7.50 p.m. Users from all over the world are logging on, waiting for the clock to strike 8 p.m. Their 21 seconds to gain knowledge and compete in the latest interactive quiz game will then begin. But what lies behind the scenes of this unusual game? Let's take a look at the mechanism behind 21 seconds to know.

21 seconds to know - more than a game ​

21 seconds to know is more than a game - it is a dynamic live quiz show in which participants have just 21 seconds to answer each question. Players log in to the game and enter the virtual lobby a few minutes before the game starts. When the clock strikes a set time, the game starts simultaneously for all players.

The questions are varied and test the players' general knowledge. The player must answer correctly to move on to the next question.

6 months earlier... ​

A client comes to us. He has a great idea and has already started working on it. A live telethon. The game starts for everyone at the same time. Prize draw. Emotions like in a real tele-tournament. Sounds great.

However, it turns out that the client system is not designed to handle a real-time game. In addition, the current version cannot handle the increased user traffic.

The real test of strength lies ahead - preparing a platform that will provide performance suitable for high traffic, reliability and smooth operation.

Stage 1: Question Time ​

The experience of our team is proving crucial. The project requires coordination between the developers and the sound engineers and filmmakers preparing the material used on the website.

This is a real round of questions and a test of rapid response. The nature of the project requires constant collaboration with product owners on the client side. Are we able to coordinate the simultaneous launch of multiple games? Will the system work on older devices and how? How will the drawing of winners take place?

Further questions arise to which we need to find answers and a suitable technological solution.

Stage 2: Solution, i.e. realtime lobby and 'dummy' version ​

During a real-life quiz show, all the participants are in one room, waiting for the next questions. We recreated the same conditions by designing the realtime lobby. Users can join at a set time, waiting for the game to begin, which starts for all participants at the same time. This gives the game the feel of a live quiz show.

At the same time, we want to enable participants to play anytime and anywhere. The result is also a simplified version of 21 seconds to know, which allows individual play at any time. Users receive a drawn question from a specific question bank and the prizes are mainly credits to be used in the game from the realtime lobby.

Stage 3: Results ​

As a result, the client receives an advanced engine that supports both a realtime lobby and a simplified version of the game. The system is reliable and ready for future extensions, which significantly increases competitiveness in the market. If it were not for a solution created from scratch and tailored to integrate with an existing system, 21 seconds to know would not have been developed.

Meanwhile, tensions are rising. It's 8 p.m. All users waiting in the realtime lobby receive the first question. The only doubt that remains is who will win the telecourse tonight.