name: nestjs-notification
description: Build dual-write notification services with database persistence and FCM push delivery in NestJS. Use when creating notification entities, sending push via FCM, or implementing in-app notification feeds.
metadata:
triggers:
files:
- 'notification.service.ts'
- 'notification.entity.ts'
keywords:
- notification
- push
- fcm
- alert
- reminder
NestJS Notification Architecture
Priority: P0 (CRITICAL)
Implement "Dual-Write" notification system: persist to Database (In-App) and send via FCM (Push).
Workflow: Send Notification
- Save to database — Persist notification entity with type enum and metadata.
- Check FCM token — Verify recipient valid
fcmToken; skip push if missing.
- Send push — Call FCM inside
try/catch; never let FCM failure block request.
- Serialize data — Convert Dates to ISO strings; keep FCM
data payload flat (IDs only).
Dual-Write Service Example
See implementation examples
Structure
See implementation examples
Implementation Guidelines
- Use Dual-Write: Save to DB first, then attempt FCM. Catch FCM errors so they don't block logic.
- Define Granular Types: Use
NotificationType Enum (e.g., APPOINTMENT_REMINDER) for frontend icon/color logic.
- Stringify Metadata: Store routing data (IDs) as JSON string in DB, but Map to string-only Key-Values for FCM
data.
- Handle Tokens: Check for
fcmToken existence before sending. Fail gracefully if missing.
- Serialize Dates: Convert Dates to ISO strings before sending to FCM.
Anti-Patterns
- No Generic Types: Avoid
type: string. Always use Enum.
- No Blocking FCM: Never
await FCM without try/catch. It shouldn't crash request.
- No Complex Data in Push: Keep FCM
data payload flat and minimal (IDs only). Fetch details on open.
References