October 2018 Summaries

Twilio has partnered with Lyft, Callin' Oates, and Rock N' Roll Hall of Famers Hall & Oates to help people get out and vote on Election Day. To participate, call a special hotline to hear a message from John Oates, then press any number to receive information about local polling places and a link to Lyft. On Election Day, use the Lyft app to select your polling location and receive 50% off your ride to the polls. The initiative aims to promote democracy by ensuring all voices are heard in the upcoming election.

Twilio's customer and developer conference, SIGNAL, provides an opportunity for attendees to learn from others in the Twilio community, network with like-minded individuals, and gain hands-on experience with the company's APIs. April Speight, a new user of Twilio, was invited to attend SIGNAL under the SIGNAL 2018 Scholarship program and had a transformative experience, feeling welcomed by the team and connecting with fellow attendees who shared their passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. The conference featured inspiring keynote speakers, including Tony Hawk, and provided a platform for April to learn from industry experts and build connections that will help her grow her business. Overall, SIGNAL is an excellent user's conference that fosters a sense of community and inclusivity, making it an ideal event for both new and experienced developers to attend.

You are live! To send an SMS when a YouTube channel goes live using PHP and the YouTube API with Twilio, you need to create a folder named "Twilio-YouTube", install dependencies, store sensitive information in a `.env` file, connect to a PostgreSQL database, and write functions to check if the channel is live, save video IDs, send SMS notifications, and fetch subscribers' numbers. You can then test your code by running it from the console, create a cron job to run the code in intervals, and add a form on your website for subscribers to sign up. The complete code is available on Github.

Angular Observables with ngOnDestroy hook can cause memory leaks. To prevent this, use the `takeUntil` method to unsubscribe from observables when a component is destroyed. The `ngOnDestroy` lifecycle hook can be used to push values into the `onDestroy$` subject, which then triggers the unsubscribing of the observable. This approach makes it easier to manage multiple subscriptions and prevents memory leaks.

The Hackpack v4 is an open-source hardware badge designed by Twilio, featuring a joystick, touchscreen, buttons, and Linux on a Raspberry Pi Zero W. The badge was released under the Solderpad 2.0 license and is available for download with assembly instructions and board files. To use the badge, users need to find a Raspberry Pi Zero W and follow advanced assembly instructions or pre-exported gerbers. The Hackpack v4 can be used as a handheld gaming device or modified to create new projects, with some games pre-installed on the firmware. Twilio encourages users to release their modifications under a permissive license, hoping to incorporate them into future designs.

Twilio is introducing a new Alphanumeric Sender ID, AUTHMSG, to improve authentication and user verification security through SMS. This change aims to increase conversion rates by providing personalized sender names and reducing the risk of message filtering or misattribution. The new feature will be automatically delivered via Twilio APIs for both Authy and Verify services, supporting 79 countries initially. With Alphanumeric sender IDs, users can expect better end-to-end international conversion, reduced friction, and increased trust in the sender's identity. This move aims to address the complexities of international SMS delivery and carrier regulations, providing a more reliable and scalable solution for developers.

To celebrate five years of TwilioQuest, the company is hosting a "Hack for Hamilton" competition in New York, Chicago, and Charlotte, where players can win tickets to see a live performance of the musical. To participate, players must sign up for TwilioQuest, indicate they're participating in the Hack for Hamilton event, and play the game between now and October 29th. Winners will be randomly selected from eligible players and notified via email. The competition is open to anyone who plays TwilioQuest during the specified time period, with no purchase necessary required to enter.

Twilio's product engineering teams were struggling with manual MySQL cluster deployments, which consumed too much time and were prone to errors. To address this issue, Twilio developed a tool called pivotd that automates the process of provisioning and managing database clusters. The tool leverages existing architecture such as deployment convergence engines and adds new steps for work, chaining them in a dependency tree. Users fill out a declarative form with information about their cluster, which is validated to prevent user errors or unsafe behavior, and the automated system takes care of the rest. This results in pivoting a database becoming as simple as deploying a stateless service, saving time and preventing engineers from making costly mistakes. The tool has allowed Twilio's developers to deliver new software swiftly and reliably, outpacing the increasing number of engineers at the company.

To send an SMS from a React application using Twilio, it is recommended to create a back-end server that implements the Twilio REST API, wraps up your credentials, and sends SMS messages on behalf of your application. This approach ensures that sensitive credentials are not exposed to the internet, reducing the risk of abuse or unauthorized access. The process involves setting up a Node.js server with Express, installing the Twilio Node.js module, configuring credentials in an environment file, and creating API endpoints for sending and receiving data. On the client-side, a React component is created to handle form submissions, state updates, and interactions with the back-end server using the Fetch API or similar methods. By following this approach, developers can build secure and reliable SMS messaging applications without compromising security.

The SIGNAL Conference featured a packed day of events, including guest interviews, product announcements, and a visit from legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk. The conference emphasized the importance of collaboration in driving innovation, particularly in the realm of communication technology. Twilio announced new updates to its platform, including Twilio Flex for Good, which aims to empower nonprofit organizations to mobilize volunteers through contact centers, and Twilio Super SIM, a single SIM that can provide connectivity for IoT devices worldwide. The conference also showcased exciting demos of AI-powered technologies and immersive experiences created using Twilio's platform. Overall, the event highlighted the potential of communication technology to drive positive change and build a better future.

Twilio is celebrating its 10-year milestone and introducing the Twilio Champions Program, which recognizes highly engaged members of the developer community who share their expertise and create innovative solutions with Twilio products. These developers, known as Champions, are passionate about Twilio and contribute to the community through various activities such as writing blog posts, streaming content, speaking at conferences, and more. In return for their contributions, Champions will receive access to exclusive events, special swag, early access to products, and other perks. The program is open to nominations on a rolling basis, and interested developers can apply to become a Champion through the provided link.

The SIGNAL conference kicked off with a bang, welcoming over 3,000 attendees to Bill Graham Civic Center in San Francisco. The day's keynote emphasized the Great Communications Renaissance, driven by technology and disruptors, which is transforming human life. CEO Jeff Lawson stressed that the future belongs to everyone, including developers who can build a better world. Twilio made commitments to diversity, such as a 50% female workforce globally and underrepresented populations in its US workforce. The company also launched Hatch and Twilio Quest initiatives to support underrepresented persons in software engineering and learning APIs in an enjoyable way. Customers shared their experiences transforming customer experience, including Domino's and Deliveroo. New product announcements included Twilio Flex, a contact center that deploys in minutes; <Pay>, a PCI-certified payment solution; and Autopilot, a conversational AI platform with natural language understanding and omnichannel capabilities.

Introducing <Pay>: PCI Compliant over the phone payments` is a new service by Twilio that allows developers to capture credit card information from customers over the phone in an easy and secure way. This eliminates the need for businesses to build complex infrastructure and custom voice interfaces, making it simpler for them to implement payment workflows. The service uses Stripe as its payment processor and offers a range of features such as customizable prompts, tokenization support, and automatic pause/resume recording functionality. With <Pay>, developers can accept payments in 26 countries and have the confidence of knowing that Twilio is committed to PCI DSS Level 1 Compliance. The pricing starts at $0.10 per successful transaction or tokenization, with no charge for failed payment attempts.

Twilio has announced that its fully programmable contact center platform, Twilio Flex, is now generally available. The platform offers easy onboarding, connectors to Salesforce and Zendesk, a plugin framework, flexible pricing options starting at $1 per active user hour, and the ability for customers to build and customize their own contact centers. With Flex, users can deploy instantly, integrate quickly, deliver a true omnichannel experience, gain complete visibility and control over interaction data, and run their entire contact center on Twilio's cloud infrastructure. The platform is designed to give users the flexibility to change absolutely anything at any layer of the stack, allowing them to build what they need without constraining decision-making. Twilio has also launched two new products, Autopilot and <Pay>, which enable automation and secure payment processing for contact centers.

Twilio has been fostering a strong external community through its bug bounty program since 2014, which has led to the discovery of over 250 vulnerabilities in their systems. The company is now adopting a safe harbor clause to protect researchers who engage in responsible disclosure, ensuring they will not face legal action for reporting security issues. This move aims to promote a culture of trust and encourage more individuals to contribute to improving Twilio's security program.

Twilio, a cloud communications platform, is acquiring SendGrid, a leading email API platform. This acquisition aims to provide customers with a single platform for all customer engagement, including voice, video, SMS, chat, smart speakers, messaging apps, and now email. The deal will allow developers to connect with their customers on any channel using code, building on Twilio's existing developer-first approach. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions, and will enable Twilio to serve its customers more effectively.

The new Call Recording Controls feature from Twilio allows developers to control when and how recordings are made, giving them flexibility in managing customer conversations while ensuring compliance with privacy regulations. With this feature, developers can start, stop, pause, and resume recordings using a simple API, which is now available for all customers. This enables the collection of Personal Identifiable Information (PII) without storing it in the recording, ensuring a balance between post-call analysis and data protection. The feature also supports customer consent prior to recording, making it easier to ensure compliance with laws and regulations. Additionally, there are no additional charges beyond the current recording platform pricing, which is $0.0025 per minute.

Create React App provides a great tool for getting a React application up and running, but when building or prototyping an application that requires a server-side component, it's not as clear. To address this, setting up an Express server within the same project allows developers to start everything with one command. This involves installing necessary dependencies, creating a server, and configuring Create React App to proxy non-text/html requests through to the Express server. The combination of these tools enables developers to quickly build React applications backed by an Express server, making it easier to create complex applications like Twilio Video or Chat integrations.

The event SIGNAL is taking place in San Francisco on October 17-18, featuring new APIs, incredible speakers and keynotes from prominent companies and developers, over 120 breakout sessions, Superclass live training for developers, networking opportunities, immersive rooms with Twilio community, a special guest appearance by Tony Hawk, an OKGO concert at the closing of the event, and various ways to avoid #FOMO such as registering now, getting a keynote pass, or joining online.

Gmail actions are a feature that allows email recipients to interact directly with a product or service from their inbox without opening the email, reducing friction in the user experience. One specific type, the "go-to action," directs users to a website to complete tasks, such as confirming an email address as part of the email sign-up process. This feature was implemented by SendGrid with the help of their engineering team, enabling users to confirm their email addresses through a simple button within the initial email. The setup involves embedding a script into the email's HTML, ensuring that emails are authenticated via DKIM or SPF, and getting the sending address whitelisted by Gmail. Gmail actions, while requiring some technical setup, can significantly enhance the efficiency of transactional emails, providing marketers with a powerful tool to streamline user interactions.

If you're attending SIGNAL, Twilio's customer and developer conference in San Francisco on October 17 & 18, consider exploring the city while you're there. Some insider recommendations include trying chicken wings at San Tung, getting high scores over cold beer and friends at Coin Op Game Room, or enjoying pizza 24/7 at DNA Pizza. For a unique experience, visit Black Hammer Brewing for craft beers, Top of the Mark for cocktails with 360-degree views, or Home Cafe for fancy toast and colorful lattes. You can also try burritos at La Taqueria, donut ice cream sandwiches at Milkbomb Ice Cream, or explore food trucks at Spark Social. In addition to these recommendations, consider visiting museums like SFMOMA's René Magritte exhibition, Musée Mécanique for vintage penny games, or exploring the Titled Steps, Alcatraz Island on a night tour, Muir Woods, and Audium for "sound sculptures."

We built a full-featured chat application from scratch using Twilio Programmable Chat and Ruby on Rails. We started by creating a new Rails application, adding a default action to serve our chat interface, and styling it with Bourbon and Bitters. Next, we created users and authenticated them using the Clearance gem, then generated a secure token for each user to communicate with our Programmable Chat instance. We integrated Twilio's JavaScript library to create a channel and join it if necessary. We also added an addMessage method to display messages in the chat interface, sending and receiving messages from our Programmable Chat instance, and binding events to act on incoming messages. With this basic implementation, we can now build upon it by adding more features such as private channels or usernames for users.

The tutorial covers adding social authentication to a Laravel application using the Socialite package. The goal is to allow users to sign up for websites using their social media accounts, without having to remember a password every time they log in. To achieve this, the tutorial explains how to add Facebook, Twitter, and GitHub login capabilities to the app, including creating applications on each platform, adding credentials to the config/services.php file, and implementing routes and controllers for redirecting users to the OAuth providers and handling provider callbacks. The tutorial also covers testing social login functionality and provides a conclusion on the ease of use of Socialite.