is redis pub/sub realistic in php?

Question

I'd like to use redis pub/sub in PHP, but I'm afraid PHP can't be the only tool: a subscriber need to be always callable, since php isn't built for running as a daemon, I can't trust it to reliably be always "on".

So what is the solution for the PHP world?

1. don't use pub/sub, use other redis' storages with a crontask launching php every x minutes
2. use a broker which will call php?
3. other?

With the "2." I mean : use a nodejs/java/fooBar server which is the daemonized subscriber and call back the php (using http/cli or whatever).

I can't find a better idea than the "2." , but it seem so ineffective at the same way...

What is your opinion?

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EDIT : How would you do this using a cloud platform like platform.sh which do not give the opportunity to have a supervisor.d alike?

Answer 1

Thanks to the comments, I found a satisfying way to go : use of supervisor.d which will relaunch a symfony Command script with :

• set_time_limit(0)
• an infinite loop
• a blocking call to redis (a BRPOP with a max way of 1 sec. lower than the read_write_timeout)
  • it is important to do a blocking command, in order to not consume all the CPU time
  • I would event go to a real pub/sub, but for now, I only have one listener so it don't matter

what I can tell from an early point of view :

• supervisor.d is really easy to install/configure, the doc is complete, I didn't run in any problem, it's very rare + satisfying!
• it seems to works well
• logs are written, so it may be more easy to understand futur crashes
• in case of X successive and near crashes, the service is stopped, I didn't find a way to be notified of this, it is really a problem, I think I'll go to this solution(doc)
• like @Mike Miller said : "Only thing to remember of you go that way is you need to restart after a code change or it will keep running your old code"