Feedback: speech-to-text-universal-streaming-authenticate-with-a-temporary-token

Documentation Feedback

Original URL: https://www.assemblyai.com/docs/speech-to-text/universal-streaming/authenticate-with-a-temporary-token
Category: speech-to-text
Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:23:28 pm

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Claude Sonnet 4 Feedback

Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:23:27 pm

Technical Documentation Analysis and Recommendations

Overall Assessment

This documentation covers temporary token authentication clearly but has several gaps that could cause user friction. The structure is logical, but implementation details and error handling are insufficient.

Specific Issues and Recommendations

1. Missing Critical Information

Issue: Undefined variables and constants throughout code examples

• CONNECTION_PARAMS, API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL, querystring are referenced but never defined

Recommendation: Add a prerequisites section:

## Prerequisites

Before implementing temporary tokens, ensure you have:
- Your AssemblyAI API key
- A server environment to generate tokens (never generate tokens on the client)

### Required constants for vanilla implementations:
```python
API_ENDPOINT_BASE_URL = "wss://streaming.assemblyai.com/v3/stream"
CONNECTION_PARAMS = {
    "sample_rate": 16000,
    "word_boost": [],
    "encoding": "pcm_s16le"
}

2. Incomplete Error Handling

Issue: No error handling in any code examples

Recommendation: Add error handling sections for each language:

# Python SDK example with error handling
try:
    token = client.create_temporary_token(expires_in_seconds=60)
    return token
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Failed to create token: {e}")
    return None

3. Security Best Practices Missing

Issue: Limited security guidance beyond “generate on server”

Recommendation: Add a dedicated security section:

## Security Best Practices

⚠️ **Critical Security Requirements:**
- Never generate tokens in client-side code
- Always validate token requests on your server
- Implement rate limiting for token generation
- Use HTTPS for all token transmission
- Consider implementing user authentication before token generation

### Example server endpoint (Node.js/Express):
```javascript
app.post('/api/streaming-token', authenticateUser, async (req, res) => {
  try {
    const token = await client.streaming.createTemporaryToken({
      expires_in_seconds: 300
    });
    res.json({ token });
  } catch (error) {
    res.status(500).json({ error: 'Token generation failed' });
  }
});

4. Unclear Usage Flow

Issue: The relationship between server and client isn’t clearly illustrated

Recommendation: Add a sequence diagram and complete workflow:

## Complete Implementation Flow

1. **Server**: Generate temporary token
2. **Server**: Send token to client (via API endpoint)
3. **Client**: Use token to initialize streaming connection
4. **Client**: Start transcription session

### Complete Example Architecture:

[Client App] → [Your Server] → [AssemblyAI API] ↑ ↓ Token Generate Token Usage (with API Key)

### 5. Missing Parameter Documentation

**Issue**: `max_session_duration_seconds` is mentioned but not demonstrated

**Recommendation**: Add comprehensive parameter examples:
```python
# Example with all parameters
token = client.create_temporary_token(
    expires_in_seconds=300,  # Token valid for 5 minutes
    max_session_duration_seconds=1800  # Session max 30 minutes
)

6. Insufficient Testing Guidance

Issue: No guidance on testing or debugging token issues

Recommendation: Add troubleshooting section:

## Troubleshooting

### Common Issues:
- **401 Unauthorized**: Token expired or invalid
- **403 Forbidden**: Token already used (remember: one-time use only)
- **WebSocket connection fails**: Check token format and API endpoint

### Testing Your Implementation:
```javascript
// Test token generation
const testToken = async () => {
  const token = await generateToken();
  console.log('Token generated:', token ? 'SUCCESS' : 'FAILED');
  return token;
};

7. Missing Integration Examples

Issue: No complete, runnable examples

Recommendation: Add end-to-end examples:

## Complete Integration Example

### Server (Node.js):
```javascript
const express = require('express');
const { AssemblyAI } = require('assemblyai');

const app = express();
const client = new AssemblyAI({ apiKey: process.env.ASSEMBLYAI_API_KEY });

app.get('/streaming-token', async (req, res) => {
  try {
    const token = await client.streaming.createTemporaryToken({
      expires_in_seconds: 300
    });
    res.json({ token });
  } catch (error) {
    res.status(500).json({ error: error.message });
  }
});

Client (JavaScript):

async function startStreaming() {
  // Get token from your server
  const response = await fetch('/streaming-token');
  const { token } = await response.json();

  // Initialize streaming with token
  const rt = new StreamingTranscriber({ token });

  rt.on('transcript', (transcript) => {
    console.log('Transcript:', transcript.text);
  });

  await rt.connect();
}

8. Structure Improvements

Current issues:

• Redundant heading
• Missing navigation aids
• No quick reference

Recommended structure:

# Authenticate with Temporary Tokens

## Overview
Brief explanation of temporary tokens and when to use them

## Quick Start
Minimal working example

## Security Requirements
Critical security practices

## Implementation Guide
Step-by-step with complete examples

## API Reference
Parameter details and constraints

## Troubleshooting
Common issues and solutions

## Complete Examples
End-to-end implementations

9. User Experience Pain Points

Issues identified:

• Users might expose API keys accidentally
• Unclear what happens when tokens expire during sessions
• No guidance on token refresh strategies

Solutions:

• Add prominent security warnings
• Explain token lifecycle clearly
• Provide token refresh patterns

This documentation would benefit significantly from these improvements, particularly the addition of complete examples, error handling, and security guidance.

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