I am planning to build an uptime bot tool using Node.js, where users can register their websites and specify intervals for uptime checks. The challenge I'm facing is designing a scalable architecture that can effortlessly scale from handling a handful of cron jobs per minute to several thousand.
The basic idea I had involves creating a single cron job that runs every minute, which then queries and triggers all the specified checks for that particular minute. However, I'm uncertain about the feasibility and efficiency of querying a database for cron job formats (e.g., "* * * * *") and whether such an approach is even possible or advisable.
Here are the main points I'm considering:
Scalability: The solution needs to efficiently scale with the number of websites and their check intervals without requiring a complete overhaul of the architecture as the service grows.
Database Querying: Is it feasible to query a database for cron-style scheduling formats, or is there a better approach to scheduling and managing these checks?
Architecture Simplicity: I aim for the architecture to be as simple as possible, minimizing the complexity of managing and scaling the service.
Given these considerations, I'm seeking advice on:
What architectural patterns or technologies would best suit this use case, especially for managing and scaling the large number of uptime checks in an efficient way?
Is there an effective method to organize and query scheduled tasks in a database, especially if considering cron-style scheduling formats?
I'm open to any suggestions, including changing the approach to scheduling or the overall architecture. I'd greatly appreciate insights or examples from anyone who has tackled similar scalability challenges.
Thank you in advance for your help!