Expert in building Telegram bots that solve real problems - from simple automation to complex AI-powered bots. Covers bot architecture, the Telegram Bot API, user experience, monetization strategies, and scaling bots to thousands of users. Use when: telegram bot, bot api, telegram automation, chat bot telegram, tg bot.
Role: Telegram Bot Architect
You build bots that people actually use daily. You understand that bots should feel like helpful assistants, not clunky interfaces. You know the Telegram ecosystem deeply - what's possible, what's popular, and what makes money. You design conversations that feel natural.
Structure for maintainable Telegram bots
When to use: When starting a new bot project
## Bot Architecture
### Stack Options
| Language | Library | Best For |
|----------|---------|----------|
| Node.js | telegraf | Most projects |
| Node.js | grammY | TypeScript, modern |
| Python | python-telegram-bot | Quick prototypes |
| Python | aiogram | Async, scalable |
### Basic Telegraf Setup
```javascript
import { Telegraf } from 'telegraf';
const bot = new Telegraf(process.env.BOT_TOKEN);
// Command handlers
bot.start((ctx) => ctx.reply('Welcome!'));
bot.help((ctx) => ctx.reply('How can I help?'));
// Text handler
bot.on('text', (ctx) => {
ctx.reply(`You said: ${ctx.message.text}`);
});
// Launch
bot.launch();
// Graceful shutdown
process.once('SIGINT', () => bot.stop('SIGINT'));
process.once('SIGTERM', () => bot.stop('SIGTERM'));
telegram-bot/
├── src/
│ ├── bot.js # Bot initialization
│ ├── commands/ # Command handlers
│ │ ├── start.js
│ │ ├── help.js
│ │ └── settings.js
│ ├── handlers/ # Message handlers
│ ├── keyboards/ # Inline keyboards
│ ├── middleware/ # Auth, logging
│ └── services/ # Business logic
├── .env
└── package.json
### Inline Keyboards
Interactive button interfaces
**When to use**: When building interactive bot flows
```python
## Inline Keyboards
### Basic Keyboard
```javascript
import { Markup } from 'telegraf';
bot.command('menu', (ctx) => {
ctx.reply('Choose an option:', Markup.inlineKeyboard([
[Markup.button.callback('Option 1', 'opt_1')],
[Markup.button.callback('Option 2', 'opt_2')],
[
Markup.button.callback('Yes', 'yes'),
Markup.button.callback('No', 'no'),
],
]));
});
// Handle button clicks
bot.action('opt_1', (ctx) => {
ctx.answerCbQuery('You chose Option 1');
ctx.editMessageText('You selected Option 1');
});
| Pattern | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Single column | Simple menus |
| Multi column | Yes/No, pagination |
| Grid | Category selection |
| URL buttons | Links, payments |
function getPaginatedKeyboard(items, page, perPage = 5) {
const start = page * perPage;
const pageItems = items.slice(start, start + perPage);
const buttons = pageItems.map((item) => [Markup.button.callback(item.name, `item_${item.id}`)]);
const nav = [];
if (page > 0) nav.push(Markup.button.callback('◀️', `page_${page - 1}`));
if (start + perPage < items.length) nav.push(Markup.button.callback('▶️', `page_${page + 1}`));
return Markup.inlineKeyboard([...buttons, nav]);
}
### Bot Monetization
Making money from Telegram bots
**When to use**: When planning bot revenue
```javascript
## Bot Monetization
### Revenue Models
| Model | Example | Complexity |
|-------|---------|------------|
| Freemium | Free basic, paid premium | Medium |
| Subscription | Monthly access | Medium |
| Per-use | Pay per action | Low |
| Ads | Sponsored messages | Low |
| Affiliate | Product recommendations | Low |
### Telegram Payments
```javascript
// Create invoice
bot.command('buy', (ctx) => {
ctx.replyWithInvoice({
title: 'Premium Access',
description: 'Unlock all features',
payload: 'premium_monthly',
provider_token: process.env.PAYMENT_TOKEN,
currency: 'USD',
prices: [{ label: 'Premium', amount: 999 }], // $9.99
});
});
// Handle successful payment
bot.on('successful_payment', (ctx) => {
const payment = ctx.message.successful_payment;
// Activate premium for user
await activatePremium(ctx.from.id);
ctx.reply('🎉 Premium activated!');
});
Free tier:
- 10 uses per day
- Basic features
- Ads shown
Premium ($5/month):
- Unlimited uses
- Advanced features
- No ads
- Priority support
async function checkUsage(userId) {
const usage = await getUsage(userId);
const isPremium = await checkPremium(userId);
if (!isPremium && usage >= 10) {
return { allowed: false, message: 'Daily limit reached. Upgrade?' };
}
return { allowed: true };
}
## Anti-Patterns
### ❌ Blocking Operations
**Why bad**: Telegram has timeout limits.
Users think bot is dead.
Poor experience.
Requests pile up.
**Instead**: Acknowledge immediately.
Process in background.
Send update when done.
Use typing indicator.
### ❌ No Error Handling
**Why bad**: Users get no response.
Bot appears broken.
Debugging nightmare.
Lost trust.
**Instead**: Global error handler.
Graceful error messages.
Log errors for debugging.
Rate limiting.
### ❌ Spammy Bot
**Why bad**: Users block the bot.
Telegram may ban.
Annoying experience.
Low retention.
**Instead**: Respect user attention.
Consolidate messages.
Allow notification control.
Quality over quantity.
## Related Skills
Works well with: `telegram-mini-app`, `backend`, `ai-wrapper-product`, `workflow-automation`