Building TicketCrib: A Modern Event Ticketing Platform

April 30, 2025 (1mo ago)

Building TicketCrib: A Modern Event Ticketing Platform

Introduction

TicketCrib represents the next generation of event ticketing platforms, specifically designed to handle high-demand events while ensuring fair access and preventing scalping. Built with modern technologies and real-time capabilities, it solves common problems in the ticketing industry such as server crashes during high-demand sales, ticket scalping, and the complexities of refund management.

Technical Stack

The platform is built with cutting-edge technologies:

Key Features

1. Smart Queue Management System

The heart of TicketCrib is its sophisticated queueing system, designed to handle massive concurrent user loads during high-demand ticket sales:

// Queue implementation with Convex
const useTicketQueue = (eventId: string) => {
  const queue = useQuery(api.queue.getPosition, { eventId });
  const joinQueue = useMutation(api.queue.join);
 
  return {
    position: queue?.position,
    estimatedWaitTime: queue?.estimatedWait,
    totalAhead: queue?.ahead,
    joinQueue: () => joinQueue({ eventId }),
  };
};

Key features of our queueing system:

2. Real-time Inventory Management

We implement real-time ticket inventory tracking to prevent overselling:

// Real-time ticket availability check
const useTicketAvailability = (eventId: string) => {
  const inventory = useQuery(api.tickets.getAvailability, { eventId });
 
  return {
    available: inventory?.available ?? 0,
    reserved: inventory?.reserved ?? 0,
    maxPerPurchase: inventory?.maxPerPurchase,
    isAvailable: (inventory?.available ?? 0) > 0,
  };
};

3. Automated Refund System

One of our most innovative features is the automated refund system that handles event cancellations seamlessly:

// Automated refund processing
const processRefund = async (eventId: string) => {
  // Fetch all tickets for the event
  const tickets = await api.tickets.getEventTickets({ eventId });
 
  // Process refunds in batches
  const batches = chunk(tickets, 50);
  for (const batch of batches) {
    await Promise.all(
      batch.map((ticket) =>
        api.payments.refund({
          ticketId: ticket.id,
          amount: ticket.price,
          reason: "Event Cancelled",
        })
      )
    );
  }
};

Features of the refund system:

4. Digital Ticket Verification

Each ticket includes a unique QR code that can be verified in real-time:

// QR code generation with verification data
const generateTicketQR = (ticketData: TicketData) => {
  const verificationString = generateVerificationString({
    eventId: ticketData.eventId,
    ticketId: ticketData.id,
    purchaserId: ticketData.purchaserId,
    timestamp: Date.now(),
  });
 
  return generateQR(verificationString);
};

Technical Challenges and Solutions

1. Handling High Concurrency

The biggest challenge was managing thousands of concurrent users during popular event releases. We solved this by:

2. Preventing Ticket Scalping

To combat scalping, we implemented:

3. Real-time Synchronization

Keeping all users synchronized during high-traffic events required:

Business Impact

Since launching TicketCrib, we've achieved:

Future Roadmap

We're working on exciting new features:

Conclusion

TicketCrib demonstrates how modern web technologies can solve complex real-world problems in the event ticketing industry. By focusing on real-time capabilities, fair access, and automated processes, we've created a platform that serves both event organizers and attendees effectively.

Check out TicketCrib to see it in action!

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