Solving a Complex Backend Challenge: Integrating OpenAI and Termii for Multilingual SMS Delivery
Published: 2024-06-28 21:59:09


I encountered a challenging problem while working on a personal project, which involved consuming the OpenAI endpoint. The project's goal was to translate message content into various languages, providing a multilingual communication experience. To achieve this, I needed to integrate the functionalities of OpenAI for translation and Termii for reliable SMS delivery.

Let me give a practical example of how the service could be useful.  imagine a church that has members from different language backgroundss. With this service, the church can send personalized messages to each member in their preferred languages.

Up until that point, my experience had primarily been in building endpoints rather than consuming APIs, making this task particularly difficult.

What I did?
- I repeatedly read the documentation for the OpenAI and Termii APIs to understand their requirements and functionalities.
- I had to search online, including Stack Overflow, to find any existing solutions or similar issues faced by other developers.
- I reached out to my mentor, sharing all the research I had done and the specific issues I was facing. This made it easier for my mentor to understand the problem and guide me.
- I applied the suggestions and solutions provided by my mentor, which helped me overcome the challenges and successfully integrate the APIs.

My journey into technology has been unconventional. I began with a Bachelor's degree in Business Education from Ekiti State University. After completing my NYSC in 2018/2019, I joined GTBank, one of Nigeria's largest banks, as an entry-level employee. There, we utilized Excel for reporting, analyzing data and engaging in peer-to-peer reviews with other banks to guide business decisions. It was during this time that I developed a keen interest in software development and its potential to transform traditional business practices.
Driven by this newfound curiosity, I decided to transition into tech while still working as a graduate trainee at GTBank. I enrolled in Altschool Africa's software development program and became proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, MongoDB, and SQL. I also dedicated time to learning tools like JMeter, Cypress, and Postman for automation on Udemy. After earning a diploma in Backend Engineering from Altschool Africa, I transitioned into IT and moved to Access Bank. There, I tested the bank's products before they were deployed to production. In my role at Access Bank, I have worked closely with developers and product owners to ensure that all requirements are met and that the final product is of the highest quality.
Breaking into tech wasn't easy; I had to balance both my work and learning,and even take on unpaid internships just to gain the necessary skills. However, through dedication and consistency, I acquired the expertise to become a QA Engineer and Backend Developer. Over the years, I have worked on various projects and in different organizations, adapting to their unique cultures and dynamics. 

As a QA Engineer, I've had the opportunity to work closely with data teams,developers, gaining valuable insights into codebases, data-driven decision-making processes. 

I'm incredibly excited about the HNG 11 cohort. I participated in the last cohort but was dropped at the 5th stage. Although I completed the task, I was informed that my implementation wasn't quite right. The project involved video translation. Despite this setback, I am a resilient individual and firmly believe that I can succeed this time.
I believe that getting to the final stage and finishing the program will give me a sense of fulfilment.In this internship, I want to get international jobs, network with great and like minds and be part of a community.

https://hng.tech/internship https://hng.tech/hire