Currently, I am utilizing AJAX to retrieve a list of active streams from TwitchTV along with their viewers, updating every second. Sometimes the stream list can become quite long, so my plan is to divide the AJAX requests into 2 or 3 parts:
1) Obtain Number of Viewers for Current Stream (Check every 1 Second)
2) Divide Stream List in Half and Check First Half for Active Streamers (Check every 5 Seconds)
3) Check Second Half of List for Active Streamers (Check every 5 Seconds)
This approach will involve running 3 requests simultaneously, but I am concerned about potential increase in load times. Will the constant data retrieval slow down the page? Would users notice any delays? Is it more efficient to use one large AJAX request for substantial data or multiple smaller requests for smaller data portions? Is AJAX truly the best method for continuously fetching constantly changing live data?