Please visit our most up-to-date documentation on migrating from Twilio to SignalWire.

It's no secret that we're busy developing the world's most advanced cloud communications platform. Our infinitely scaling elastic infrastructure, coupled with messaging, voice, and video technologies, is best demonstrated through our real-time RELAY APIs.

In this post, we'll cover another facet of our effort to democratize complex communications tech, because our mission doesn't stop at developing advanced cloud communications. We also make it ridiculously easy to switch from other API providers and immediately cut costs that act as a barrier to innovation.

Before SignalWire began the software-defined telecom revolution, there weren't many choices out there and price gougers took advantage of this. As a result, developers have been stranded on backward-looking platforms and paying outrageous mark-ups for basic carrier services.

SignalWire services are priced to disrupt this model, allowing customers to shift valuable resources to where it matters: developing the most innovative communications tools of the 21st century.

What is CXML?

In order to smooth the transition to our advanced cloud platform, we've developed a backward-compatible language that easily allows coders to switch from Twilio to SignalWire: CXML - Compatible XML. With CXML, anyone can convert their existing TwiML projects in a matter of seconds.

At their core, CXML documents are just basic XML that give instructions for programmable voice and messaging. These documents can be connected via webhooks to voice and/or messaging on any phone number, and they can even be stored serverlessly in CXML applications.

When conditional logic is needed, or when building your own complex application is required, this is where the Compatibility REST API comes into play. Simply code in your preferred programming language and organize your projects into reusable CXML apps within the SignalWire interface.

Two Simple Ways to Switch

Option One

Transferring a TwiML bin to a CXML application requires absolutely no modifications to code (except perhaps any <Redirect> within the XML that may point back to Twilio resources). Here are step-by-step instructions:

1. Open a browser tab and access your existing TwiML bins.

2. In a second browser tab, head to your SignalWire Dashboard. Once there, select your project, then navigate to the Resources tab. Click Add, and select “CXML Application”.

3. For each TwiML bin you wish to migrate, simply copy the bin's XML from your TwiML bin repository and paste it into a fresh CXML application. Give each application an easily-identifiable name.

4. Each CXML application you've created is now listed with a request URL. Use the copy URL function to get the link into your clipboard.

You may now use your application request URL anywhere within your apps or by specifying it for use with a specific phone number. To perform the latter, edit settings for a phone number, then simply specify the handling of voice or message by CXML Webhooks, then paste the URL in the appropriate fields.

Option Two

Migrating your TwiML app to use the Compatibility REST API is almost just as easy, but is specific to your preferred programming language. Below is an outline of all the necessary steps:

1. From within any project in your SignalWire space, go to the API page and create a new token.

2. Armed with your new token, your project key, and your space URL, visit our Compatibility REST API documentation and select your preferred programming language to the right.

3. Modify your application accordingly. This will include changing your credentials and specifying your project name to import into your project. Depending on your language, you'll only have a few lines to edit at most. All the application logic stays the same!

You may now use your application URLs by specifying the handling of voice or message by CXML Webhooks within any phone number's settings, or you can create a reusable "CXML application" in the SignalWire interface for shared use with multiple phone numbers.

Resources

Need additional help or have questions? Come and talk to us on our community Slack channel! A SignalWire OG will be happy to assist you in switching over to our platform.

You can also refer to our developer documentation for the compatibility API.