiration
• AI-powered moderation: Toggle intelligent content filtering on or off (your choice)
• Warning system: Give viewers a heads up before taking action
• Chat clearing: Clean slate when needed, with full moderation logs

What sets our system apart is that everything is permission-based and logged. Every moderation action is recorded, so you can review what happened and when. No more mystery bans or confused viewers.

Built for Customization

Remember how we mentioned that PlayBroadcast is API-first? That philosophy extends to chat too. Streamers can:

• Pop out chat into separate windows for multi-monitor setups
• Customize appearance with color themes and font sizes that sync across devices
• Role badges that clearly show who's who in your community
• Message history that loads the last 5 minutes when someone joins

These aren't afterthoughts—they're core features we designed from day one.

Notifications That Actually Matter

Now let's talk notifications. If you've used other platforms, you know the pain: either you're drowning in useless notifications, or you miss the important stuff because the system is too basic.

We built a real-time notification system that's both powerful and smart.

Different Types for Different Needs
Our notification system handles multiple types of alerts:

• Stream notifications: When someone you follow goes live
• Channel notifications: New followers, subscribers, and channel-specific updates
• System notifications: Platform updates and important announcements
• Moderation alerts: When actions are taken in your chat

Each notification type can be configured differently, so you get exactly what you want, when you want it.

Real-Time Delivery via WebSockets

Here's the technical bit that makes a real difference: our notifications use persistent WebSocket connections with heartbeat monitoring. This means:

• Instant delivery: No waiting for email or push notifications
• Reliable connection: Auto-reconnection if something goes wrong
• Battery-friendly: Smart heartbeat system that doesn't drain mobile devices
• Deduplication: You'll never see the same notification twice

Smart Batching for Creators

If you're a creator with a lot of followers, you know notification spam is real. When you go live, we don't send 1,000 individual notifications—we batch them intelligently and send them in waves. This keeps our system fast while ensuring all your followers get notified.

The system even tracks notification delivery and read status, so you can see how your community engages with your content.

Why This Architecture Matters

Both our chat and notification systems run on Cloudflare's global edge network. This isn't just buzzword bingo—it's a fundamental advantage:

• Global performance: Whether your viewers are in Tokyo or Toronto, they get the same fast experience
• 99.9% uptime: Built on infrastructure that handles millions of requests per second
• Infinite scale: No viewer caps, no premium tiers for "more chat users"
• Cost-effective: We don't pay per message or per user, so neither do you
  
  

What's Next

This is just the beginning. We're already working on:

• Custom notification workflows for different events
• Mobile app integration with proper push notifications
• Third-party integrations via our public API (this one we are super excited about, keep an eye out for a future blog post 👀)

The goal isn't just to match what other platforms offer—it's to build tools that help creators build better communities.

Real Talk: Why We're Doing This

Building chat and notifications from scratch isn't easy. It would've been faster to use existing solutions. But here's the thing: when you're trying to create a platform where creators feel truly at home, "good enough" isn't good enough.

Every feature we build asks the same question: Does this help creators focus on creating? Chat moderation that actually works, notifications that don't overwhelm—these aren't nice-to-haves. They're necessities for anyone serious about building a community around gaming.

We're not just building another streaming platform. We're building the streaming platform that gamers and creators deserve.

Stay tuned for more updates—we're just getting started. 🎮🚀

Want to be part of PlayBroadcast's future? Alpha testing is coming soon. Follow us for updates and early access opportunities.