The flow.ai Javascript SDK
Access the flow.ai platform from your Node.js or javascript app. This library lets you build on the flow.ai Webclient API.
What can you do?
- A simple way to connect with flow.ai
- Auto reconnect and event binding
- Send and receive messages
- Trigger actions and interact with AI bots
Usage
Installation
Run npm install --save flowai-js
Simple Node.js example
const {
LiveClient,
Message,
Originator
} = require("flowai-js")
// Create a new live client
const client = new LiveClient({
clientId: 'YOUR CLIENT ID HERE',
origin: 'https://my.site'
})
// Fired whenever the client connects
client.on(LiveClient.CONNECTED, () => {
console.log('--> Connected')
// Create the originator of the message
const originator = new Originator({
name: "Boss"
})
// Create a Message
const message = new Message({
// Thread Id limits the message just to John
threadId: 'john',
// The text to send
speech: "Behold, I'm pure awesomeness!",
// Person or system sending the message
originator
})
// Send
client.send(message)
})
// Start the connection
client.start()
Advanced Node.js example
In this example you'll notice all events that are available
const {
LiveClient,
Message,
Originator
} = require("flowai-js")
// Create a new live client
const client = new LiveClient({
// Unique clientId copy & paste from Flow.ai dashboard
clientId: 'YOUR CLIENT ID HERE',
// When limiting to whitelisted domains, specify this
origin: 'https://my.site'
})
client.on(LiveClient.CONNECTED, () => {
const originator = new Originator({
name: "Boss"
})
const message = new Message({
// Thread Id limits the message just to John
threadId: 'john',
// Use the traceId to identify message
// being marked as delivered
traceId: 1,
speech: "Behold, I'm pure awesomeness!",
originator
})
client.send(message)
})
client.on(LiveClient.MESSAGE_DELIVERED, message => {
// The message we have send has been delivered
// check the traceId to see what message has been
// delivered since it's an async method
})
client.on(LiveClient.REPLY_RECEIVED, message => {
// Called when a bot or human operator
// sends a message or reply
if(message.threadId === 'john') {
// Incoming message for John
} else {
// Incoming message for another user
}
})
client.on(LiveClient.ERROR, err => {
// This handler will be fired whenever an error
// occurs during the connection
console.error('Something bad happened', err)
})
client.on(LiveClient.DISCONNECTED, () => {
// The client has been disconnected
})
client.on(LiveClient.MESSAGE_SEND, message => {
// Called whenever the client sends a message
})
client.on(LiveClient.RECONNECTING, () => {
// Called when the client tries to reconnect
})
client.start()
Simple browser example
Using the library within the browser is pretty much the same as the Node.js examples.
There is one notable difference, all classes live inside a Flowai
object.
Include the script
<script src="flowai-js.min.js"></script>
Usage
var client = new Flowai.LiveClient('YOUR CLIENT ID HERE');
client.on(LiveClient.CONNECTED, function(){
var originator = new Flowai.Originator({ fullName: "John Doo" });
var message = new Flowai.Message({
threadId: 'john',
traceId: 1,
speech: "Behold, I'm pure awesomeness!",
originator
});
client.send(message);
})
client.start();
Notes on using with webpack
The library can be easily used with webpack. You'll probably receive an error though involving fs
.
Add the following to your webpack config file:
node: {
fs: 'empty'
},
Identifying messages
The SDK is pretty flexible with regard to how messages are delivered and grouped. To do this we use two unique keys: sessionId and threadId.
threadId
A threadId is a unique key representing a channel, room, or user. If you have a single connection running for multiple clients, all using the same threadId, they will all receive the same messages.
sessionId
The sessionId is used to identify connections from different devices like browsers or Node.js servers. Each connection is partly identified on our end using this key.
Full API Reference
Classes
- EventAttachment
-
Trigger events
- Exception
-
Exception
- FileAttachment
-
Send a file as attachment
- FlowAttachment
-
Trigger flows
- LiveClient
-
Live streaming websocket client extends EventEmitter
- Message
-
Message you send to Flow.ai
- Metadata
-
Additional Message data
- OpeningAttachment
-
Trigger opening events
- OpeningFlowAttachment
-
Trigger flow as opening events
- Originator
-
Originator of a Message
- Reply
-
Reply you receive from Flow.ai
- StepAttachment
-
Trigger steps
Functions
- _setCookie(name, value)
-
_getCookie(name) ⇒
string
EventAttachment
Trigger events
new EventAttachment(name, [label])
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
name | string |
Name of the event to trigger |
[label] | string |
Optional human readable label for the triggered event |
Constructor
Example
// Event without any label
const message = new Message({
attachment: new EventAttachment('BUY')
})
Example
// Event with label to display user
const message = new Message({
attachment: new EventAttachment('BUY', 'Buy dress')
})
Exception
Properties
Name | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
message | string |
Human friendly message |
type | string |
Kind of error |
innerException | Exception |
Inner exception |
isFinal | boolean |
Prevent further execution |
Exception
new Exception(message, type, innerException, isFinal)
Param | Type | Default | Description |
---|---|---|---|
message | string |
message - Human friendly message | |
type | string |
Kind of error | |
innerException | Exception |
Optional inner exception | |
isFinal | boolean |
false |
Indicates if this exception prevents further execution |
Constructor
FileAttachment
Send a file as attachment
new FileAttachment(data)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
data |
File | ReadStream
|
File or Blob in the browser, ReadStream in Nodejs |
Constructor
Example
// Web example
var originator = new Originator({
name: 'Jane'
})
var file = fileInputElement.files[0]
const message = new Message({
attachment: new FileAttachment(file)
})
client.send(message)
Example
// Nodejs example
import { createReadStream } from 'fs'
const originator = new Originator({
name: 'Jane'
})
// Load ReadStream from file on disk
const data = fs.createReadStream('/foo/bar.jpg')
const message = new Message({
attachment: new FileAttachment(data)
})
client.send(message)
FlowAttachment
Trigger flows
new FlowAttachment(flowImmutableId)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
flowImmutableId | string |
Immutable flowId of the flow to trigger |
Constructor
Example
const message = new Message({
attachment: new FlowAttachment(flowImmutableId)
})
LiveClient
Live streaming websocket client extends EventEmitter
-
-
instance
-
static
new LiveClient(opts)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
opts |
object | string
|
Configuration options or shorthand for just clientId |
opts.clientId | string |
Mandatory Client token |
opts.storage | string |
Optional, 'session' for using sessionStorage, 'local' for localStorage or memory for a simple memory store |
opts.endpoint | string |
Optional, only for testing purposes |
opts.origin | string |
When running on Nodejs you MUST set the origin |
opts.silent | boolean |
Optional, console.errors will not be shown |
opts.ott | string |
Optional, console.errors will not be shown |
Constructor
Example
// Node.js
const client = new LiveClient({
clientId: 'MY CLIENT ID',
origin: 'https://my.website'
})
// Web
const client = new LiveClient({
clientId: 'MY CLIENT ID',
storage: 'session'
})
// Lambda function
const client = new LiveClient({
clientId: 'MY CLIENT ID',
storage: 'memory'
})
liveClient.sessionId
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
value | string |
Change the session ID |
Session Id of the connection
liveClient.threadId
Default Thread Id to be used for any messages being send
Returns: string
- Null if no connection is active
liveClient.threadId
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
value | string |
Change the thread ID |
Session Id of the connection
liveClient.secret
Secret
liveClient.secret
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
value | string |
Change the Secret |
Secret
liveClient.isConnected
Check if the connection is active
Returns: boolean
- True if the connection is active
Example
if(client.isConnected) {
// Do something awesome
}
liveClient.sessionId()
Session Id of the connection
Returns: string
- Null if no connection is active
liveClient.start(threadId, sessionId)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
threadId | string |
Optional. When assigned, this is the default threadId for all messages that are send |
sessionId | string |
Optional. Must be unique for every connection |
Start the client
Example
// Start, will generate thread and sessionId
client.start()
Example
// Start with your own custom threadId
client.start('UNIQUE THREADID FOR USER')
liveClient.stop()
Use this method to temp disconnect a client
Example
// Close the connection
client.stop()
liveClient.destroy()
Close the connection and completely reset the client
Example
// Close the connection and reset the client
client.destroy()
liveClient.send(message)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
message | object |
Message you want to send |
This method triggers a LiveClient.MESSAGE_SEND
event
Returns: object
- Message that was send
Example
const originator = new Originator({
name: "Jane"
})
const message = new Message({
speech: "Hi!",
originator
})
client.send(message)
liveClient.merger(mergerKey, threadId, sessionId)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
mergerKey | string |
Unique token representing merge Request |
threadId | string |
Optional. The threadId to merge |
sessionId | string |
Optional. The sessionId to assign to the thread |
Merge two threads from different channels. This methods is not yet publicy supported since we don't have a way yet to provide a mergerKey.
liveClient.history(threadId)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
threadId | string |
Optional. Specify the threadId to retreive historic messages |
Request historic messages
Example
// Load any messages if there is a threadId
// usefull when using with JS in the browser
client.history()
// Load messages using a custom threadId
client.history('MY CUSTOM THREAD ID')
liveClient.noticed(threadId, instantly)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
threadId | string |
Optional. Specify the thread that is noticed |
instantly | boolean |
Optional. Instantly send notice. Default is false |
Call to mark a thread as noticed. The library automatically throttles the number of calls
Example
// Call that the client has seen all messages for the auto clientId
client.noticed()
// Mark messages based on a custom threadId
client.noticed('MY CUSTOM THREAD ID')
liveClient.checkUnnoticed(threadId)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
threadId | string |
Optional. Specify the thread to check unnoticed messags for |
Did we miss any messages?
liveClient.log(text)
Param | Type |
---|---|
text | string |
LiveClient.ERROR
Event that triggers when an error is received from the flow.ai platform
LiveClient.CONNECTED
Event that triggers when client is connected with platform
LiveClient.RECONNECTING
Event that triggers when client tries to reconnect
LiveClient.DISCONNECTED
Event that triggers when the client gets disconnected
LiveClient.REPLY_RECEIVED
Event that triggers when a new message is received from the platform
LiveClient.AGENT_TYPING_RECEIVED
Event that triggers when start busy typing received from the platform
LiveClient.MESSAGE_SEND
Event that triggers when the client is sending a message to the platform
LiveClient.MESSAGE_DELIVERED
Event that triggers when the send message has been received by the platform
LiveClient.REQUESTING_HISTORY
Event that triggers when a request is made to load historic messages
LiveClient.NO_HISTORY
Event that triggers when a request is made to load historic messages
LiveClient.RECEIVED_HISTORY
Event that triggers when historic messages are received
LiveClient.CHECKED_UNNOTICED_MESSAGES
Event that triggers when there are unnoticed messages
LiveClient.INTERRUPTION_OCCURRED
Event that triggers when there are unnoticed messages
Message
Properties
Name | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
speech | string |
Text representing the Message |
originator | Originator |
Originator |
meta | Metadata |
Meta data |
attachment | Attachment |
Optional attachment |
Message you send to Flow.ai
new Message(opts)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
opts | Object |
|
opts.traceId | number |
Optional unique integer you can match messages with |
opts.threadId | string |
Optional unique id specific to this chat |
opts.speech | string |
Text representing the Message |
opts.originator | Originator |
Originator |
opts.metadata | Metadata |
Meta data |
opts.attachment | Attachment |
Attachment (optional) |
Constructor
Message.build(opts)
Param | Type |
---|---|
opts | object |
opts.threadId | string |
opts.traceId | string |
opts.speech | string |
opts.originator | object |
opts.metadata | object |
opts.attachment | object |
Factory method
Metadata
Properties
Name | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
language | string |
Language the message is ib |
timezone | number |
UTC time offset in hours |
params | Object |
Parameters to send with the message |
domain | Object |
Browser or server environment variables like origin |
Additional Message data
-
-
instance
- ~~.addContext() ~~
-
static
new Metadata(language, timezone, params)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
language | string |
Specify the language of the message |
timezone | number |
Specify the timezone of the message |
params | Object |
Additional data to be send |
Constructor
metadata.addContext()
Deprecated
Metadata.build(metadata)
Param | Type |
---|---|
metadata | Object |
Create a Metadata object from raw data
OpeningAttachment
Trigger opening events
new OpeningAttachment(name, [label])
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
name | string |
Name of the event to trigger |
[label] | string |
Optional human readable label for the triggered event |
Constructor
Example
// Opening event without any label
const message = new Message({
attachment: new OpeningAttachment('BUY')
})
Example
// Opening event with label to display user
const message = new Message({
attachment: new OpeningAttachment('BUY', 'Buy dress')
})
OpeningFlowAttachment
Trigger flow as opening events
new OpeningFlowAttachment(flowImmutableId, [label])
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
flowImmutableId | string |
FlowImmutableId of the flow to trigger |
[label] | string |
Optional human readable label for the triggered event |
Constructor
Example
// Opening event without any label
const message = new Message({
attachment: new OpeningFlowAttachment(flowImmutableId)
})
Originator
Properties
Name | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
name | string |
Name of a person or system originating the Message, default is Anonymous |
role | string |
The role of the person. You cannot set this, default is external |
profile | Object |
Contains profile info |
profile.fullName | string |
First and surname combined |
profile.firstName | string |
First name of the person |
profile.lastName | string |
Last name of the person |
profile.email | string |
E-mail address |
profile.description | string |
Description of this user |
profile.picture | string |
Profile picture (url) |
profile.locale | string |
ISO code describing language and country (en-US) |
profile.timezone | number |
Hours from GMT |
profile.location | string |
Location of the user |
profile.gender | string |
M for male, F for female or U for unknown / other |
metadata | object |
Optional object with custom metadata |
Originator of a Message
new Originator(opts)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
opts | Object |
|
opts.name | string |
Name of a person or system originating the Message, default is Anonymous |
opts.role | string |
The role of the person. You cannot set this, default is external |
opts.profile | Object |
Contains profile info |
opts.profile.fullName | string |
First and surname combined |
opts.profile.firstName | string |
First name of the person |
opts.profile.lastName | string |
Last name of the person |
opts.profile.email | string |
E-mail address |
opts.profile.description | string |
Description of this user |
opts.profile.picture | string |
Profile picture (url) |
opts.profile.locale | string |
ISO code describing language and country (en-US) |
opts.profile.timezone | number |
Hours from GMT |
opts.profile.location | string |
Location of the user |
opts.profile.gender | string |
M for male, F for female or U for unknown / other |
opts.metadata | object |
Optional object with custom metadata |
Reply
Properties
Name | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
threadId | string |
Unique id specific to this chat |
originator | Originator |
Originator |
messages | Array.<ReplyMessage> |
List of messages |
messages[].fallback | string |
Textual representation of any responses |
messages[].replyTo | string |
Optional replying to query |
messages[].contexts | array |
Optional List of context names |
messages[].params | array |
Optional key value pair of parameters |
messages[].intents | array |
Optional list of intent names determined |
messages[].responses | Array.<Response> |
List of response templates |
messages[].responses[].type | string |
Template type |
messages[].responses[].payload | Object |
Template payload |
messages[].responses[].delay | Number |
Number of seconds the response is delayed |
Reply you receive from Flow.ai
new Reply()
Constructor
StepAttachment
Trigger steps
new StepAttachment(stepId)
Param | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
stepId | string |
Immutable stepId of the step to trigger |
Constructor
Example
const message = new Message({
attachment: new StepAttachment(stepId)
})
_setCookie(name, value)
Param | Type |
---|---|
name | string |
value | string |
_getCookie(name)
Param | Type |
---|---|
name | string |