throttled-queue

This utility function allows throttling of a queue any arbitrary code. For example, making network calls to popular APIs such as Twitter is subject to rate limits. By wrapping all of your API calls in a throttle, it will automatically adjust your requests to be within the acceptable rate limits.

Installation

Can be used in a Node.js environment, or directly in the browser.

Node.js

npm install throttled-queue

Browser

<script src="throttled-queue.min.js"></script>

Usage

1. If in node.js, require the factory function:

var throttledQueue = require('throttled-queue');

Else, include it in a script tag in your browser and throttledQueue will be globally available.

2. Create an instance of a throttled queue by specifying the maximum number of requests as the first parameter, and the interval in milliseconds as the second:

var throttle = throttledQueue(5, 1000); // at most 5 requests per second.

3. Use the throttle instance as a function to enqueue actions:

throttle(function() {
    // perform some type of activity in here.
});

Quick Examples

Basic

Rapidly assigning network calls to be run, but they will be limited to 1 request per second.

var throttledQueue = require('throttled-queue');
var throttle = throttledQueue(1, 1000); // at most make 1 request every second.

for (var x = 0; x < 100; x++) {

    throttle(function() {
        // make a network request.
    });
}

Reusable

Wherever the throttle instance is used, your action will be placed into the same queue, and be subject to the same rate limits.

var throttledQueue = require('throttled-queue');
var throttle = throttledQueue(1, 60 * 1000); // at most make 1 request every minute.

for (var x = 0; x < 50; x++) {

    throttle(function() {
        // make a network request.
    });
}
for (var y = 0; y < 50; y++) {

    throttle(function() {
        // make another type of network request.
    });
}

Bursts

By specifying a number higher than 1 as the first parameter, you can dequeue multiple actions within the given interval:

var throttledQueue = require('throttled-queue');
var throttle = throttledQueue(10, 1000); // at most make 10 requests every second.

for (var x = 0; x < 100; x++) {

    throttle(function() {
        // This will fire at most 10 a second, as rapidly as possible.
    });
}

Evenly spaced

You can space out your actions by specifying true as the third (optional) parameter:

var throttledQueue = require('throttled-queue');
var throttle = throttledQueue(10, 1000, true); // at most make 10 requests every second, but evenly spaced.

for (var x = 0; x < 100; x++) {

    throttle(function() {
        // This will fire at most 10 requests a second, spacing them out instead of in a burst.
    });
}

Tests

Note: The tests take a few minutes to run. Watch the console to see how closely the actual rate limit gets to the maximum.

Node.js

Run npm test.

Browser

Open test/index.html in your browser.