⚡ TCP_NODELAY — The one flag every game server and trading system sets
By default, TCP is trying to be clever. Too clever.
It uses an algorithm called Nagle’s Algorithm — introduced in 1984 — that buffers small packets and waits before sending them. The idea: bundle multiple small writes into one bigger packet to reduce network overhead.
Sounds smart. In the wrong context, it’s a latency killer. 💀
🎮 Why it hurts game servers
Your game sends a tiny position update — 20 bytes. Nagle says: “Wait, maybe more data is coming.” So it holds the packet for up to 200ms hoping to bundle it.
In a first-person shooter, 200ms feels like an eternity.
📈 Why it hurts trading systems
A market order hits your server. Nagle buffers it. Your competitor’s order lands 40ms earlier. You missed the trade.
In high-frequency trading, microseconds are money.
🔧 The fix is one line:
int flag = 1;
setsockopt(fd, IPPROTO_TCP, TCP_NODELAY, &flag, sizeof(flag));
Every packet ships immediately. No buffering, no waiting.
⚠️ One caveat: TCP_NODELAY increases network overhead for chatty protocols. For bulk file transfers or HTTP it’s usually wrong. For real-time systems it’s almost always right.
🐧 Sometimes the smartest thing your OS can do is get out of the way.
Help needed for Unity game translation. I don't know where to find an up-to-date answer. Any ideas?
For her thesis, a university student in Spain is translating a game from our @gamingagainstv program. She's not technical & we hope to use spreadsheets.
The game is Unity (2020.3.31f1). We have 'I2 Localization' but the web app URL is dead & it seems unsupported.
Are there any easy solutions using spreadsheets for this version of Unity?
I'm only concerned about translating the dialogue which is in a large JSON file.
TIA for any help.
We had a fun event of playing different games. Thank you all for joining and presenters for their games.
Games that where playable:
"Kalewala, The Tale of Sampo" -board game by Tuomas Mansikka (Developer) + Annukka Repo (Art) + Sami Styrman (Publisher) SamsaGames
"Defenders of Kaiju Island" - board game by Jussi Kenkkilä
"Pirate Fight" -card game by Otto Schmitz
Other games are still work of progress, but Kalewala, the Tale of Sampo is available at: https://www.nukkarepo.com/taleofsampo
Defenders of Kaiju Island might be available to playing in the Ropecon 2026!
#lahti #gamedev #boardgames #cardgames #peliala #igda #igdalahti #kalewalataleofsampo #defendersofkaijuisland #piratefight
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