Some notes on web-push nuts and bolts

web-push.md

@@ -22,8 +22,37 @@ BROWSER visits a website which has a SERVICE.
 The SERVICE asks BROWSER for its permission to subscribe to messages coming
 from the SERVICE.
 
-The BROWSER receives a data structure from SERVICE called a VAPID (Voluntary
-Application Server Identification).
+Provide context and obtain explicit permission before prompting for notification permission:
+It is recommended to set up to a two-step opt-in process where the user is first presented
+with a pre-permission dialog box that explains what the notifications are for and why they
+are useful. This may help reduce the possibility of users clicking "don't allow.
+
+In Typescript, we can activate a browser's permission dialogue in this manner:
+
+function askPermission(): Promise<NotificationPermission> {
+  return new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {
+    const permissionResult = Notification.requestPermission(function(result) {
+      resolve(result);
+    });
+
+    if (permissionResult) {
+      permissionResult.then(resolve, reject);
+    }
+  }).then(function(permissionResult) {
+    if (permissionResult !== 'granted') {
+      throw new Error("We weren't granted permission.");
+    }
+    return permissionResult;
+  });
+}
+
+If the user grants permission, the client application registers a service worker using
+the ServiceWorkerRegistration API.
+
+<Add Service Worker Notes>
+
+In the next step, BROWSER requests a data structure from SERVICE called a VAPID (Voluntary
+Application Server Identification) which is the public key from a key-pair.
 
 The VAPID is a specification used to identify the application server (i.e. the SERVICE
 server) that is sending push messages to a push service. It's an authentication
@@ -34,8 +63,55 @@ decrypting the messages coming from the SERVICE.
 
 If the BROWSER accepts and grants permission to subscribe to receiving from the
 SERVICE Web Push messages, then the BROWSER makes a subscription request to
-PROVIDER which creates and stores a special URL for that BROWSER. The
-PROVIDER sends this URL back to the BROWSER. The BROWSER will then use that
+PROVIDER which creates and stores a special URL for that BROWSER.
+
+const applicationServerKey = urlBase64ToUint8Array('BEl62iUYgUivxIkv69yViEuiBIa-Ib9-SkvMeAtA3LFgDzkrxZJjSgSnfckjBJuBkr3qBUYIHBQFLXYp5Nksh8U');
+const options: PushSubscriptionOptions = {
+  userVisibleOnly: true,
+  applicationServerKey: applicationServerKey
+};
+
+registration.pushManager.subscribe(options)
+  .then(function(subscription) {
+    console.log('Push subscription successful:', subscription);
+  })
+  .catch(function(error) {
+    console.error('Push subscription failed:', error);
+  });
+
+In this example, the `applicationServerKey` variable contains the VAPID public key,
+which is converted to a Uint8Array using the `urlBase64ToUint8Array()` function from the
+convert-vapid-public-key package. The options object is of type PushSubscriptionOptions,
+which includes the `userVisibleOnly` and `applicationServerKey` (ie VAPID public key)
+properties. The subscribe() method returns a `Promise` that resolves to a `PushSubscription`
+object containing details of the subscription, such as the endpoint URL and the public key.
+
+The VAPID (Voluntary Application Server Identification) key provides more security and
+authenticity for web push notifications in the following ways:
+
+    Identifying the Application Server:
+    
+        The VAPID key is used to identify the application server that is sending the push notifications.
+        This ensures that the push notifications are authentic and not sent by a malicious third party.
+	
+    Encrypting the Messages:
+    
+        The VAPID key is used to sign the push notifications sent by the application server,
+	ensuring that they are not tampered with during transmission. This provides an additional
+	layer of security and authenticity for the push notifications.
+
+Adding Contact Information:
+
+    The VAPID key allows a web application to add contact information to the push messages sent to the browser push service.
+    This enables the push service to contact the application server in case of need or provide additional debug information about the push messages.
+
+Improving Delivery Rates:
+
+    Using the VAPID key can help improve the overall performance of web push notifications, specifically improving delivery rates.
+    By streamlining the delivery process, the chance of delivery errors along the way is lessened.
+
+
+The PROVIDER sends this URL back to the BROWSER. The BROWSER will then use that
 URL to check for incoming messages by way of a special software named a "service
 worker". The BROWSER also sends this URL back to SERVICE which will use that
 URL to send messages to the BROWSER via the PROVIDER.
@@ -53,6 +129,7 @@ mobile application (in our case a PWA) must be added to the Home Screen and
 permissions must be explicitly granted that allow the application to receive push
 notifications. Further, with an iOS device the user must enable wake on notification to
 have their device light-up when it receives a notification (https://support.apple.com/enus/HT208081).
+
 So what about #4? - The INTERMEDIARY. Well, It is possible under very special
 circumstances to create your own Web Push PROVIDER. The only case I've found so
 far relates to making an Android Custom ROM. (An Android Custom ROM is a