Build a Bulk Broadcast Messaging App with Vite, Vue, and MessageBird - code-examples -

Frequently Asked Questions

Run 'npm run dev' in the frontend project's root directory. In a separate terminal, navigate to the 'backend' directory and run 'node server.js'.
Use the provided Vue frontend application to enter recipient phone numbers and your message. The app interacts with a Node.js backend that uses the MessageBird API to send the messages. Each recipient receives an individual SMS, allowing for better status tracking.
Vite is a modern frontend build tool that offers a fast development server and optimized builds. It's used in this MessageBird integration project to streamline the Vue.js frontend development process.
The Node.js backend handles secure interaction with the MessageBird API, including API key management and sending logic. It acts as an intermediary between the Vue frontend and MessageBird to enhance security and manage the complexities of bulk messaging.
Use an Alphanumeric Sender ID when you want to brand your messages with your company name. Keep in mind, replies are not possible with these IDs, and they might require pre-registration depending on the country.
The tutorial suggests a database schema for storing recipients, message logs, and user data. Although not implemented in the example, this is highly recommended for production to enable features like recipient management and tracking message status.
For the frontend, navigate to the 'sent-messagebird-broadcast' directory and run 'npm install'. For the backend, navigate to the 'backend' directory and run 'npm install express dotenv @messagebird/api cors'.
The '.env' file in the backend directory stores sensitive information like your MessageBird API key and originator. It's crucial to add this file to your '.gitignore' to prevent committing these secrets to version control.
The backend code includes error handling at both individual message and batch levels. It distinguishes between submission, delivery, and network errors, though delivery errors require webhooks for full tracking.
While the API might support longer messages, the example application sets a limit of 1600 characters per message. This limit is implemented in both the frontend and backend for consistency.
The article does not specify a limit. MessageBird's API documentation should detail limits on recipients per API call. This application sends one message per recipient, not a single message to all.
The article provides a conceptual example using the 'async-retry' library for exponential backoff. This is recommended for handling transient errors and increasing the reliability of message delivery.
Although the frontend only accepts direct input, the article suggests a database schema with RecipientList and Recipient models, indicating how list management could be implemented.
The E.164 format (+14155552671) ensures consistent and internationally recognized phone number formatting, which is essential for successful message delivery via the MessageBird API.