I'm exploring the development of an on-demand application using PHP and would like to understand how experienced developers approach real-time functionality.
The application would allow customers to request services while service providers can view and accept nearby requests. Some of the requirements include real-time provider availability, booking management, location updates, notifications, and payment processing.
For a PHP-based backend, what would be the best approach for:
Handling real-time booking and status updates
Managing provider availability and concurrent bookings
Integrating location-based searches
Using WebSockets or AJAX for real-time communication
Structuring the database for users, providers, bookings, and transactions
Scaling the application as the number of users increases
Would PHP with a framework such as Laravel be a suitable choice for this type of system, or are there other approaches worth considering?