September 2022 Summaries

As a developer, it's essential to visit certain websites that can help improve your skills and knowledge. The author has curated a list of top 10 sites every developer should visit at least once, covering topics such as learning Git through an interactive game, generating README files with ease, creating a macOS resume that mimics a job portfolio, and exploring free programming books for various languages. Additionally, the list includes websites like Developer.vonage.com, which offers integrated code snippets and developer tools, HTML Tips, The Tech Interview Handbook, and App Ideas Collections, which provides project ideas to help jumpstart your development journey. These resources can aid in learning new skills, improving coding efficiency, and advancing one's career as a developer.

Vonage is partnering with Symbl.ai, a conversational intelligence API, to run a hackathon from September 12, 2022, until October 10, 2022, at VOICE 2022 in Arlington, VA. The hackathon aims to encourage developers to create innovative software that utilizes Vonage's Communications Platforms and Symbl.ai's capabilities. Symbl.ai provides a conversational intelligence API that can process audio, video, and text to extract meaningful information such as topics discussed, questions asked, and contextual information. The partnership seeks to promote the use of conversational AI in real-time applications, including customer interactions, automation, and content moderation. The hackathon has four categories and will be judged by Chris Tankersley from Vonage and David vonThenen from Symbl.ai, with prizes and support for participants.

Vonage AI Studio is a Low/No code virtual assistant builder that allows developers and non-developers to design, create, and deploy Virtual agents with Natural language understanding. The platform uses the Vonage API account to create customer engagements over voice, SMS, HTTP, and WhatsApp channels. A user built a Virtual Agent for a fictitious event that allowed customers to ask questions regarding event logistics and received replies with requested information. To aid in getting started with AI Studio, five tips are provided: exporting and importing agents, reporting features for past channel conversations, quickly reverting to previous agent versions, using actual voice instead of text-to-speech, and integrating with third-party services through various nodes such as Webhook, Salesforce Authentication, and Salesforce Actions.

The CLI (Command Line Interface) has come a long way since its early days, providing users with a more efficient and controlled way to interact with their systems and applications. Despite the rise of GUIs, CLIs remain popular among power users and developers due to their ability to speed up productivity, require fewer resources, and provide a tighter level of control over system operations. The GitHub CLI and Vonage CLI are two examples of CLIs that offer a range of features and benefits for developers and power users, including authentication, repository management, and application configuration. By leveraging these tools, developers can enhance their workflows and become more productive in their work with Git and Vonage APIs.

Diana joined the DevRel team at Vonage shortly after completing her master's degree in computer science, and before that, she had no coding experience but gained it through internships and creating content on YouTube. She now works as a developer advocate for North America and aims to improve her skills, creativity, and British slang usage. In her free time, Diana enjoys trying new foods, attending music events, and spending time with animals. She also values home cooking and would have liked to be a mukbanger if she had the chance.

Vonage AI Studio is a No Code / Low Code conversation AI platform that helps businesses handle complex customer interactions through voice and text, allowing them to address customer demand without hiring a development team. It provides a user-friendly interface where users can drag and drop modules to build a conversational Virtual Agent that customers can use. The platform starts with a friendly user interface where you can create an agent for a specific event or scenario. Users can select the SMS agent type, fill in details such as region, agent name, API key, language, and time zone. They then connect nodes on the canvas to create a conversational flow that guides the Virtual Agent's actions. The platform offers features like parameter creation, classification, intent selection, and end conversation action, allowing users to customize their Virtual Agent. Users can test their Virtual Agent by pressing the Tester button and interact with it through SMS messaging or other means. Once published, the agent can be tested live on a cellphone, providing an immersive experience for customers. The platform offers resources like tutorials, documentation, and community support to help developers understand its benefits and create effective Virtual Agents.

Chuck Reeves has been working as a Senior JavaScript Developer Advocate at Vonage for some time now, focusing on supporting the JavaScript SDK. He started programming in the late '80s with no formal education and learned through self-taught methods. Throughout his career, he worked various roles including dial-up ISP internships and systems administration before transitioning to web development. His experience as a sys admin made him valuable to both operations and development teams, leading to his goal of building tools for developers. In his free time, Chuck enjoys playing video games, hiking, and practicing minimalism. As the new Senior JavaScript Developer Advocate, he aims to help fellow developers create amazing products using his expertise in building tools.

This tutorial, by Michael Crump, demonstrates how to build a web application using ASP.NET Core that simulates an end-user finding a house they're interested in and submitting a form to receive an SMS from a real estate agent. The application uses the Vonage API to send SMS messages. The development follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, with separate classes for models, views, and controllers. The application is built using C# and Razor Markup engine, and it includes features such as form validation and submission, as well as integration with the Vonage API to send SMS messages.

Vonage AI has expanded its multi-channel offerings to prioritize virtual assistants across various communication channels, including WhatsApp. The platform's low-code virtual agent builder allows businesses to create agents that can process multiple message formats, such as images, audio, files, and location-based inputs. These features enhance the user experience by enabling users to share visual evidence, upload files, send audio notes, and receive location-based information within conversations. Additionally, WhatsApp agents can be integrated with reply buttons and list messages to improve engagement. By utilizing these capabilities, businesses can provide convenient communication channels for their customers while also helping users retrieve important details from previous conversations.