April 2020 Summaries

Daily.co has expanded its API language support to include Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, and Portuguese, allowing users to set the language preference using various methods including the front-end or REST APIs, domain-level setting, room-level setting, token-based setting, and user's browser settings. The language priority order is setDailyLang(), token, DailyIframe property, room, and domain. Users can also contribute to translating new languages by contacting Daily.co.

The Daily JavaScript library allows developers to add video calls to their web app with various options for customization. The walkthrough focuses on the fully custom experience using React and the Daily Call Object API, which involves creating a basic video chat web app that can join and leave rooms, render participants' media tracks, and toggle camera, microphone, and screen share buttons. The implementation covers key concepts such as Meeting State, Participant State, and handling edge cases like camera and microphone errors, unsupported browsers, and browser-specific screen sharing limitations.

When building video chat functionality, teams must decide whether to build it from scratch, use a low-level API, or opt for a full-featured API that provides more features and prebuilt UI. An API allows developers to add features and functionality to their product without having to build everything from scratch, saving time and money. The choice between a low-level and full-featured API depends on the team's level of control and expertise needed, with full-featured APIs offering a "prefab" approach that requires less development work and testing. The right API can greatly impact the speed and quality of the video chat experience, making it essential to choose one that meets the specific needs of the product and roadmap.

The Daily.co video call API is designed with both product design thinking and technical engineering prowess in mind. It's aimed at developers and product teams looking to integrate a video calling solution into their products, offering UI-ready calls that remove friction and build user-friendly experiences. The API allows for fast and easy setup, and its pricing formula is simple and competitive. Key design aspects include usability, responsive design, device permissions, camera/mic switching, bandwidth muting, browser support, chat, and more. The API also offers configuration options to cater to different use cases, such as 1-to-1 mentor apps or livestream platforms. A collaborative approach was taken in designing the API, with feedback from beta partners and iterative improvements. The design philosophy prioritizes usability, ease of use, robust feature set, technical stability, security, and more.