telegram-bot-builder

## 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');
});

 
### 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!');
});

 
## 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`