I’m currently building a decentralized backend layer for my Texas Roadhouse menu website using Polygon, and I’m running into several technical challenges related to data consistency, RPC reliability, and indexing behavior. The website uses smart contracts to store and retrieve menu metadata (categories, pricing tiers, availability flags, and promotions) so that updates can be verifiable and tamper-resistant. While the system works in principle, I’ve started noticing inconsistent read behavior when querying contract data through different RPC endpoints, even when querying the same block height.
One of the main issues I’m facing is inconsistent data retrieval across different RPC providers. When querying menu item metadata (such as price or availability), some RPC endpoints return outdated values while others return the correct updated state. This becomes especially noticeable shortly after transactions are confirmed. I’m using standard JSON-RPC calls with confirmed blocks, but it still seems like certain providers lag in state propagation. This inconsistency causes the frontend to display incorrect menu data depending on which endpoint responds first, which is unacceptable for a production-facing site.
Another problem is related to event indexing and off-chain synchronization. I rely on smart contract events to index menu updates into an off-chain database that serves the frontend. Occasionally, event listeners miss events entirely or receive them out of order, resulting in incomplete menu updates. This is especially problematic when multiple menu items are updated in a single transaction or batch. I’m currently using a lightweight indexer rather than a full subgraph, and I’m wondering whether this architectural choice is part of the problem.
Gas optimization is also becoming a concern. The contract stores structured data for menu items, including strings and metadata hashes. While updates aren’t extremely frequent, the cost fluctuates significantly depending on how many fields change at once. I’ve tried optimizing storage layouts and using packed structs, but the tradeoff between readability and gas efficiency is getting tricky. I’m also unsure whether storing certain fields on-chain makes sense or if I should move more data off-chain while keeping integrity guarantees.
Another issue I’ve encountered is related to RPC rate limits and response latency. During peak traffic, when multiple users load the Texas Roadhouse menu simultaneously, the frontend makes multiple read calls, which sometimes results in throttling or delayed responses. Even with basic caching, the user experience can feel sluggish. I’m considering switching to a dedicated Polygon RPC provider or implementing a local caching layer, but I’d like to understand best practices before redesigning the architecture.
Overall, I’m trying to determine whether these challenges stem from architectural decisions, RPC provider limitations, or improper smart contract design. If anyone has experience building read-heavy, user-facing applications on Polygon—especially ones that require consistent off-chain synchronization—I’d appreciate guidance on recommended indexing strategies, RPC setups, or contract patterns. My goal is to make the Texas Roadhouse menu website fast, reliable, and blockchain-backed without sacrificing user experience. Sorry for long post!