This blog is written by Aashi Jain, C4GT student

Embarking on an internship with Glific has been an exhilarating journey filled with learning, innovation, and collaboration. Over the past month, I’ve had the privilege of diving headfirst into a dynamic tech landscape, exploring new technologies like GraphQL, Google Buckets, and various APIs. Along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to engage with the incredible Glific team, culminating in a Udaipur sprint and a great midpoint presentation where I presented my mid-point demo and received invaluable feedback.

My time at Glific has been a whirlwind of technological exploration. From delving into the intricacies of GraphQL to learning about Google Buckets and exploring diverse APIs, each day has presented new challenges and opportunities for growth. The exposure to these cutting-edge technologies has not only expanded my skill set but also deepened my understanding of their applications within the realm of communication platforms.

During my time here, I’ve achieved several milestones that have added tangible value to Glific’s offerings. Some of the notables include:

• Enhancing Template Flexibility: I successfully integrated a new flag in templates, allowing users to change template categories. This enhancement offers users greater control over their communication, enhancing their overall experience.

PR: https://github.com/glific/glific/pull/2843

• Refining Interactive Templates: A pivotal contribution involved updating the GraphQL and ecto schema for Interactive Templates, enabling efficient filtering based on tag_id. 

PR: https://github.com/glific/glific/pull/2863

• Contact Export Functionality: I developed a robust function, export_collection, which generates a string of contacts within a collection. This feature simplifies the process of managing contacts, saving time and effort for users.

PR: https://github.com/glific/glific/pull/2884

• Streamlined Contact Import: By enhancing the import_contacts logic, I managed to not only improve its efficiency but also make it more user-friendly. The updated logic returns a response containing CSV data that can be seamlessly utilized by the frontend.

PR: https://github.com/glific/glific/pull/2884

• Efficient Data Handling: I am also working on enabling direct data saving from URLs to Google Cloud Storage (GCS) buckets. By bypassing the need for temporary downloads, this functionality optimizes data management processes.

PR: https://github.com/glific/glific/pull/2954

• Payment Gateway Research: I delved into in-depth research on Payment Gateways, particularly exploring Chargebee as a potential alternative to Stripe. This research equips Glific with insights to make informed decisions about future payment integrations. Though this project was kept on hold, due to Razorpay’s reluctance to onboard new customers.

A major highlight of my journey was the Udaipur sprint, where I had the privilege of meeting the Glific team in person. This face-to-face interaction fostered a deeper sense of camaraderie and collaboration. 

I also had the invaluable opportunity to present my mid-point project to my supermentor, Lobo. With a mixture of excitement and nerves, I walked into the presentation room, armed with a comprehensive overview of my work’s progress. I meticulously detailed the key aspects of my project, outlining the goals I had set at the outset and the methods I employed to achieve them. The feedback I received was a perfect blend of constructive criticism and commendation, shedding light on areas for improvement while acknowledging my strengths. This will surely help me to grow in the future and shape out the rest of my career.

As I reflect on the midpoint of my internship journey with Glific, I’m filled with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation. The past month has been characterized by unwavering exploration, innovation, and engagement with an outstanding team. I look forward to the next phase of my internship, where I’ll continue to push boundaries and learn and grow.

Adios!