tip #44: Rate-Limit server functions

2026-07-25 16:00:21 +00:00
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+---
+tip_number: 44
+date: 2026-07-25
+category: security
+status: pending
+---
+
+# Tip #44 — Rate-Limit server functions
+
+**Date:** 2026-07-25  
+**Category:** security  
+**Source:** MC-Survival Wiki Daily Tip (cron @ 18:00 MESZ)
+
+## Rate-Limit server functions
+
+Apply a token-bucket rate limit per IP to anonymous server functions — for example 60 req/min on search and 10 req/min on write endpoints — and return a 429 with a Retry-After header when the limit is hit. It solves the abuse problem: search, item-pick, and any anonymous write endpoint are obvious targets for scripted abuse, scraping, and accidental loops. The signal is operational: TanStack Start server functions are publicly callable by default, and there is no rate limiting in front of them today, which is fine at 100 users and a real problem at 10,000. An in-memory bucket per server instance is the right starting point — switching to Redis later is a one-function change when multi-instance scale arrives.
+
+## Implementation tips
+
+1. Token-bucket per IP for unauthenticated routes. 60 req/min for search, 10 req/min for writes.
+2. In-memory bucket per server instance is fine for small scale; Redis later when multi-instance.
+3. Return 429 with Retry-After header — don't silently drop.