MathArena
An online equation board game with real-time multiplayer, bot practice, rankings, and tournaments.
Real-time systems · Game rules · Product delivery
Behind MathArena
The challenge
Correctness goes beyond arithmetic. Players need consistent turns, scores, and clocks—even when a connection drops.
The engineering
The server validates tile placements and every equation they form. Redis holds live match state; Postgres stores match records. Room locks coordinate competing actions, while regression tests cover reconnect and spectator recovery.
The tradeoff
Separating live and durable state adds coordination and operational work. Consistency across those boundaries needs explicit handling and testing.