Windsurf
realtime
Database Change Streams Not Firing in Windsurf App
Your Windsurf-generated app uses database change streams or real-time subscriptions to push updates to the frontend, but events are not firing. Inserts, updates, and deletes in the database don't trigger the real-time listeners, so the UI stays stale and users have to manually refresh to see new data.
This is critical for features like live feeds, collaborative editing, real-time dashboards, and chat applications. Cascade sets up the subscription code, and it may work intermittently or only for certain operations, making the bug difficult to reproduce and diagnose.
The issue may appear as a dashboard that only updates on page refresh, a chat where new messages don't appear until you reload, or a collaborative document that doesn't reflect other users' changes in real time.
Error Messages You Might See
MongoError: The $changeStream stage is only supported on replica sets
No realtime events received for table
Subabase realtime subscription status: CHANNEL_ERROR
change stream closed unexpectedly
Error: Realtime connection timed out
Common Causes
- Replica set not configured (MongoDB) — MongoDB change streams require a replica set. A standalone MongoDB instance silently ignores change stream requests
- Realtime not enabled on table (Supabase) — Supabase requires explicitly enabling real-time on each table in the dashboard or via SQL
- Subscription filter too restrictive — The change stream filter or subscription filter excludes the events you're expecting (e.g., filtering for INSERT but needing UPDATE)
- Connection closed silently — The change stream or WebSocket connection drops due to inactivity timeout, and the app doesn't reconnect
- Row Level Security blocking events — Supabase real-time respects RLS policies, so the subscription user may not have permission to see the changes
How to Fix It
- Verify database prerequisites — For MongoDB: confirm you're using a replica set (rs.status() in mongo shell). For Supabase: enable real-time on the table in Dashboard > Database > Replication
- Test with a broad subscription first — Remove all filters and subscribe to all changes on the table. If this works, narrow down filters one at a time to find what's excluding your events
- Add reconnection logic — Listen for close/error events on the change stream and automatically re-establish the subscription with exponential backoff
- Check RLS policies for real-time — For Supabase, ensure the subscribing user's role has SELECT permission and the RLS policy allows reading the changed rows
- Log stream events on the server — Add logging at the change stream listener level to determine if events are received by the server but not forwarded to the client
- Monitor connection state — Add client-side indicators showing whether the real-time connection is active, so users and developers can immediately see when it drops
Real developers can help you.
Mehdi Ben Haddou
- Founder of Chessigma (1M+ users) & many small projects
- ex Founding Engineer @Uplane (YC F25)
- ex Software Engineer @Amazon and @Booking.com
Caio Rodrigues
I'm a full-stack developer focused on building practical and scalable web applications. My main experience is with **React, TypeScript, and modern frontend architectures**, where I prioritize clean code, component reusability, and maintainable project structures.
I have strong experience working with **dynamic forms, state management (Redux / React Hook Form), and complex data-driven interfaces**. I enjoy solving real-world problems by turning ideas into reliable software that companies can actually use in their daily operations.
Beyond coding, I care about **software quality and architecture**, following best practices for componentization, code organization, and performance optimization.
I'm also comfortable working across the stack when needed, integrating APIs, handling business logic, and helping transform prototypes into production-ready systems.
My goal is always to deliver solutions that are **simple, efficient, and genuinely useful for the people using them.**
Alvin Voo
I’ve watched the tech landscape evolve over the last decade—from the structured days of Java Server Pages to the current "wild west" of Agentic-driven development. While AI can "vibe" a frontend into existence, I specialize in the architecture that keeps it from collapsing.
My expertise lies in the critical backend infrastructure: the parts that must be fast, secure, and scalable. I thrive on high-pressure environments, such as when I had only three weeks to architect and launch an Ethereum redemption system with minimal prior crypto knowledge, turning it into a major revenue stream.
What I bring to your project:
Forensic Debugging: I don't just "patch" bugs; I use tools like Datadog and Explain Analyzers to map out bottlenecks and resolve root causes—like significantly reducing memory usage by optimizing complex DB joins.
Full-Stack Context: Deep experience in Node.js and React, ensuring backends play perfectly with mobile and web teams.
Sanity in the Age of AI: I bridge the gap between "best practices" and modern speed, ensuring your project isn't just built fast, but built to last.
Franck Plazanet
I am a Strategic Engineering Leader with over 8 years of experience building high-availability enterprise systems and scaling high-performing technical teams. My focus is on bridging the gap between complex technology and business growth.
Core Expertise:
🚀 Leadership: Managing and coaching teams of 15+ engineers, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
🏗️ Architecture: Enterprise Core Systems, Multi-system Integration (ERP/API/ETL), and Core Database Structure.
☁️ Cloud & Scale: AWS Expert; architected systems handling 10B+ monthly requests and managing 100k+ SKUs.
📈 Business Impact: Aligning tech strategy with P&L goals to drive $70k+ in monthly recurring revenue.
I thrive on "out-of-the-box" thinking to solve complex technical bottlenecks and am always looking for ways to use automation to improve business productivity.
Anthony Akpan
Developer with 8 years of experience building softwares fro startups
Jen Jacobsen
I’m a Full-Stack Developer with over 10 years of experience building modern web and mobile applications. I enjoy working across the full product lifecycle — turning ideas into real, well-built products that are intuitive for users and scalable for businesses.
I particularly enjoy building mobile apps, modern web platforms, and solving complex technical problems in a way that keeps systems clean, reliable, and easy to maintain.
Omar Faruk
As a Product Engineer at Klasio, I contributed to end-to-end product development, focusing on scalability, performance, and user experience.
My work spanned building and refining core features, developing dynamic website templates, integrating secure and reliable payment gateways, and optimizing the overall system architecture.
I played a key role in creating a scalable and maintainable platform to support educators and learners globally.
I'm enthusiastic about embracing new challenges and making meaningful contributions.
Jaime Orts-Caroff
I'm a Senior Android developer, currently working at Aircall. I'm open to work in various fields!
Sage Fulcher
Hey I'm Sage! Im a Boston area software engineer who grew up in South Florida. Ive worked at a ton of cool places like a telehealth kidney care startup that took part in a billion dollar merger (Cricket health/Interwell health), a boutique design agency where I got to work on a ton of exciting startups including a photography education app, a collegiate Esports league and more (Philosophie), a data analytics as a service startup in Cambridge (MA) as well as at Phillips and MIT Lincoln Lab where I designed and developed novel network security visualizations and analytics. I've been writing code and furiously devoted to using computers to make people’s lives easier for about 17 years. My degree is in making computers make pretty lights and sounds. Outside of work I love hip hop, the Celtics, professional wrestling, magic the gathering, photography, drumming, and guitars (both making and playing them)
Milan Surelia
Milan Surelia is a Mobile App Developer with 5+ years of experience crafting scalable, cross-platform apps at 7Span and Meticha. At 7Span, he engineers feature-rich Flutter apps with smooth performance and modern UI. As the Co-Founder of Meticha, he builds open-source tools and developer-focused products that solve real-world problems.
Expertise:
💡 Developing cross-platform apps using Flutter, Dart, and Jetpack Compose for Android, iOS, and Web.
🖋️ Sharing insights through technical writing, blogging, and open-source contributions.
🤝 Collaborating closely with designers, PMs, and developers to build seamless mobile experiences.
Notable Achievements:
🎯 Revamped the Vepaar app into Vepaar Store & CRM with a 2x performance boost and smoother UX.
🚀 Launched Compose101 — a Jetpack Compose starter kit to speed up Android development.
🌟 Open source contributions on Github & StackOverflow for Flutter & Dart
🎖️ Worked on improving app performance and user experience with smart solutions.
Milan is always happy to connect, work on new ideas, and explore the latest in technology.
You don't need to be technical. Just describe what's wrong and a verified developer will handle the rest.
Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Why do MongoDB change streams require a replica set?
Change streams are built on top of the oplog (operations log), which only exists on replica sets. A standalone MongoDB instance doesn't have an oplog. For local development, start a single-node replica set: mongod --replSet rs0, then run rs.initiate() in the shell.
How do I enable real-time on a Supabase table?
Go to your Supabase dashboard > Database > Replication, and toggle on the tables you want real-time events for. Alternatively, run: ALTER PUBLICATION supabase_realtime ADD TABLE your_table_name; in the SQL editor.