April 2017 Summaries

When a group of developers at Microsoft's SIGNAL game jam created a customized NES console that would intentionally malfunction and produce unexpected results, Andrew Reitano was inspired to create more complex experiences using Node.js and Socket.IO. By analyzing the behavior of these malfunctions, he discovered new possibilities for creating interactive and real-time user interfaces for multiple users, allowing him to develop games like Contra with custom modifications that could produce unusual outcomes, such as the infamous "wall auto-scrolling" glitch. This project has helped Andrew to overcome his initial hesitation towards JavaScript and Node.js, and has allowed him to create innovative experiences that celebrate old games in new ways.

The text discusses the importance of two-factor authentication (2FA) in protecting individuals from cyber attacks. It highlights that while large enterprises have IT departments to combat cyber crime, small businesses and everyday internet users are often left vulnerable. Despite the increasing scope, severity, and variety of cyber attacks, many people still do not embrace 2FA due to unfamiliarity or perceived difficulty. The text also mentions how companies and websites are nudging users into better protecting their information through mandates, frequent reminders, and scare tactics. It emphasizes the need for a balance between usability and security in creating secure systems.

A project was built to create an app that texts a phone number and receives pictures from Mars using Python, Flask, NASA APIs, and Twilio MMS. The environment was set up with virtual environments for isolating dependencies, and the necessary libraries were installed, including Flask, requests, and Twilio's Python library. A module was created to interact with the Mars Rover API, which returns a JSON response that is parsed to acquire an image URL from Mars. A Twilio account was set up, and a phone number was configured to receive messages, with ngrok used to make the Flask app visible from the Internet. The Flask app was built to handle incoming text messages, sending responses back to the sender with the received picture from Mars.

As a Developer Evangelist at Twilio, Corey Weathers reflects on the parallels between his passion for technology and the holiday season. He shares a personal anecdote about his favorite Christmas tradition - trying new foods - and how it relates to his coding experience. Corey notes that programming is similar to preparing a perfect plate of food, where you can tweak and optimize, but ultimately have to "eat" what you've created. This sentiment is echoed in his work as a Developer Evangelist, where he helps developers bring their projects from concept to completion, much like finding satisfaction in enjoying a well-crafted dish. Corey's passion for technology and food are intertwined, and he aims to share this enthusiasm with others through his work and online presence.

Thomas Kelly-Yahner is the author of this article about developers making the old new and novel, from fax machines to wedding invitations. The article highlights several projects showcasing automation in Python, including Thomas's own project to automate away stresses of planning his wedding using Python. Twilio Programmable Fax is also discussed, with an example of how to use it for sending ASCII Art or powering pizza orders. Additionally, the article touches on passwordless authentication, Docker and Rails, .NET Core, and Answering Machine Detection for Twilio Voice. The closing thought encourages readers to chase their creativity and let nostalgia spark a new project or hack.

Authy 2FA offers a Multi-Device feature that allows users to sync their devices for better security across multiple platforms. This feature is particularly useful in today's world where people use various devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets to access the internet. The Multi-Device feature enables users to install new apps on different devices and link them together. However, it is recommended to disable this feature after setting up multiple devices for enhanced security. This helps prevent unauthorized access by limiting the number of surfaces that can be attacked.

Today we're excited to announce the launch of Single Sign-On (SSO) as part of the Twilio Enterprise Plan, mitigating compliance and security risks for organizations by giving businesses control over user authentication and revocation via corporate mandated tools. This allows companies to use their existing Identity Provider to authenticate employees' access to Twilio, providing a more convenient and secure experience for both employees and organizations. To get started with SSO, developers need to be enrolled in the Twilio Enterprise Plan and follow straightforward setup requirements, including exchanging basic information such as Entity ID, service URL, and certificates.

The author recounts a personal experience where they were told by their internet service provider that they needed a landline for doorbell functionality despite already having a mobile connection. They decided not to purchase an expensive landline and instead used Twilio's local phone numbers to create a custom solution, setting up a TwiML Bin that forwards incoming calls to another number, allowing them to remotely answer the doorbell without needing a traditional landline. This setup enabled them to have a functional "landline" experience while avoiding unnecessary costs and outdated technology.

The Twilio team has launched Public Key Client Validation, a feature that helps organizations meet strict security requirements in compliance-heavy industries. This feature is available through the Twilio Enterprise Plan and allows developers to upload a public key, sign REST API requests with the corresponding private key, and validate the origin of the request. With Public Key Client Validation enabled, organizations can control their secrets, rotate keys easily, and ensure that messages are not modified in transit. The feature also provides an additional layer of security by validating the sender of the request. The Twilio Enterprise Plan now includes this capability along with other features such as Access Management, Audit Events, and Single Sign-On (SSO).

The next-generation Python helper library has been made generally available, offering new functionality and taking advantage of modern Python language features. The library has been rebuilt from the ground up based on developer feedback and is part of a novel approach to make the helper libraries more consistent across languages. The release includes support for version 2.7 and up, including Python 3.x versions, simplified import, accessing resources as first-class citizens, listing resources in two ways, and configurable HTTP client. The library is designed to be stable and maintainable, with new features only added to the `mainline` branch and deprecation of the old library until July 2017. The team is approaching the release of Node.js and Ruby, and welcomes feedback on current release candidates available on Github.

The author, Thomas Curtis, automated various aspects of his wedding using Twilio, Python, and Google Sheets. He started by sending mass SMS invitations to guests, which resulted in a 32% acceptance rate. He then used Flask to create a web server that parsed replies and updated the spreadsheet with confirmation status. The author also implemented a system to track food choices and send reminders to guests who had not made their selection. Additionally, he created scripts to chase unresponsive guests via SMS. While the solution was not perfect, it greatly simplified the wedding planning process, allowing him to focus on other aspects of the big day.

Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) has been added to Twilio Notify, a platform for orchestrating notifications across multiple messaging channels. The addition of FCM support enables users to send push notifications to Android devices and select browsers via Google's latest technology. Twilio Notify now offers multi-channel notification capabilities, allowing businesses to choose the best channel(s) based on their business case and customer preferences. The platform is available in Developer Preview and granting access to a limited number of accounts for interested businesses or applications.

The author, Kevin Lewis, created a Twitter adventure game using SMS and Twilio on Glitch. The game replicates the gameplay via SMS, allowing users to send a Twitter username via SMS and receive their latest tweet as a response. The application uses Node.js and an online editor called Glitch. It sets up a Twilio phone number, receives and responds to SMS messages, and uses the `request` and `Cheerio` modules to read the latest tweets from Twitter. The game also includes features such as checking if the user is new and showing a welcome message accordingly. The author provides a link to their complete project and invites users to remix it in their own account.

The SIGNAL conference will feature a diverse range of speakers who will share their expertise on various topics including AI, telephony APIs, and real-time data processing, with the aim of helping attendees improve their skills and knowledge in these areas.

Twilio has expanded its global coverage by introducing new phone numbers in 22 countries, including local voice and mobile SMS numbers in several regions. The company is also launching toll-free phone numbers in 10 additional countries, offering a developer preview for interested developers. With these new numbers, businesses can establish a local identity and improve customer experience through reduced call rates.

Verify Phone Numbers with Java and the Twilio Lookup API is a tutorial that guides users through setting up a simple application to validate phone numbers using the Twilio Lookup API in Java. The tutorial starts by configuring the environment, including installing Gradle and creating a new directory for the project. It then creates a new file called build.gradle, which contains the project's build settings, and another file called Lookup.java, which contains the source code for the application. The tutorial uses the Twilio Java SDK to initialize the Twilio account, create a PhoneNumber object, and fetch information about the phone number using the Lookup API. It also includes error handling to handle cases where the phone number is not found or invalid. Finally, it modifies the application to accept command-line arguments, allowing users to look up new numbers without modifying the code. The tutorial provides a comprehensive guide for users to set up and use the Twilio Lookup API in Java.

The author of this article, Devin Rader, demonstrates how to create a simple web application that converts uploaded images into ASCII art using Node.js and Express. The application uses the `image-to-ascii` package to convert the image and the `PdfKit` package to generate a PDF from the ASCII text. Once the PDF is generated, it uses Twilio's Programmable Fax API to send the fax. The application also uses ngrok to expose the local machine to the internet, allowing Twilio to reach the PDF URL. The author provides step-by-step instructions on how to set up and run the application, including installing dependencies, creating a new Express app, and setting up the form for uploading images.