# Implementing distributed user counters

**URL:** <https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/implementing-distributed-user-counters/71270>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Tags:** distributed, phoenixtracker, pheonix-presence\
**Created:** [June 13, 2025, 8:02am UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/implementing-distributed-user-counters/71270 "2025-06-13T08:02:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 16

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**Author:** ![Phxie](https://forum.elixirforum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Phxie](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/Phxie)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 1:07am UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/implementing-distributed-user-counters/71270/16 "2025-06-14T01:07:14Z")

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I’m confused as to why you’re confused because I’ve explained my thoughts on the differences between ETS and Redis multiple times.

More importantly, this was not meant to be the ETS vs Redis debate it became.

OP posted an issue and said:

> [@jaybe78](#):
>
> At this point, I\m running out of ideas

So I suggested a new idea that I know can work for the problem they are having. I don’t get why everyone on this site feels the need to turn simple comments aimed at just offering an alternative insight into bizaare 1up quote competitions.

> [@garrison](#):
>
> The only reason you would want to _actually_ use Redis is if you wanted its vast array of fancy data structures, which in this case maybe you don’t, seeing as you have _already_ implemented your system on ETS.

_actually_

Your making out that I’m suggesting Redis just because of “fancy” data structures and that OP didn’t make a post stating **their current system does not work the way they want it to.** People are allowed to offer alternative solutions they think will solve the issue.

> [@garrison](#):
>
> This is not a _literal_ answer, but the quintessential example would be something like an exchange/order-matching system: something which processes (financial) transactions. If you want to learn more about that the magic keywords are “LMAX architecture”, plus check out Tigerbeetle for a modern fault-tolerant rendition.

Whats the point in answering the question with something that has **nothing** to do with tracking user presence or the question being asked. The topic is real time presence tracking, not general transactions at scale.

Presence involves users constantly joining/leaving and moving to different channels which involves updating users, rooms and counts constantly. I had this same problem with you in another thread where you just kept taking things off on random tangents.

I’m done with this whole forum I think. I just wanted to share a potential solution to the issue in the post.

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