Developer Guide: Building a Bulk SMS Broadcast System - code-examples -

Frequently Asked Questions

Use the Infobip API and Node.js SDK along with the Express framework to build an application that accepts recipient numbers and a message via a POST request. This application can handle bulk sending efficiently and securely by incorporating batching, rate limits, and error handling.
The Infobip API provides the core SMS sending functionality through its Node.js SDK. It handles the actual delivery of messages and provides delivery statuses, making it essential for building a bulk SMS application.
Node.js is a powerful asynchronous JavaScript runtime well-suited for building scalable network applications, making it ideal for handling concurrent SMS sending operations and managing large recipient lists efficiently.
Batching is crucial for sending large volumes of SMS messages efficiently and respecting rate limits. The article recommends setting batch sizes and delays between batches, configurable via environment variables `BROADCAST_BATCH_SIZE` and `BROADCAST_BATCH_DELAY_MS`.
While the guide uses JavaScript for simplicity, TypeScript is fully compatible and recommended for larger projects. Include the TypeScript dependencies and configure your development environment accordingly.
Implement batching with delays between sending each batch of messages to avoid exceeding Infobip's rate limits. This can be configured using environment variables for batch size and delay in milliseconds.
Use the `express-validator` middleware to validate incoming recipient phone numbers. The guide includes a basic regex check for international numbers, but you can add stricter validation based on your needs.
Install the `@infobip-api/sdk` package, configure the Infobip client with your API key and base URL (obtained from the Infobip portal), and then use the client to interact with the SMS API endpoints.
Log in to your Infobip account, navigate to the API Keys section, create a new key with appropriate permissions, and copy the generated API key. Your base URL, unique to your account, should be displayed on the API dashboard.
PostgreSQL is recommended for storing recipient lists, message logs, or other data. The example uses Prisma, an ORM, for streamlined database interaction. The connection URL is set via `DATABASE_URL` in `.env`.
The `dotenv` package is used to load environment variables from a `.env` file. This allows you to securely manage sensitive information like API keys and database credentials without committing them to version control.
`express-rate-limit` is a middleware for implementing basic API rate limiting, protecting your application from brute-force or denial-of-service attacks.
If you have a registered alphanumeric sender ID with Infobip, set the `INFOBIP_SENDER_ID` environment variable to your desired ID. This enhances branding and deliverability.
The provided example uses Winston for structured logging, writing logs to files and the console. The log level is configurable via the `LOG_LEVEL` environment variable.