OneSignal Web Push Integration With Alpha Anywhere

Video #1 in the series: This video, hosted by Bob Moore from Alpha Software, provides a step-by-step walkthrough of integrating the OneSignal SDK for web push notifications into Alpha Anywhere applications. OneSignal is highlighted as a unified messaging platform capable of sending push notifications across web, Android, and iOS devices.

Key Steps and Concepts Covered

00:00 Introduction to OneSignal Integration

Bob Moore introduces the new capability in Alpha Anywhere to integrate with OneSignal, enabling developers to send web push notifications from their applications. This works across major browsers and mobile devices (with some requirements for iOS).

01:02 Setting Up OneSignal
The video demonstrates how to:

Create a free OneSignal account.

Set up a new app within OneSignal for web push notifications.

Configure the app for local development, including using localhost and enabling local testing.

Choose a default icon and adjust notification prompts.

02:58 Service Worker Configuration
Special attention is given to configuring service workers correctly, especially to support progressive web apps (PWAs). The video explains the need to define the scope and naming of service worker files (e.g., OneSignalSDKWorker.js) to avoid conflicts with other service workers in PWAs.

Obtaining the App ID
The OneSignal App ID is identified as the key piece of information needed for integration. All other code and setup are handled by Alpha Anywhere, simplifying the process for developers.

04:48 Integrating with Alpha Anywhere
Steps shown include:

Creating a new Alpha Anywhere project and web component.

Enabling OneSignal support in project properties and pasting the App ID.

Saving the component, which triggers Alpha Anywhere to automatically add necessary OneSignal files (including the service worker) to the project.

07:54 Testing the Integration
The video walks through running the application on a local development server, ensuring permissions are correctly set, and verifying that the OneSignal library loads and prompts users to subscribe to notifications.

11:16 Sending and Receiving Notifications
After subscribing, a test push notification is sent from the OneSignal dashboard. The video shows the notification appearing in the browser, confirming successful integration.

13:38 User Management and Advanced Features
The presenter briefly discusses how, with authentication, user information can be logged and associated with notifications. The external ID feature in OneSignal allows for unified targeting across push, email, SMS, and in-app messages.

Conclusion
The video serves as a practical introduction to setting up push notifications in Alpha Anywhere using OneSignal. It covers both the technical setup and the user experience, and hints at further videos that will explore login integration and deeper PWA support.