Sending Sinch MMS Messages with NestJS: A Developer Guide

This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough for building a production-ready NestJS application capable of sending MMS messages using the Sinch MMS JSON API. We'll cover everything from initial project setup and core functionality implementation to advanced topics like error handling, security, monitoring, and deployment.

By the end of this guide, you will have a robust NestJS service that can reliably send MMS messages, complete with logging, validation, and best practices for integration with Sinch.

Project Overview and Goals

Goal: To create a NestJS backend service that exposes an API endpoint to send MMS messages via the Sinch platform.

Problem Solved: This service enables developers to programmatically send rich media messages (images, videos, audio, contacts, etc.) as part of their application's workflows, such as notifications, marketing campaigns, or user interactions, leveraging Sinch's MMS capabilities.

Technologies Used:

• NestJS: A progressive Node.js framework for building efficient, reliable, and scalable server-side applications using TypeScript. Its modular architecture, dependency injection, and built-in tooling make it ideal for structured backend development.
• Sinch MMS JSON API: The specific Sinch API endpoint (sendmms action) designed for sending individual MMS messages with detailed configuration options.
• TypeScript: Provides static typing for enhanced code quality, maintainability, and developer productivity.
• Axios (via @nestjs/axios): A promise-based HTTP client for making requests to the Sinch API.
• @nestjs/config: For managing environment variables and application configuration securely.
• class-validator & class-transformer: For robust request data validation and transformation.
• @nestjs/swagger: For generating API documentation automatically.
• Prisma (Optional): For database interaction, specifically logging message attempts and tracking IDs.
• Docker: For containerizing the application for consistent deployment.

System Architecture:

graph LR
    Client[Client Application / Postman] -- HTTP POST Request --> A(NestJS API Endpoint /mms/send);
    A -- Calls MmsService.sendMms() --> B(MmsService);
    B -- Loads Config --> C(ConfigService / .env);
    B -- Makes HTTP POST --> D(Sinch MMS API);
    D -- Fetches Media --> E(Media URL Host);
    D -- Sends Response --> B;
    B -- (Optional) Logs to DB --> F(Database / Prisma);
    B -- Returns Result --> A;
    A -- HTTP Response --> Client;
    B -- Logs Info/Errors --> G(Logger);

    style D fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style E fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style F fill:#eee,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style G fill:#eee,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px

Prerequisites:

• Node.js (LTS version recommended, e.g., v18 or v20) and npm/yarn installed.
• A Sinch account with MMS capabilities enabled. You will need:
  • Your Sinch Service ID (often referred to as Project ID or Campaign ID in the context of the MMS API).
  • A Sinch API Token (Bearer Token).
  • A Sinch-provisioned phone number (Short code, Toll-Free, or 10DLC) capable of sending MMS.
• Basic understanding of TypeScript, NestJS concepts, and REST APIs.
• Access to a terminal or command prompt.
• (Optional) Docker installed for containerization.
• (Optional) A database (e.g., PostgreSQL) and Prisma CLI installed if implementing the database logging section.
• A publicly accessible URL hosting the media files you intend to send (Sinch needs to fetch these).

1. Setting up the Project

Let's initialize a new NestJS project and install necessary dependencies.

1. Create a New NestJS Project: Open your terminal and run the NestJS CLI command:

   bash

   npx @nestjs/cli new sinch-mms-sender
   cd sinch-mms-sender
   

   Choose your preferred package manager (npm or yarn) when prompted.

2. Install Dependencies: We need modules for HTTP requests, configuration management, validation, and optionally Swagger and Prisma.

   bash

   # Core dependencies
   npm install @nestjs/axios axios @nestjs/config class-validator class-transformer
   
   # Optional for API documentation
   npm install @nestjs/swagger swagger-ui-express
   
   # Optional for database logging
   npm install @prisma/client
   npm install prisma --save-dev
   
   • @nestjs/axios & axios: For making HTTP requests to the Sinch API.
   • @nestjs/config: To manage environment variables securely.
   • class-validator & class-transformer: For validating incoming request payloads.
   • @nestjs/swagger & swagger-ui-express: (Optional) For generating OpenAPI documentation.
   • @prisma/client & prisma: (Optional) For database interactions if you choose to log messages.

3. Initialize Prisma (Optional): If you plan to add database logging:

   bash

   npx prisma init --datasource-provider postgresql # Or your preferred DB provider
   

   This creates a prisma directory with a schema.prisma file and a .env file.

4. Configure Environment Variables: Create or update the .env file in the project root. Never commit this file to version control. Add your Sinch credentials and other necessary configurations:

   bash

   # .env
   
   # Sinch API Credentials
   SINCH_API_TOKEN=YOUR_API_TOKEN_HERE
   SINCH_SERVICE_ID=YOUR_SERVICE_ID_HERE
   # IMPORTANT: Verify this base URL and the API endpoint path against Sinch documentation for your specific region/account.
   SINCH_BASE_URL=https://mms.api.sinch.com
   SINCH_FROM_NUMBER=+1xxxxxxxxxx # Your Sinch MMS-enabled number in E.164 format
   
   # Application Port
   PORT=3000
   
   # Optional: Database URL (if using Prisma)
   # Example for PostgreSQL: DATABASE_URL=""postgresql://user:password@host:port/database?schema=public""
   DATABASE_URL=""YOUR_DATABASE_CONNECTION_STRING""
   
   • Why .env? It keeps sensitive credentials out of your codebase and allows for different configurations per environment (development, staging, production).
   • Important: Always verify the SINCH_BASE_URL and the specific API endpoint path (used later in MmsService) against the official Sinch documentation for your account and region, as these can differ.

5. Load Configuration: Modify src/app.module.ts to load the environment variables using ConfigModule.

   typescript

   // src/app.module.ts
   import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
   import { ConfigModule } from '@nestjs/config';
   import { AppController } from './app.controller';
   import { AppService } from './app.service';
   import { MmsModule } from './mms/mms.module'; // We'll create this next
   // import { PrismaModule } from './prisma/prisma.module'; // Optional: Uncomment if using Prisma
   
   @Module({
     imports: [
       ConfigModule.forRoot({
         isGlobal: true, // Make ConfigService available globally
         envFilePath: '.env',
       }),
       MmsModule,
       // PrismaModule, // Optional: Uncomment if using Prisma
     ],
     controllers: [AppController], // Keep or remove the default AppController/Service
     providers: [AppService], // Keep or remove the default AppController/Service
   })
   export class AppModule {}
   
   • isGlobal: true: Makes ConfigService injectable in any module without needing to import ConfigModule explicitly everywhere.

6. Project Structure: After completing the next steps, your structure will resemble this:

   sinch-mms-sender/
   ├── node_modules/
   ├── prisma/ (optional)
   │   └── schema.prisma
   ├── src/
   │   ├── mms/
   │   │   ├── dto/
   │   │   │   ├── mms-media.dto.ts
   │   │   │   ├── mms-slide.dto.ts
   │   │   │   └── send-mms.dto.ts
   │   │   ├── mms.controller.ts
   │   │   ├── mms.module.ts
   │   │   └── mms.service.ts
   │   ├── app.controller.ts
   │   ├── app.module.ts
   │   ├── app.service.ts
   │   └── main.ts
   ├── test/
   ├── .env
   ├── .eslintrc.js
   ├── .gitignore
   ├── .prettierrc
   ├── nest-cli.json
   ├── package.json
   ├── README.md
   ├── tsconfig.build.json
   └── tsconfig.json
   

2. Implementing Core Functionality (MMS Service)

We'll create a dedicated module and service to handle the logic of interacting with the Sinch API.

1. Generate the MMS Module and Service: Use the NestJS CLI:

   bash

   nest generate module mms
   nest generate service mms --flat # Use --flat to avoid creating a subdirectory
   

   This creates src/mms/mms.module.ts and src/mms/mms.service.ts.

2. Define Data Transfer Objects (DTOs): Create DTOs to represent the structure of the data needed to send an MMS, including validation rules. Create a src/mms/dto directory.

   typescript

   // src/mms/dto/mms-media.dto.ts
   import { IsNotEmpty, IsOptional, IsString, IsUrl } from 'class-validator';
   import { ApiProperty, ApiPropertyOptional } from '@nestjs/swagger'; // Optional: For Swagger
   
   export class MmsMediaDto {
     @ApiProperty({ description: 'URL of the media file (image, audio, video, contact, calendar, pdf)' })
     @IsUrl()
     @IsNotEmpty()
     url: string;
   }
   
   export class MmsSlideContentDto {
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ type: MmsMediaDto })
     @IsOptional()
     image?: MmsMediaDto;
   
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ type: MmsMediaDto })
     @IsOptional()
     audio?: MmsMediaDto;
   
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ type: MmsMediaDto })
     @IsOptional()
     video?: MmsMediaDto;
   
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ type: MmsMediaDto })
     @IsOptional()
     contact?: MmsMediaDto;
   
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ type: MmsMediaDto })
     @IsOptional()
     calendar?: MmsMediaDto;
   
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ type: MmsMediaDto })
     @IsOptional()
     pdf?: MmsMediaDto;
   }
   
   typescript

   // src/mms/dto/mms-slide.dto.ts
   import { Type } from 'class-transformer';
   import { IsNotEmptyObject, IsOptional, IsString, MaxLength, ValidateNested } from 'class-validator';
   import { ApiProperty, ApiPropertyOptional } from '@nestjs/swagger';
   import { MmsSlideContentDto } from './mms-media.dto';
   
   export class MmsSlideDto extends MmsSlideContentDto {
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ description: 'Text message for the slide', maxLength: 5000 })
     @IsString()
     @MaxLength(5000)
     @IsOptional()
     'message-text'?: string; // Note: Use quotes for property names with hyphens
   }
   
   typescript

   // src/mms/dto/send-mms.dto.ts
   import { ApiProperty, ApiPropertyOptional } from '@nestjs/swagger';
   import { Type } from 'class-transformer';
   import {
     IsArray,
     IsBoolean,
     IsDateString,
     IsISO8601,
     IsNotEmpty,
     IsOptional,
     IsPhoneNumber,
     IsString,
     MaxLength,
     ValidateNested,
     ArrayMinSize,
     ArrayMaxSize,
   } from 'class-validator';
   import { MmsSlideDto } from './mms-slide.dto';
   
   export class SendMmsDto {
     @ApiProperty({ description: 'Destination phone number in E.164 format (e.g., +15551234567)' })
     @IsPhoneNumber(null) // Use null for international format validation
     @IsNotEmpty()
     to: string;
   
     @ApiProperty({ description: 'Array of MMS slides (1-8 slides)', type: [MmsSlideDto] })
     @IsArray()
     @ArrayMinSize(1)
     @ArrayMaxSize(8)
     @ValidateNested({ each: true })
     @Type(() => MmsSlideDto)
     @IsNotEmpty()
     slide: MmsSlideDto[];
   
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ description: 'MMS subject text', maxLength: 80 })
     @IsString()
     @MaxLength(80)
     @IsOptional()
     'message-subject'?: string;
   
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ description: 'Text for fallback SMS if MMS fails or is unsupported', maxLength: 160 })
     @IsString()
     @MaxLength(160) // Keep fallback SMS concise
     @IsOptional() // Required only if disable-fallback-sms is false (default)
     'fallback-sms-text'?: string;
   
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ description: 'Set to true to disable sending fallback SMS link', default: false })
     @IsBoolean()
     @IsOptional()
     'disable-fallback-sms-link'?: boolean = false;
   
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ description: 'Set to true to disable sending fallback SMS entirely', default: false })
     @IsBoolean()
     @IsOptional()
     'disable-fallback-sms'?: boolean = false;
   
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ description: 'ISO8601 timestamp for fallback SMS link expiration (max 1 year)', format: 'date-time' })
     @IsISO8601()
     @IsOptional()
     'fallback-sms-link-expiration'?: string;
   
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ description: 'ISO8601 timestamp for MMS delivery expiration (max 3 days)', format: 'date-time' })
     @IsISO8601()
     @IsOptional()
     'mms-expiry-timestamp'?: string;
   
     @ApiPropertyOptional({ description: 'Client-specific reference ID (max 64 chars)', maxLength: 64 })
     @IsString()
     @MaxLength(64)
     @IsOptional()
     'client-reference'?: string;
   
     // Note: 'from-mask' is omitted as it's often restricted and requires specific carrier approval.
     // Note: 'cache-content' defaults to true and usually doesn't need to be overridden.
   }
   
   • Why DTOs? They define the expected shape of incoming data and leverage class-validator decorators for automatic validation, improving data integrity and security. @ApiProperty is used for Swagger documentation.

3. Implement the MMS Service: Inject HttpService (from @nestjs/axios) and ConfigService into MmsService. Implement the sendMms method.

   typescript

   // src/mms/mms.service.ts
   import { HttpService } from '@nestjs/axios';
   import { Injectable, Logger, InternalServerErrorException, BadRequestException } from '@nestjs/common';
   import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';
   import axios, { AxiosError } from 'axios'; // Import axios directly for isAxiosError
   import { firstValueFrom } from 'rxjs';
   import { SendMmsDto } from './dto/send-mms.dto';
   // import { PrismaService } from '../prisma/prisma.service'; // Optional: Uncomment if using Prisma
   
   // Define a specific interface for the expected Sinch success response structure
   interface SinchMmsSuccessResponse {
       status: string;
       to: string;
       'tracking-id': string;
       'status-details'?: string;
       // Add other potential fields based on Sinch documentation
   }
   
   // Define a specific interface for the expected Sinch error response structure
   interface SinchMmsErrorResponse {
       'error-info'?: string;
       message?: string;
       'error-code'?: string | number;
       // Add other potential fields based on Sinch documentation
   }
   
   @Injectable()
   export class MmsService {
     private readonly logger = new Logger(MmsService.name);
     private readonly sinchApiToken: string;
     private readonly sinchServiceId: string;
     private readonly sinchBaseUrl: string;
     private readonly sinchFromNumber: string;
   
     constructor(
       private readonly httpService: HttpService,
       private readonly configService: ConfigService,
       // private readonly prisma: PrismaService, // Optional: Inject PrismaService
     ) {
       // Load credentials securely from config
       this.sinchApiToken = this.configService.get<string&gt;('SINCH_API_TOKEN');
       this.sinchServiceId = this.configService.get<string&gt;('SINCH_SERVICE_ID');
       this.sinchBaseUrl = this.configService.get<string&gt;('SINCH_BASE_URL');
       this.sinchFromNumber = this.configService.get<string&gt;('SINCH_FROM_NUMBER');
   
       if (!this.sinchApiToken || !this.sinchServiceId || !this.sinchBaseUrl || !this.sinchFromNumber) {
         this.logger.error('Sinch API credentials or configuration missing in environment variables.');
         throw new InternalServerErrorException('MMS Service configuration error.');
       }
     }
   
     async sendMms(sendMmsDto: SendMmsDto): Promise<SinchMmsSuccessResponse&gt; {
       // IMPORTANT: Verify this endpoint path against Sinch documentation for your specific region/account.
       const apiUrl = `${this.sinchBaseUrl}/v1/projects/${this.sinchServiceId}/messages`;
   
       // Construct the payload required by the Sinch API
       const payload = {
         action: 'sendmms',
         'service-id': this.sinchServiceId,
         from: this.sinchFromNumber,
         ...sendMmsDto, // Spread the validated DTO properties
       };
   
       // Default fallback text if not provided and fallback is enabled
       if (!payload['disable-fallback-sms'] && !payload['fallback-sms-text']) {
          payload['fallback-sms-text'] = 'View your MMS message:'; // Provide a sensible default
          // Alternatively, throw a BadRequestException if it's mandatory for your use case
          // throw new BadRequestException('Fallback SMS text is required when fallback is enabled.');
       }
   
       const headers = {
         'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8',
         'Authorization': `Bearer ${this.sinchApiToken}`,
       };
   
       this.logger.log(`Attempting to send MMS to ${payload.to} from ${payload.from}`);
       // CAUTION: Logging the full payload at debug level can expose sensitive data (recipient numbers, content URLs/text).
       // Use with extreme caution in production environments or remove/comment out by default.
       // this.logger.debug(`Sinch API Payload: ${JSON.stringify(payload)}`);
   
       try {
         const response = await firstValueFrom(
           this.httpService.post<SinchMmsSuccessResponse&gt;(apiUrl, payload, { headers }),
         );
   
         this.logger.log(`Sinch API Success Response for ${payload.to}: Status ${response.status}`);
         this.logger.debug(`Sinch Response Data: ${JSON.stringify(response.data)}`);
   
         // Optional: Log successful attempt to database
         // if (response.data?.status === 'success' && response.data?.['tracking-id']) { // Use bracket notation for hyphenated keys
         //   try {
         //     await this.prisma.mmsLog.create({
         //       data: {
         //         recipient: payload.to,
         //         sinchTrackingId: response.data['tracking-id'],
         //         status: 'SUBMITTED', // Initial status
         //         clientReference: payload['client-reference'] || null,
         //       },
         //     });
         //   } catch (dbError) {
         //     this.logger.error(`Failed to log MMS submission to database for ${payload.to}: ${dbError.message}`, dbError.stack);
         //   }
         // }
   
         return response.data; // Return the Sinch API response body
   
       } catch (error) {
         this.handleSinchApiError(error, payload.to, payload); // Pass payload for logging on error
       }
     }
   
     private handleSinchApiError(error: any, recipient: string, failedPayload: any): never {
       if (axios.isAxiosError(error)) {
         const axiosError = error as AxiosError<SinchMmsErrorResponse&gt;; // Use the error response interface
         const status = axiosError.response?.status;
         const data = axiosError.response?.data;
         // Sinch often puts error details in 'error-info' or similar fields
         const errorMessage = data?.['error-info'] || data?.message || axiosError.message;
         const errorCode = data?.['error-code'];
   
         this.logger.error(
           `Sinch API Error for ${recipient}: Status ${status}, Code: ${errorCode}, Info: ""${errorMessage}""`,
           axiosError.stack
         );
         // Log the payload that failed, being mindful of sensitive data
         // this.logger.debug(`Failed Request Payload: ${JSON.stringify(failedPayload)}`);
   
         // Optional: Log failed attempt to database
         // try {
         //   await this.prisma.mmsLog.create({
         //     data: {
         //       recipient: recipient,
         //       sinchTrackingId: `FAILED_${Date.now()}`, // Indicate failure
         //       status: 'FAILED_SUBMISSION',
         //       clientReference: failedPayload['client-reference'] || null,
         //       errorCode: errorCode?.toString() || null,
         //       errorInfo: errorMessage || null,
         //     },
         //   });
         // } catch (dbError) {
         //   this.logger.error(`Failed to log MMS failure to database for ${recipient}: ${dbError.message}`, dbError.stack);
         // }
   
         if (status &gt;= 400 && status &lt; 500) {
           // Client-side errors (e.g._ bad request_ auth failure)
           throw new BadRequestException(`Sinch API Error: ${errorMessage} (Code: ${errorCode})`);
         } else {
           // Server-side errors or network issues
           throw new InternalServerErrorException(`Sinch API Error: ${errorMessage} (Code: ${errorCode})`);
         }
       } else {
         // Non-Axios errors
         this.logger.error(`Unexpected error sending MMS to ${recipient}: ${error.message}`_ error.stack);
         // Optional: Log unexpected failure to database
         throw new InternalServerErrorException('An unexpected error occurred while sending MMS.');
       }
     }
   }
   
   • Why this structure? It encapsulates Sinch interaction logic_ making it reusable and testable. Configuration is loaded safely. Error handling is centralized. firstValueFrom converts the Observable returned by httpService into a Promise.
   • Return Type: Updated sendMms to return Promise<SinchMmsSuccessResponse&gt; and added interfaces for better type safety.
   • Payload Logging: The line logging the full Sinch API payload (this.logger.debug(...)) remains commented out by default due to potential sensitive data exposure.

4. Update the MMS Module: Import and configure HttpModule and make the MmsService available for injection.

   typescript

   // src/mms/mms.module.ts
   import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
   import { HttpModule } from '@nestjs/axios';
   import { ConfigModule, ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config'; // Import ConfigService
   import { MmsService } from './mms.service';
   import { MmsController } from './mms.controller'; // We'll create this next
   // import { PrismaModule } from '../prisma/prisma.module'; // Optional: Import if using Prisma
   
   @Module({
     imports: [
       HttpModule.registerAsync({
         // imports: [ConfigModule], // Only needed if ConfigModule is not global
         useFactory: async (configService: ConfigService) => ({
           timeout: configService.get<number&gt;('HTTP_TIMEOUT', 15000), // Example: configurable timeout (increased default)
           maxRedirects: 5,
         }),
         inject: [ConfigService],
       }),
       // ConfigModule, // Only needed if ConfigModule is not global
       // PrismaModule, // Optional: Import if using Prisma
     ],
     providers: [MmsService],
     controllers: [MmsController], // Add the controller
     exports: [MmsService], // Export if needed by other modules
   })
   export class MmsModule {}
   
   • Why HttpModule.registerAsync? It allows configuring the HttpModule dynamically, potentially using values from ConfigService (like timeouts).

3. Building a Complete API Layer (Controller)

Expose the MMS sending functionality via a REST API endpoint.

1. Generate the MMS Controller:

   bash

   nest generate controller mms --flat
   

   This creates src/mms/mms.controller.ts.

2. Implement the Controller Endpoint: Define a POST endpoint, inject MmsService, use the DTO for validation, and add Swagger decorators (optional).

   typescript

   // src/mms/mms.controller.ts
   import { Controller, Post, Body, UsePipes, ValidationPipe, HttpCode, HttpStatus, Logger } from '@nestjs/common';
   import { MmsService } from './mms.service';
   import { SendMmsDto } from './dto/send-mms.dto';
   import { ApiTags, ApiOperation, ApiResponse, ApiBody } from '@nestjs/swagger'; // Optional: For Swagger
   
   @ApiTags('MMS') // Optional: Group endpoints in Swagger UI
   @Controller('mms')
   export class MmsController {
     private readonly logger = new Logger(MmsController.name);
   
     constructor(private readonly mmsService: MmsService) {}
   
     @Post('send')
     @HttpCode(HttpStatus.ACCEPTED) // Use 202 Accepted as processing is asynchronous
     @UsePipes(new ValidationPipe({ whitelist: true, forbidNonWhitelisted: true, transform: true }))
     // Optional: Swagger Decorators
     @ApiOperation({ summary: 'Send an MMS message via Sinch' })
     @ApiBody({ type: SendMmsDto })
     @ApiResponse({ status: 202, description: 'MMS request accepted by Sinch for processing.' })
     @ApiResponse({ status: 400, description: 'Bad Request - Invalid input data or Sinch client error.' })
     @ApiResponse({ status: 500, description: 'Internal Server Error - Sinch API error or server issue.' })
     async sendMms(@Body() sendMmsDto: SendMmsDto) {
       this.logger.log(`Received request to send MMS to ${sendMmsDto.to}`);
       try {
         // The service now returns the success response object
         const result = await this.mmsService.sendMms(sendMmsDto);
         // Return the tracking ID or the full success response from Sinch
         return result;
       } catch (error) {
         // Errors are handled and thrown by MmsService, NestJS exception filter catches them
         this.logger.error(`Error processing send MMS request for ${sendMmsDto.to}: ${error.message}`);
         throw error; // Re-throw the exception for NestJS to handle
       }
     }
   }
   
   • Why ValidationPipe? It automatically validates the incoming request body against the SendMmsDto rules. whitelist: true removes properties not defined in the DTO, forbidNonWhitelisted: true throws an error if extra properties are present, and transform: true attempts to convert plain objects to DTO instances.
   • Why HttpStatus.ACCEPTED? Sending an MMS is usually asynchronous. The API accepts the request, but delivery confirmation comes later (via webhooks, not covered in detail here). 202 reflects this.

3. Enable Global Validation Pipe and Swagger (Optional): Modify src/main.ts to enable the validation pipe globally and set up Swagger.

   typescript

   // src/main.ts
   import { NestFactory } from '@nestjs/core';
   import { AppModule } from './app.module';
   import { ValidationPipe, Logger } from '@nestjs/common';
   import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';
   import { SwaggerModule, DocumentBuilder } from '@nestjs/swagger'; // Optional: For Swagger
   
   async function bootstrap() {
     const app = await NestFactory.create(AppModule);
     const configService = app.get(ConfigService);
     const port = configService.get<number&gt;('PORT', 3000);
     const logger = new Logger('Bootstrap');
   
     // Global Prefix (Optional)
     // app.setGlobalPrefix('api/v1');
   
     // Global Validation Pipe (Alternative to @UsePipes in controller)
     app.useGlobalPipes(
       new ValidationPipe({
         whitelist: true,
         forbidNonWhitelisted: true,
         transform: true, // Enable automatic transformation from payload to DTO instance
         transformOptions: {
           enableImplicitConversion: true, // Allows conversion based on TS type (e.g., string 'true' to boolean true)
                                           // Be mindful: Ensure DTO types are strict to avoid unexpected coercion.
         },
       }),
     );
   
     // Enable CORS (Configure appropriately for production)
     app.enableCors();
   
     // Setup Swagger (Optional)
     const swaggerConfig = new DocumentBuilder()
       .setTitle('Sinch MMS Sender API')
       .setDescription('API for sending MMS messages via Sinch')
       .setVersion('1.0')
       .addBearerAuth() // If your API itself needs auth, not just Sinch
       .addTag('MMS')
       .build();
     const document = SwaggerModule.createDocument(app, swaggerConfig);
     SwaggerModule.setup('api-docs', app, document); // Access at /api-docs
   
     await app.listen(port);
     logger.log(`Application listening on port ${port}`);
     logger.log(`API Documentation available at http://localhost:${port}/api-docs`); // Optional: Log Swagger URL
   }
   bootstrap();
   
   • enableImplicitConversion: This option in ValidationPipe can be convenient but may lead to unexpected type coercion if your DTO property types are not strictly defined (e.g., using any or union types). Ensure your DTOs are robust.

4. Test with curl or Postman: Start the application: npm run start:dev

   Use curl to test the endpoint (replace placeholders).

   bash

   curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/mms/send \
   -H ""Content-Type: application/json"" \
   -d '{
     ""to"": ""+1RECIPIENTNUMBER"",
     ""message-subject"": ""Your Awesome Update!"",
     ""fallback-sms-text"": ""Check out this image: [Link will be added automatically if enabled]"",
     ""slide"": [
       {
         ""image"": {
           ""url"": ""https://YOUR_PUBLICLY_ACCESSIBLE_IMAGE_URL.jpg""
         },
         ""message-text"": ""Here is the image you requested!""
       },
       {
          ""message-text"": ""And some additional text on a second slide.""
       }
     ],
     ""client-reference"": ""order_update_12345""
   }'
   

   Expected Response (Success - Status Code 202):

   json

   {
     ""status"": ""success"",
     ""to"": ""+1RECIPIENTNUMBER"",
     ""tracking-id"": ""UNIQUE-TRANSACTION-ID"",
     ""status-details"": ""MMS request accepted and queued for processing and delivery.""
   }
   

   Expected Response (Validation Error - Status Code 400):

   json

   {
     ""statusCode"": 400,
     ""message"": [
       ""to must be a valid phone number""
       // or other validation errors
     ],
     ""error"": ""Bad Request""
   }
   

4. Integrating with Necessary Third-Party Services (Sinch)

This section details obtaining and configuring Sinch credentials.

1. Obtain Sinch Credentials:

   • Service ID (Project ID / Campaign ID):
     • Navigate to your Sinch Customer Dashboard (e.g., dashboard.sinch.com).
     • Go to the SMS & MMS section or similar product area.
     • Find your Service Plan ID or Project ID. This is often displayed prominently on the overview page or API settings section for your MMS service. This is the SINCH_SERVICE_ID.
   • API Token (Bearer Token):
     • In the Sinch Dashboard, navigate to Settings -> API Credentials or Access Keys.
     • Generate a new API token or use an existing one. Ensure it has permissions for the MMS API.
     • Securely copy the generated token. This is your SINCH_API_TOKEN. Treat it like a password.
   • MMS-Enabled 'From' Number:
     • Go to the Numbers section in your Sinch Dashboard.
     • Ensure you have a number (Short Code, Toll-Free, or 10DLC) that is configured and approved for MMS sending in the target regions (e.g., US, CA).
     • Copy the number in E.164 format (including the + and country code). This is SINCH_FROM_NUMBER.

2. Configure Environment Variables: As done in Step 1.4, place these values into your .env file:

   bash

   # .env
   SINCH_API_TOKEN=PASTE_YOUR_API_TOKEN_HERE
   SINCH_SERVICE_ID=PASTE_YOUR_SERVICE_ID_HERE
   # IMPORTANT: Verify this base URL and the API endpoint path against Sinch documentation for your specific region/account.
   SINCH_BASE_URL=https://mms.api.sinch.com
   SINCH_FROM_NUMBER=+1YOURSINCHNUMBER
   PORT=3000
   DATABASE_URL=""YOUR_DATABASE_CONNECTION_STRING"" # Optional
   
   • Verification: It is crucial to verify both the SINCH_BASE_URL and the specific API endpoint path (e.g., /v1/projects/{serviceId}/messages) used in MmsService against the official Sinch documentation for the MMS JSON API (sendmms action) corresponding to your specific account and region. These values can vary.

3. Secure API Keys:

   • .gitignore: Ensure .env is listed in your .gitignore file to prevent accidental commits.
   • Environment Variables in Production: Use your deployment platform's mechanism for managing secrets (e.g., AWS Secrets Manager, Kubernetes Secrets, environment variables set in the hosting environment). Do not store sensitive keys directly in code or commit them to version control.