Added two foundational backend features to the Railbeam - Stardance project. First, we integrated PostgreSQL support to provide a robust, scalable database solution. This replaces earlier stateless approaches, enabling persistent data storage for user sessions, game states, and real-time analytics. The PostgreSQL setup includes optimised schema design and connection pooling for performance.

Introduced a region-aware server model, which dynamically routes user traffic to geographically optimal server instances. This reduces latency for global users and ensures localized compliance for data residency requirements. The model uses IP geolocation and load-balancing logic to adapt to user locations in real time.

Current Status
With these updates, the backend now offers a stable infrastructure for handling complex user interactions and global scalability. The region-aware server is active in staging, and PostgreSQL is fully integrated into the development environment. Next steps include testing cross-region synchronization and refining database query optimizations for high concurrency.

Things Learnt

• Database Integration: Adopting PostgreSQL required careful migration planning and schema validation to avoid data inconsistencies. We learned to prioritize connection resilience and indexing strategies for high-traffic scenarios.
• Geolocation Challenges: Implementing region-aware routing highlighted the trade-offs between latency, cost, and user distribution. We refined the logic to prioritize server proximity without compromising on centralized data management.
• Testing Workflows: Automated testing for database transactions and region routing is critical. We leaned into mock servers and load-testing tools to validate reliability under stress.