game-backend-api-design

Server-authoritative APIs prevent client-side state manipulation by defining REST and real-time WebSocket contracts for deterministic gameplay commands, events, and state flows. This ensures the server validates all client actions and controls game outcomes.

Use REST for bootstrap and non-real-time operations, and WebSockets for primary real-time gameplay commands and events. This separation ensures reliable initial state loading while maintaining low-latency, server-authoritative communication during active hacking sequences.

Structure command and event schemas by defining client-to-server and server-to-client communication contracts. Codify validation rules, error handling, and deterministic state flows for commands like START_HACK and events like HACK_PROGRESS to guide backend and frontend implementation.

The best way to prevent client-side state manipulation is enforcing server-authoritative API contracts. By establishing deterministic state flows and strict validation rules, the server validates all gameplay commands before applying state changes, preventing unauthorized modifications.

Yes, server-authoritative design works by combining REST for bootstrap operations and WebSocket for real-time gameplay. This dual-channel approach covers both non-real-time setup and deterministic, real-time command and event processing for multiplayer interactions.

Handle validation and error handling by codifying strict contract schemas and security rules within your API documentation. Define deterministic error responses for invalid WebSocket commands and REST requests to ensure consistent behavior across backend and frontend systems.