Scalable, real-time messaging system

A system, comprising:

• one or more computer processors programmed to perform operations to:
• identify a first node from a plurality of nodes in a publish-subscribe system based at least in part on (i) node-specific data representing loads on the plurality of nodes and (ii) channel-specific data representing a load associated with a channel comprising a channel portion to be temporarily offloaded from a second node;
• select the first node to temporarily host the channel portion of the channel;
• receive a request to access the channel portion;
• and
• grant the request to access the channel portion.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more computer processors, cause the one or more computer processors to:

• identify, by the one or more computer processors, a first node from a plurality of nodes in a publish-subscribe system based at least in part on (i) node-specific data representing loads on the plurality of nodes and (ii) channel-specific data representing a load associated with a channel comprising a channel portion to be temporarily offloaded from a second node;
• select, by the one or more computer processors, the first node to temporarily host the channel portion of the channel;
• receive a request to access the channel portion;
• and
• grant the request to access the channel portion.