SocketBox: Drop-In WebSockets for the CFML & BoxLang Ecosystem

WebSockets have long been a gap in the CFML ecosystem, until now. SocketBox is a new library from Ortus Solutions that brings first-class WebSocket support to Lucee, Adobe ColdFusion, and BoxLang apps, all without requiring a separate server or port. Built into CommandBox 6.1+ and the BoxLang MiniServer, it works by upgrading HTTP connections at the listener level and routing incoming messages to a simple CFC handler in your web root, meaning your existing session scopes, cookies, and CGI variables all work as expected.

In this session, we'll explore both of SocketBox's usage modes: the lightweight WebSocketCore for rolling your own real-time messaging, and the more powerful STOMP broker for pub/sub patterns with built-in authentication and authorization hooks. Whether you're building a live chat, a dashboard with live data, or a collaborative tool, SocketBox gives CF and BoxLang developers a drop-in solution comparable to what Socket.io brought to the Node.js world.