5 Steps to Receive WhatsApp Messages With Ruby on Rails

Benjamin Aronov, a developer advocate at Vonage, provides a comprehensive guide on how to build a Ruby on Rails application capable of receiving and displaying WhatsApp messages using the Vonage Messages API. Users are guided through setting up a Rails app to interact with WhatsApp Business accounts, by configuring Vonage API accounts, creating models to store incoming messages, and implementing webhooks to handle inbound messages and status updates. The tutorial explains how to expose a local server using ngrok, add necessary routes, and create a controller to process incoming messages, including button replies, in different formats. Additionally, it offers instructions on building a user interface to display these messages in real-time, enhancing the app’s conversational capabilities. The guide concludes by encouraging users to further develop their applications by adding features like auto-refresh and experimenting with richer message types, while also inviting them to join the Vonage Developer Community for additional support and resources.