Managing Connection Pools for User Devices

1 . A method comprising: by a first computing device,

maintaining a set of connections for the first computing device;

intercepting a request from a software application executing on the first computing device to establish a connection with a second computing device;

selecting from the set of connections an available connection; and

assigning the available connection to the software application for connecting to the second computing device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more connections in the set of connections are reserved for and dedicated to one or more tasks.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a first connection in the set of connection is reserved for receiving communications pushed to the first computing device by a social-networking system.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the available connection is not a reserved connection and is not currently assigned to any software application executing on the first computing device.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

if no connection in the set of connections is available, then:

establishing a new connection for the first computing device;

adding the new connection to the set of connections; and

assigning the new connection to the software application for connecting to the second computing device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of connections comprises one or more network connections and one or more communication connections.

7 . A first system comprising:

a memory comprising instructions executable by one or more processors; and

the one or more processors coupled to the memory and operable to execute the instructions, the one or more processors being operable when executing the instructions to:

maintain a set of connections for the first system;

intercept a request from a software application executing on the first system to establish a connection with a second system;

select from the set of connections an available connection; and

assign the available connection to the software application for connecting to the second system.

8 . The first system of claim 7 , wherein one or more connections in the set of connections are reserved for and dedicated to one or more tasks.

9 . The first system of claim 8 , wherein a first connection in the set of connection is reserved for receiving communications pushed to the first system by a social-networking system.

10 . The first system of claim 8 , wherein the available connection is not a reserved connection and is not currently assigned to any software application executing on the first system.

11 . The first system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:

if no connection in the set of connections is available, then:

establish a new connection for the first system;

add the new connection to the set of connections; and

assign the new connection to the software application for connecting to the second system.

12 . The first system of claim 7 , wherein the set of connections comprises one or more network connections and one or more communication connections.

13 . One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software operable when executed by a first computer system to:

maintain a set of connections for the first computer system;

intercept a request from a software application executing on the first computer system to establish a connection with a second computer system;

select from the set of connections an available connection; and

assign the available connection to the software application for connecting to the second computer system.

14 . The media of claim 13 , wherein one or more connections in the set of connections are reserved for and dedicated to one or more tasks.

15 . The media of claim 14 , wherein a first connection in the set of connection is reserved for receiving communications pushed to the first computer system by a social-networking system.

16 . The media of claim 14 , wherein the available connection is not a reserved connection and is not currently assigned to any software application executing on the first computer system.

17 . The media of claim 13 , wherein the software is further operable when executed by the first computer system to:

if no connection in the set of connections is available, then:

establish a new connection for the first computer system;

add the new connection to the set of connections; and

assign the new connection to the software application for connecting to the second computer system.

18 . The media of claim 13 , wherein the set of connections comprises one or more network connections and one or more communication connections.