upstash-qstash

Upstash QStash - Serverless Message Queue and Scheduled Task Expert

Skill Overview

Upstash QStash experts help you build a reliable message delivery system without having to manage infrastructure—HTTP in, HTTP out, with QStash ensuring dependable delivery in between.

Use Cases

1. Scheduled Tasks in Serverless Environments

When you need to run scheduled tasks on serverless platforms like Vercel or Cloudflare Workers, QStash provides ready-to-use cron scheduling capabilities with no servers to maintain.

2. Reliable Webhooks and HTTP Callbacks

When you need to ensure that third-party API calls or webhook notifications are delivered successfully, QStash automatically handles retries, deduplication, and failure callbacks.

3. Delayed Messages and Task Scheduling

For scenarios where tasks must be executed minutes, hours, or even days later, QStash’s delayed scheduling feature delivers messages precisely according to your configured time.

Core Features

Message Publishing and Delivery

Send messages via a simple HTTP request. QStash reliably delivers the message to your target URL, supporting grouped/batched URL fan-out, message deduplication, and custom delays.

Serverless Cron Scheduling

Configure time-based rules similar to crontab. QStash will periodically call your HTTP endpoint according to the schedule—ideal for long-running task needs in serverless architectures.

Signature Verification and Callbacks

QStash automatically generates a verifiable signature for each request to ensure the message source is trustworthy. Supports success callbacks and failure callbacks so you can track delivery status in real time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Upstash QStash?

QStash is a serverless message queue service provided by Upstash, working based on the HTTP protocol. You simply send an HTTP request to QStash, and it will reliably deliver your message to the target URL you specify—automatically handling retries, deduplication, and scheduling—without you managing any infrastructure.

How do I send scheduled messages with QStash?

When using the QStash API or SDK to send a request, set the delay parameter (in seconds) or a cron expression in the request headers or body. For example, setting delay: 3600 will deliver the message after one hour, and setting cron: "0 9 * * *" will deliver it every day at 9:00 AM.

How do I verify QStash webhook signatures?

QStash includes a signature in the Upstash-Signature header of each request. On your server, use your QStash signature secret to compute the signature for the request body and URL, then compare whether the signatures match. Be sure to verify the signature to prevent forged requests.

Can QStash call internal or localhost endpoints?

No. QStash runs on Upstash infrastructure and can only access publicly reachable HTTP(S) endpoints. For development and testing, you can use tunneling tools like ngrok or localtunnel to expose your local service to the public internet.

How do I handle message delivery failures?

QStash automatically retries failed deliveries. You can also configure failureCallbackUrl when sending a message so that when the message ultimately fails, QStash sends a failure notification to that URL. It’s recommended to log failure details in the callback handler and perform manual intervention.

What is QStash’s free tier allowance?

QStash offers a free tier with a daily quota of request credits and concurrency limits. Specific allowances may change over time—check Upstash’s official documentation for the latest pricing information.